Inquest into restraint death begins

An inquest is due to open tomorrow into the death of Andrew Jordan,
who died following attempts to detain him under the Mental Health Act  in 2003, while in police custody.

Jordan, who had a history of schizophrenia, was visited by mental health staff from Oxleas Primary Care Trust and the police at his home in Kent. He was restrained by police and it is believed he died in an ambulance on the way to hospital according to the charity Inquest who are pursuing the case.

“This is the first opportunity for public scrutiny of this tragic death following the use of restraint by police officers,” said Helen Shaw, co-director of Inquest.

“Inquest has grave concerns about the number of restraint-related deaths of black men in police custody and involving people with mental health problems,”