Two police officers have been dismissed after failing to give emergency first aidto a man who died after he collapsed in the back of a police van.

On Thursday August 14 two police constables were dismissed without notice from Devon & Cornwall Police after members of the misconduct panel found that their actions amounted to gross misconduct. PC Grant Mackenzie and PC Dean Hunkin faced allegations that on 13 July 2023, they breached the standards appropriate to the conduct of a police officer in respect of the exercise of their duties and responsibilities.

On 13 July 2023, Mr Stephen Reardon was arrested in St Austell on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs and failing to provide a sample of breath. The officers attended the incident and Mr Reardon was handcuffed and transported in the back of a police van for the journey to Newquay Police Station.

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During this time, he became unwell and after arriving at the custody unit, officers administered first-aid in the yard of the station. He was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead.

Following an independent investigation by the IOPC after an immediate referral by the Force, a misconduct panel was held this week.

An IOPC investigation revealed the officers failed to spot the 34-year-old needed urgent medical attention with PC Hunkin saying Mr Reardon was “playing games” when seeing him shaking and unresponsive through the van’s Perspex divide.

Investigators discovered Mr Reardon’s name was called out by the officers 63 times during the journey to custody. However, despite him not responding and spending 22 minutes on the van floor, they failed to stop and assess his condition.

PC MacKenzie had argued that, as he was driving the van, responsibility for monitoring Mr Reardon fell to his junior colleague. However, the panel deemed both officers had joint responsibility and should have offered early medical assistance to Mr Reardon.

Becky Gale, Mr Reardon’s bereaved partner, who is being represented by Imran Khan and Partners, said: "Stephen and I were due to get married just a few weeks after he died. No family should have to go through what we went through. We are therefore pleased that the officers have been dismissed from their roles and will be barred from policing again.

"The panel’s findings confirm our family’s fears. The behaviour of PC Makenzie and PC Hunkin, who transported Stephen on the day he died, fell shockingly below the standards we expect of officers," reports Cornwall Live.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Reardon who have our utmost sympathy. Through their actions, the officers undermined public trust and confidence in the force and did not fulfil their duties and responsibilities towards Mr Reardon.

“Devon & Cornwall Police made an immediate referral to the IOPC following this incident on 13 July 2023 and has fully co-operated with the subsequent independent investigation. Due to Mr Reardon’s forthcoming inquest, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

PC Mackenzie – who had worked with Devon & Cornwall Police for six years – was dismissed with immediate effect, while PC Hunkin, who was new in post and being mentored at the time, would also have been sacked had he not already resigned. Both were placed on the College of Police’s Barred List preventing them from working in policing again in the future.

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell, said: “Police guidance on safe transportation of detainees states every detainee must be properly supervised and monitored…and that officers should react to any situation that may arise.

“Both officers were first aid trained but neither checked on Mr Reardon or provided any intervention until around 24 minutes after he collapsed onto the van floor. Even when the van was stationary at the custody gates, there was still no urgency on the part of either officer to commence first aid, despite them being aware he’d been unresponsive for at least seven minutes.

“None of the attending officers seemed to take responsibility for Mr Reardon’s supervision and he was not thoroughly searched. And we found no evidence of discussions over moving the handcuffs from the front to the rear in line with local and national policy. It meant Mr Reardon was able to put a package into his mouth, undetected, before the journey began.

“This is a tragic case. I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Reardon for their loss.”

The IOPC confirmed there was no case to answer in relation to four other officers who also attended the 999 call and were involved in Mr Reardon’s arrest. An inquest into Mr Reardon's death is expected to now take place and will be held before Cornwall's Coroner Court at a future date.