7 February 2020

Wyboston Lakes Oakley Suite, Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre
Great North Road, Wyboston MK44 3AL
Opens 10am 10 February, expected to last until 6 March 2020

Please note: this hearing was initially scheduled to start on 3 February but was postponed for legal reasons. 

To attend the hearing, you must register by emailing [email protected] (more info)

A misconduct hearing into the actions of five Bedfordshire Police officers, in relation to the death of Leon Briggs, is to reopen on Monday 10 February at 10am. Leon, a 39-year-old father of two from Luton, collapsed whilst in the custody of Bedfordshire Police on 4 November 2013 after being detained under the Mental Health Act (section 136).
 
Following concerns from members of the public about his behaviour, Leon was restrained on the street by police officers. He was taken to Luton Police Station and placed in a cell where he was also restrained. Leon became unresponsive and an ambulance was called. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
 
Acting Police Sergeant Loren Short, Police Constable Geoffrey Bennett and Police Constable Peter Baron will answer allegations that they breached the standards of professional behaviours namely in relation to the use of force and ‘duties and responsibilities’.
 
Further to this, Police Sergeant Grant Waterman and Police Sergeant Zoe Asbury will answer allegations that they breached the standards of professional behaviours, namely in relation to duties and responsibilities.
 
If the allegations are proven, they have been assessed as amounting to gross misconduct.

ENDS

Please note: this hearing is open to the public, but you must have registered and have valid identification in order to gain admission. More information on the Bedfordshire police website.

For further information, please contact Lucy McKay or Sarah Uncles on 020 7263 1111 or [email protected] and [email protected]

INQUEST is working with the family of Leon Briggs and alongside their lawyer, INQUEST Lawyers Group member Jocelyn Cockburn and Gimhani Eriyagolla of Hodge Jones and Allen solicitors.

Case background:

• November 2013: Leon’s family released a statement shortly after his death.
• March 2016: IPCC referred the case to the CPS for a decision on whether criminal charges should be brought, following their investigation into the circumstances of Leon’s death.
• September 2018: CPS confirm no charges will be brought following Leon’s death.