IOPC Investigates Death of Man in Police Custody
Summary
The UK's Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an independent investigation into the death of Calvin Davies, 41, who died while in the custody of Staffordshire Police. The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding his arrest, custody, and the police's response.
What changed
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated an independent investigation following the death of Calvin Davies, 41, while in the custody of Staffordshire Police. Mr. Davies was detained at the Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria on March 17, 2026, became unwell, and sadly passed away. The IOPC will scrutinize the arrest circumstances, any use of force, supervision within custody, and adherence to police policies and procedures.
This investigation is critical for ensuring accountability and transparency in police custody deaths. The IOPC is gathering CCTV and body-worn video footage, and has informed the HM Coroner, with an inquest to follow. The family has been notified and will be kept informed. While this is an investigative process rather than a rule change, it highlights the importance of strict adherence to custody protocols and the potential for scrutiny following any adverse incident in police detention.
What to do next
- Review custody and detention policies for compliance with best practices.
- Ensure all use-of-force incidents are thoroughly documented and reviewed.
- Verify that supervision protocols for detainees are robust and consistently applied.
Source document (simplified)
Investigation following death of man detained in Stoke-on-Trent
Published: 27 Mar 2026 News The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating after a man died while in the custody of Staffordshire Police.
Staffordshire Police notified us at around 9.15pm on 17 March (2026) that Calvin Davies, who was 41, had become unwell and died after being detained at the Northern Area Custody Facility at Etruria earlier that evening.
We have established that Mr Davies was arrested at an address in Stoke-on-Trent shortly after 5.30pm following a call to police by a member of the public. While detained in custody his condition deteriorated and an ambulance was called. Sadly, his death was pronounced at about 8.20pm while paramedics were still at the scene.
After we were contacted by Staffordshire Police we sent investigators to the custody unit and police post incident procedure to begin gathering information. We declared an independent investigation the following morning. Initial accounts have been provided by officers, and we are also gathering CCTV footage and body worn video for review.
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Davies’s family and loved ones. As he was in the custody of police at the time he became unwell, it is important that there is a thorough and independent investigation.
“We will examine the circumstances around the arrest, including any use of force, his supervision while in custody, and whether relevant police policies and procedures were followed.
“We have spoken to Mr Davies’s family to make them aware of our role and will keep them informed as our investigation progresses.”
HM Coroner has been informed, and an inquest will be opened in due course.
Tags
- Staffordshire Police
- Death and serious injury
- Custody and detention
Written by
IOPC staff Media team member
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