Mouayed Mamoun Bashir · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 25/02/2021, an investigation was opened touching upon the death of Mouayed Mamoun Bashir.

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 02/02/2024.

The conclusion of the inquest was recorded as a narrative conclusion in the following terms:

On the 17th February 2021, Mouayed Mamoun Bashir took an unknown quantity of cocaine. This resulted in him developing symptoms in keeping with Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD). Mouayed barricaded himself in his bedroom and was heard banging, shouting and breaking objects.

At 08:50, Mouayed’s family were concerned for his welfare and proceeded to contact emergency services. At 09:01 the first police officer arrived and informed the control room that the ambulance was required.

Gaining entry Mouayed was agitated, police officers restrained him for his own safety and for the safety of others.

We believe from the evidence we heard that there was insufficient knowledge and understanding around identifying some of the signs of Acute Behavioural Disturbance.

Throughout, Mouayed’s condition was deteriorating, police officers and family continued to update the ambulance service. An ambulance arrived at 10:04.

The priority was to transfer Mouayed to hospital, but it was difficult to manoeuvre him out of the house. Shortly after he was transferred into the ambulance at 10:37, Mouayed went into cardiac arrest.

Police and paramedics commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and conveyed Mouayed to the Grange University Hospital, Llanfrecha, where the clinicians continued to attempt to revive Mouayed. Sadly, they were unsuccessful and Mouayed died at 11:41 on 17/02/2021.

In conclusion, Mouayed’s death was caused by cocaine intoxication, this was contributed to by the effects of ABD following a period of restraint.

The medical cause of death was:

1a) Intoxication with cocaine and the effects of cocaine, following a period of restraint.

The circumstances of Mouayed’s death are best described in the narrative conclusion. As you can see the jury have referenced the police’s knowledge of ABD in their conclusion.

At the inquest all the police officers who attended MB gave evidence and they all stated under oath that they did not consider that MB was suffering from ABD at the time. However, when completing the Use of Force forms afterwards, all bar one of the officers involved in restraint indicated that ABD had been an impact factor. There is an ambiguity which could not be properly explored at the inquest, largely due to the passage of time.

However, this suggests that officers may have thought about ABD but did not mention it to others, which would be contrary to the “Speak Up and Speak Out” principle.

This is a principle, the inquest heard, that is critical to ensuing that the voices of junior officers are heard in these difficult and potentially life-threatening situations.