Daniel LYLE · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 21st March, 22nd March and 23rd March 2023 evidence was heard touching the death of Daniel LYLE. He died on 20th March 2020 aged 46 years.

Medical Cause of Death

I (a) Multiple Injuries

How, when, where Daniel LYLE came by his death:

At about 0820 on 20th March 2020 Daniel Lyle who suffered from paranoid psychosis had a psychotic episode in the garden area outside Morgan House, Tachbrook Street, London SW1
During the course of this episode he climbed approximately 30 feet up into a tree. Police officers tried to engage him in efforts to encourage him to come down safely from the tree, but he did not come down. During his time in the tree he displayed paranoid and delusional beliefs. Whilst moving within the tree Daniel fell striking his head on the hard surface beneath the tree causing serious head and chest injuries. Despite efforts by police, fire brigade, ambulance and helicopter medical personnel to resuscitate him, Daniel died from his injuries in the garden area outside Morgan House, Tachbrook Street London.

Conclusion of the Coroner as to the death:

Accident

Extensive evidence was heard by the court in the form of written and oral evidence, and I was able to view the body worn video evidence of police officers who attended a call to police about Daniel’s behaviour that day.

Of particular significance for the purpose of this report are the following matters:

(1) Daniel suffered from paranoid psychosis and had done for many years.
(2) Part of the features of his psychosis were delusional beliefs.
(3) On 20th March 2020 Daniel climbed high into a tree – over 25-30 feet above the ground whilst expressing delusional and psychotic beliefs that dead people were in the estate refuse bins.
(4) Police officers attended and tried to encourage Daniel to come down from the tree for his safety.
(5) He was approached and spoken to by more than one police officer until one officer PC ████████ took over communication.
(6) Other officers remained present but tried to keep a distance away and did not try to interfere with the one officer communicating with Daniel.
(7) PC ████████ the officer communicating with Daniel informed the court that he had received some training from the Metropolitan Police service in relation to dealing with those with mental health issues, and had received other training in different forces. He told me that he had pieced together information on how to deal with someone displaying mental health issues as a “patchwork” over 15 years. He told me that training on the presentation of symptoms and strategies to deal with those in mental health crisis would be something he would value. He said that whilst he did have some training and there was overlap in officer safety training, he would value individual training specifically on symptoms, presentation and strategies to de-escalate situations involving those displaying mental health difficulties such as psychotic and other distressed behaviour.
(8) Daniel underwent an acute psychotic episode beginning before he entered the tree and whilst he was in the tree. Whilst moving within the tree Daniel fell sustaining fatal injuries.
(9) Inspector ████████ is the Central Mental Health and Adult Safeguarding team lead which sits within the Continuous Policing Improvement Command. ████████ told me of initiatives and training developments addressing mental health within policing. ████████ accepted that bespoke refresher training for frontline officers in helping to deal with those suffering mental health episodes was in the process of being developed by the MPS. ████████ referred me to initiatives by the MPS Western Area Mental Health Team which had an element of training about the signs of mental ill-health and learning disorders, and general communication in a mental health crisis, and also referred to a one day course rolled out in 2018-19 for officers on mental health issues.

(1) Whilst recognising that police officers cannot be doctors or nurses nor should they be, it is a concern that training for officers whether initial or refresher is not sufficiently focused on:
(a) an understanding of the symptoms and presentation of mental health conditions;
(b) possible practical strategies informed by mental health professionals and those suffering such conditions as will enable officers to optimise their decision making under the national decision making model.