Disabled man pulled from wheelchair by South Yorkshire police officers

25 days ago
6

Disabled wheelchair user detained and arrested by South Yorkshire police. They have been asked for comment.
We were contacted by 33yr old Dan, who had been a patient in The Breightmet Centre for Autism until CQC ordered its closure after a second ‘Inadequate’ rating.
There had been a systematic catalogue of issues involving neglect and abuse, which included a care worker assaulting a patient whilst eight others stood around and watched it happen.
Other issues included the improper use of restraint, with one patient being restrained 38 times in 18 days.
Staff did not have appropriate skills, training was wholly inadequate, and some were sleeping during shifts.
After the closure of Breightmet, Dan, a friend of Lauren Bridges, was moved to a temporary care home. His social worker then arranged an induction visit to a more permanent placement in Sheffield.
On 16th March Dan went to see the home, accompanied by his friend Jay. The name of the care home in question isn’t going to be publicly disclosed at this point as we’re still hoping for improvement and resolve.
Dan was shown around and promised that he would be involved in various activities, including social and support groups, and being taken to MIND.
But after he moved into the new home on 4th April, it quickly became apparent that what Dan had been promised was not likely to happen and he is unhappy with the move.
He feels there is ‘little interaction, inconsistent, inadequate support’, and his ‘dignity is being breached’.
Dan said, “I’m unable to weight bear, I have to be hoisted and I need help with my personal care because I'm doubly incontinent”.
“When I was at Breightmet centre I was catheterised, but a nurse named Mildred pulled my catheter out and now I have to buy my own pads. Staff are not thorough with washing or drying me and they don’t even use barrier cream to keep my skin integrity, which has resulted in painful sores from my urine”.
Dan continued, "Compared to previous placements I do feel safer but don't feel this place is equipped to be my placement. My social worker is looking for somewhere else".
“They’re all very cliquey, care about each other, so protect each another if anything happens”.
“I've been asked to lie before, but I hate dishonesty so told my mum”.
Dan said that ‘access is not wheelchair friendly, so sometimes gets stuck on the step and has difficulty going through doors.’
On 8th April, four days after moving in Dan wanted to spend some time away from the home with his friend Jay. He told me “Staff didn't want me going out, but they did let me leave”.
Jay confirmed this to me this evening and said “Before we left one of the staff grabbed his arm and pulled it way form the armrest on his chair, saying he'd assaulted another staff member, which he didn't”.
Jay added “He [Dan] was just so overwhelmed and needing space. He kept telling them to leave him alone and to not touch his chair”.
Whilst Dan was out with Jay, they were confronted by South Yorkshire police officers, who told them that that Dan is a "very high-risk missing person", was to be detained and taken back to the home because staff were apparently concerned for his welfare.
Dan said “I do have autistic meltdowns and trauma issues, but I don't see how that makes them doing what they did ok, and I was very scared. They had let me out. It’s all very confusing”.
Dan told the officers that he didn't want to go yet and asked them to 'move out of his way' and attempted to continue where he was going. A female officer stood in front of him, later insinuating that Dan had intentionally run into her leg.
He was detained, pulled from his wheelchair onto the ground, and arrested “under suspicion of assault of a PC”.
He informed the officer that he has osteoporosis, but excessive and inappropriate force was continued to be used.
Regardless of Dan making it clear that he is afraid of male uniformed officers because he had previously been abused, the officer still sat on top of Dan, holding his wrists, whilst another placed leg straps on him.
Dan became more traumatised and continued his struggle, at one point attempting to bite the officer’s hand. You can see the officers’ hand ‘go for’ Dan’s throat, and although this was a reaction, it was totally unacceptable.
Dan told me "I was a missing person reported as a risk to himself. I hadn't committed any offence and I honestly don't recall running inti her, and I don't understand why he grabbed my throat".
He was subsequently returned to the home against his will, and regardless of the fact that he does have mental capacity, he is not on any treatment order, he not under section and he is not subject to Deprivation of Liberty. He has a curfew of midnight to return back to the home when he goes out.
His friend Jay, who filmed the arrest, and is extremely supportive to Dan, told me he is helping his friend as much as he can, spending time with him and taking him out. He says because life in the new home isn’t as Dan was promised and expected, Dan feels mentally drained, unwell, and therefore he becomes more anxious and overwhelmed.
I spoke to Dan again yesterday and he said he feels “unfairly treated and it’s causing me to have suicidal thoughts. I will end up dying in here. I will snap and harm myself and they won't even realise till I'm dead”.
What has escalated Dan’s emotions is the fact that on Friday 10th March, care home staff “shouted” at his mother.
Carers Want Competence voluntary support are supporting and keeping contact with Dan,

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