Police in death tragedy probe
A complaints probe has been launched after a woman accused police of assaulting her before she died.
The distressed partner of Diane Atkinson says that the 39-year-old told him on her death bed that she had suffered a head and back injury plus a collapsed lung after she was thrown in the back of a police van by officers who were sectioning her under the Mental Health Act.
Police today confirmed that they were investigating concerns about the handling of the arrest but denied that a formal complaint has yet been made by Russell Edwards, who says that his own life has been ruined by the tragedy.
Ms Atkinson, a former hairdresser and Hindley Tesco cleaner, developed psychiatric and drink dependency problems after being raped.
Russell, 59, says she was a lovely woman most of the time but was prone to bouts of violence – she twice him stabbed in the arm.
On November 3 she began smashing items in the house they shared in Argyle Street, Hindley, so Mr Edwards contacted the police.
After being taken away in a police van, it is understood that Ms Atkinson became unwell so instead of being taken to Wigan Infirmary in order to be officially arrested and sectioned she was taken to Leigh Infirmary.
However, on arrival there staff told officers that she was too ill and needed to be treated in A and E.
She was found to have a collapsed lung and spent the next 11 days in hospital, during which time her condition deteriorated and she died.
A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the coroner has been informed.
Family have been told that pneumonia as well as liver failure has been named as a contributing factor.
Mr Edwards said: "While Diane was not herself when the police were called, she was physically all right until she got in the police van.
"I didn't see what happened to her because an officer told me to stay indoors, but I know what she later told me when she was in hospital.
"What we need to know is how she came by these injuries, including the collapsed lung.
"She was a lovely lady and now she's been taken away from me and my life is ruined.
"Questions need to be answered about what happened to her."
A spokesman for GMP said: "At about 4pm on November 3, police were called to Argyle Street in Hindley following reports of a domestic incident.
"Officers attended and a 34-year-old woman was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
"She was later taken to Wigan Infirmary, where she later died.
"Greater Manchester Police's Professional Standards Branch has received concerns about the handling of the arrest, but no complaint has been recorded."
A spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission said: "As a result of the information supplied to us by the Wigan Evening Post about Mr Edwards' concerns, the IPCC contacted Greater Manchester Police to gain further detail about the incident.
"We have asked them now to formally refer the matter to us so that we can take a full assessment."
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Thursday 02 September 2010
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