Police watchdog begins probe into contact with Staffordshire paramedic
Two forces had contacted Daniel Duffield weeks before he was found dead
Last updated 13th Jul 2024
The police watchdog has launched an investigation after it emerged two forces contacted a paramedic before he was found dead.
Daniel Duffield, who worked as a paramedic, was found dead at a house in Hednesford, near Cannock in Staffordshire on June 25th.
Duffield, who had found fame after appearing on Channel 4 documentary series 999: On the Frontline, was discovered alongside the body of student nurse Lauren Evans.
As investigations remain ongoing as to how both people died, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found that Staffordshire Police had contacted Duffield weeks prior to his death.
In a statement, the watchdog said Staffordshire Police had detained Duffield under the Mental Health Act on May 10th, bringing him to hospital.
As well as this, South Wales Police were found to have had "face-to-face" contact with the paramedic on May 14th, "when he came into the force area, over information received by police".
The full statement read: "Following separate referrals from both forces at the end of last month, we have decided to investigate contact police had with Mr Duffield, in the weeks before his and Ms Evans' deaths.
"In particular, we will be focusing on interactions officers had with Mr Duffield between 10 May and 14 May 2024."
Director of the IOPC, David Ford, paid tribute to the families of those who had died, and were looking to meet their loved ones in order to give updates on their investigation.
"We are independent of the police and it is important that we carry out a thorough investigation, to fully establish the circumstances of what happened prior to the tragic events of 25 June," he said.
"We will be examining concerns for welfare reported to police about Lauren and Daniel, and whether appropriate action was taken by both forces."
Staffordshire Police is currently treating the death of Ms Evans, who was working as a mental health nursing student, as a murder - with other people being investigated.