No misconduct in Sean Wilkes police restraint death

Police officers are to receive extra training after a man died while being restrained, an investigation has concluded.

Sean Wilkes, 21, died after a house party in Richmond Street, Folkestone, in 2013 when members of the public, and then four officers restrained him.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission investigated the death.

It found no evidence officers behaved in a way that constituted misconduct, but listed three recommendations.

Police had been called to reports of concern for Mr Wilkes' behaviour at 10:50 BST on 6 July 2013. But he was pronounced dead at 00:43 the next day.

Kent Police has pledged to adhere to three recommendations from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report:

• Refresher training on the role of a safety officer during a restraint

• Refresher training on early identification of when someone should be treated as a medical emergency

• Reviewing its policy and the training provided to officers on informing people when someone has died

Supt Andy Pritchard said: "We welcome the conclusion that no officer who came into contact with [Mr Wilkes] acted in an unreasonable or excessive manner.

"We hope the report into Mr Wilkes' death provides his family with the answers they were looking for and that the conclusion of the investigation will be of some comfort to them during this difficult time."

IPCC commissioner Mary Cunneen said: "The death of Mr Wilkes was tragic and my thoughts remain with all those affected."