Report, dated 27th February 2006, of the Review into the events leading up to and following the death of Christopher Alder on 1st April 1998 by the Independent Police Complaints Commission HC 971-I Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 27th March 2006 for the Report, dated 27th February 2006, of the Review into the events leading up to and following the death of Christopher Alder on 1st April 1998 by the Independent Police Complaints Commission Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 27th March 2006 HC 971-I London: The Stationery Offi ce £35.50 Contents Contents Contents ..........................................................................................................2 List of Appendices............................................................................................7 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................9 Overview ......................................................................................................9 Christopher Alder and the events of 1 April 1998.......................................14 The two investigations and contact with the family.....................................17 Medical history and post mortem medical evidence ...................................19 The hearings ..............................................................................................21 Was racism a factor in the death, or in the handling of the case, of Christopher Alder? .....................................................................................27 Conclusion .................................................................................................30 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF POLICING.........................31 Introduction ................................................................................................31 Recommendations for policing ...................................................................31 Specific recommendations to help conclude the process...........................33 Specific recommendations for Humberside Police .....................................33 Review of previous recommendations........................................................34 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE REVIEW ........................................36 Establishment and terms of reference of the Review .................................36 The concerns of the family .........................................................................38 Methods adopted........................................................................................39 Brief summary of events of 1 April 1998.....................................................47 The police officers ......................................................................................50 CHAPTER 2: CHRISTOPHER ALDER..........................................................51 Introduction ................................................................................................51 Personal history of Christopher Alder.........................................................51 Medical history of Christopher Alder...........................................................51 CHAPTER 3: EVENTS OF 1 APRIL 1998 .....................................................53 Introduction ................................................................................................53 The Waterfront Club ...................................................................................53 The fight in the club ....................................................................................56 Outside the club .........................................................................................63 The fight outside the club ...........................................................................65 The effects of the blow to the head ............................................................71 Arrival of the ambulance.............................................................................76 Arrival of the police at the scene ................................................................81 Hull Royal Infirmary....................................................................................84 Arrival of the police at the hospital..............................................................89 Attempt to X-ray Mr Alder...........................................................................96 Removal of Mr Alder from hospital ...........................................................103 The belt ....................................................................................................105 The arrest of Mr Alder ..............................................................................107 Arrival of the police van ............................................................................112 The van journey........................................................................................114 Queen’s Gardens police station prior to the arrival of Mr Alder ................119 Arrival of Mr Alder at the police station.....................................................120 Events in the custody suite.......................................................................125 Explanations: PC Dawson........................................................................128 2 Contents Explanations: PC Blakey ..........................................................................132 Explanations: PC Barr ..............................................................................133 Explanations: A/PS Ellerington.................................................................135 Explanations: PS Dunn ............................................................................137 Other explanations ...................................................................................140 Other events in the custody suite .............................................................142 New evidence...........................................................................................146 CHAPTER 4: THE TWO INVESTIGATIONS ...............................................148 Introduction ..............................................................................................148 The Humberside Police inquiry – first steps: notification and scene preservation..............................................................................................148 Involvement of the PCA............................................................................152 Division of responsibilities ........................................................................154 Crime scenes and scientific evidence ......................................................157 Non-examination of samples....................................................................163 Removal of Mr Alder’s body to Sheffield ..................................................165 Arrest of Jason Paul .................................................................................167 Search of Mr Alder’s flat ...........................................................................167 Family liaison............................................................................................169 The impact of the videotape .....................................................................170 End of the Humberside Police investigation .............................................172 Postscripts to the Humberside Police investigation ..................................173 The West Yorkshire Police/PCA inquiry ...................................................174 The absence of investigating officers .......................................................179 Investigation following the CCTV..............................................................179 Forensic samples .....................................................................................181 West Yorkshire Police and family liaison..................................................182 Interviews with officers .............................................................................183 Report to the PCA ....................................................................................183 CS spray ..................................................................................................184 The PCA interim statement ......................................................................187 CHAPTER 5: MEDICAL HISTORY OF CHRISTOPHER ALDER AND POST MORTEM MEDICAL EVIDENCE.................................................................188 Introduction ..............................................................................................188 Christopher Alder’s medical history..........................................................188 The post mortem evidence.......................................................................193 First post mortem examination .................................................................194 Second post mortem examination............................................................198 Third post mortem examination................................................................200 Subsequent analysis: Professor Alexander Forrest..................................202 Dr Nathaniel Cary.....................................................................................202 Dr Walter Timperley .................................................................................204 Dr Graham Cook ......................................................................................204