This is Exeter -- THE family of an Exeter man who died after being restrained in police custody have met with the minister with responsibility for mental health services. Thomas Orchard's family joined those of three other young men who died following restraint by police for what was described as a "highly significant meeting" with Norman Lamb. They all died in circumstances involving the use of force and restraint by the police during a mental health crisis. In Thomas Orchard's case, he was suffocated after being arrested in Exeter city centre in 2012. The Crown Prosecution Service are currently considering what charges, if any, to bring against either the officers involved or Devon and Cornwall Police as a force. And among the concerns discussed at this week's meeting were: • the continuing high number of deaths of people with mental health problems following the dangerous use of force and the restraint by police and the increasing use of restraint equipment • discriminatory attitudes and responses to people in mental health crisis • the lack of urgent learning from previous deaths and the occurrence of further deaths raising near identical issues • the lack of any consistent practises or systems in place by police forces across the country in their response to mental health • the lack of accountability when deaths occur • despite pockets of good practise and new pilots around country, the piecemeal nature of these schemes and approaches • the urgent need for a national response and strategy to develop a coherent understanding and safe policing response to those with mental health issues. After the meeting the family of Thomas Orchard released a statement which said: "Our meeting with Norman Lamb, MP was an important early step in pushing for reform in the way in which people with mental health problems are treated. "Our son and brother, Thomas, died needlessly – and tragically - after being detained and restrained in police custody in October 2012. "Early intervention from staff trained and equipped to deal with vulnerable people, such as Thomas, could stop more unnecessary deaths in custody from occurring. Lessons from the deaths of Thomas and other tragic cases such as Sean Rigg, Seni Lewis and James Herbert must be learned." Deborah Coles, co-director of INQUEST, which set up the meeting, said: "It was critically important that the Minister heard directly from these families and listened to their calls for urgent action to be taken to develop a national and co-ordinated approach to the safe policing of people suffering mental illness. "These four vulnerable but otherwise physically healthy men all came into contact with the police while suffering a mental health crisis. "They were in need of help and protection and yet died following the dangerous use of force and restraint by police officers. "The fact that deaths are continuing shows how urgent it is for joint action to be taken to change culture, policy and practice across police and mental health services." D
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