Gross misconduct hearings over Tasered man's death

Five serving and former Warwickshire Police officers face disciplinary action following a reinvestigation into the case of a man who died after officers Tasered him.

Darren Cumberbatch, 32, died nine days after he was restrained by police at a hostel in Nuneaton in July 2017.

An inquiry by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in 2018 found officers had not breached standards of professional behaviour - but Cumberbatch's family called for the case to be reviewed.

The police watchdog has now ruled that four constables should face gross misconduct hearings, while a fifth officer will attend a misconduct meeting.

Cumberbatch had symptoms of acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) at the time of the incident, which started at the hostel on Edward Street and continued to George Eliot Hospital where he eventually died of multi-organ failure.

A 2019 inquest into the death found that it was drug-related - but additionally found that police restraint contributed to his death.

Jurors said some of the force officers used was "excessive" and "probably avoidable", and that more could have been done to de-escalate the situation.

The IOPC said after considering evidence from the inquest, it had since decided officers' use of force at the hostel, which it added included use of Taser, incapacity spray, punches and baton strikes, required reinvestigation.

The inquest also heard Cumberbatch was punched 15 times. There were no criminal charges in relation to the matter.

The watchdog said its final decisions were reached in August 2025. It found that four constables, two of whom have since left the force, have a case to answer for gross misconduct over alleged breaches of professional standards relating to use of force and duties and responsibilities, including failing to risk‑assess the situation or treat it as a medical emergency.

A fifth officer, who did not use force, will face a misconduct meeting over alleged failures in communication and planning before officers entered the toilet block.

Two of the four are no longer serving police officers, said the authority.

The IOPC said the findings were being released following discussions with Warwickshire Police and consultation with Cumberbatch's family and the officers involved.

IOPC Director Emily Barry said the circumstances surrounding the death "needed to be thoroughly examined", and confirmed that Warwickshire Police has now been directed to arrange the disciplinary proceedings.

She said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Cumberbatch and all those affected by his death.

"These investigations have taken a long time to reach a conclusion and we do not underestimate the impact this will have had on them and the officers involved, for which we are sorry."

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