A DOCTOR thought a healthcare professional should have been called in by police to assess the mental state of a suicidal Swindon man held in their custody, an inquest heard.

Michael Spencer of Grantham Close, Freshbrook, told police officers he wanted to throw himself under a lorry after his arrest for assaulting wife Wendy, Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

The dad-of-two then carried out the threat less than two hours after he was released on police bail from Gablecross Police Station.

Mr Spencer, 39, was run over and killed at 3.45pm on the A420 in Shrivenham – less than three miles away from the station.

Dr Guy Norfolk, a GP and expert in legal and forensic medicine, had compiled a report of the incident stating that custody staff should have called a doctor or nurse to assess Mr Spencer.

This, the doctor said, came in light of Mr Spencer making previous suicidal threats, self-harming, overdosing on painkillers and taking antidepressants.

Mr Spencer was placed in a police cell monitored by CCTV at the time of his arrest. His custody records were in a red folder showing he was vulnerable.

Mr Norfolk’s report read by Oxfordshire Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: “A healthcare professional should have been called to the police station.”

Mr Norfolk went on to say that if Mr Spencer had been assessed as “high risk” to himself he could have been taken to hospital and a care plan would have been drafted.

He said that 80 percent of all suicides happen after there has been a previous threat. But he had to admit in the report that he was “dogmatic” in what was a purely speculative process.

Mr Gardiner responded by saying that even if a healthcare professional had been called to visit Mr Spencer in his police cell it may not have made a difference to any outcome.

In other evidence Patrick Geenty, the Assistant Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, said there had been a number of changes to force policy since Mr Spencer’s death on July 16, 2006.

He told the inquest there was now a three-week course for new custody staff and a refresher course for staff who were already employed.

A computer system logging all custody records had been set up replacing the old paper form. Prompts were also given on screen for custody sergeants and detention officers, so nothing was “overlooked,” said Mr Geenty.

Mr Geenty said there had been a 30 percent rise in the number of referrals to healthcare professionals. Custody staff would phone a healthcare professional and it would be up to them if they decide to make a visit to the prisoner, Mr Geenty said.

He also said he had complete faith in the judgement of his custody staff to refer under the safe detention guidelines.

“It’s a high risk environment,” he said. “We have to allow officers to use their own judgement to keep people safe.”

He added: “We can learn lessons from the past. But when it comes to officers’ judgments at the time you have to bear in mind how the decision was made.”

A pre-release risk assessment for prisoners had also been introduced, he said.

Detention officer Andrew Baker said he had no worries about Mr Spencer while he was in custody.

“He caused us no problems and was a pleasant gentleman. He was not abusive or obnoxious,” added Mr Baker.

The inquest continues.