Police officers face disciplinary proceedings over Darren Cumberbatch's death in Nuneaton
Daniel Cumberbatch, 32, died after an incident at a bail hostel in 2017
Last updated 19th May 2026
Five serving and former Warwickshire Police officers are to face disciplinary proceedings over their contact with a man prior to his death in Nuneaton.
Daniel Cumberbatch, 32, died at the George Eliot hospital nine days after he was restrained by officers during an incident at the Edward Street Hostel on 10th July 2017.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now concluded that the officers have cases to answer over their contact with Mr Cumberbatch.
The reinvestigation determined that four constables, including two who are no longer serving police officers, are to face a gross misconduct hearing after alleged breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour for use of force, and duties and responsibilities as well as for failing to risk assess the situation or treat it as a medical emergency.
A fifth officer, who was not involved in using force against Mr Cumberbatch, will face a misconduct meeting for alleged breaches in relation to duties and responsibilities.
The IOPC said this concerns the level of communication and planning with colleagues before the decision was made to enter and remove Mr Cumberbatch from the hostel's toilet block.
Following Mr Cumberbatch's death in 2017, the then Independent Police Complaints Commission conducted an investigation, sharing its findings with the family, Warwickshire Police, and the Coroner in 2018.
In 2019, an inquest concluded that Mr. Cumberbatch's death was drug-related, though restraint by police contributed to the outcome.
The jury found "serious failings" by attending officers, suggesting that some force used "may have been excessive" and “probably avoidable.”
They determined that police restraint on Mr Cumberbatch at the hospital was reasonable.
After reviewing new evidence presented during the inquest, including officers' accounts, representations from Mr Cumberbatch's family and witnesses, the IOPC decided in July 2022 to reinvestigate the use of force, which included the use of Taser, PAVA spray, punches, and baton strikes used in a confined toilet area.
IOPC Director Emily Barry 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 conclusion and we do not underestimate the impact this will have had on them and the officers involved, for which we are sorry. Since this investigation started, we have transformed our processes to improve the quality and timeliness of our investigations.
“It was important, however, that the circumstances surrounding Mr Cumberbatch’s death were thoroughly examined. As above, following our reinvestigation we determined that two serving officers and two former officers have cases to answer for gross misconduct. We also determined that a fifth officer should attend a misconduct meeting.
“We have now directed Warwickshire Police to arrange the disciplinary proceedings, which they are responsible for organising.”
The IOPC say all parties have been informed of it's findings and it has decided not to send a file of evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any criminal charges.