Disciplinary hearings dropped over Thomas Orchard’s death

Family of Orchard, who died in 2012 after restraint by police, call decision 'ethically wrong'

The family of a church caretaker with mental health problems who died after being restrained at a police station has expressed anger after disciplinary proceedings against two detention officers involved in the tragedy have been dropped.

Thomas Orchard, 32, died after a heavy webbing belt was placed across his face while he was being restrained in Exeter following a public order incident in 2012.