Police Scotland must review officer guidance into transportation of those in custody after a woman suffered severe burns in the back of a Glasgow cop van.
An investigation report has been produced for the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) after a woman suffered severe burns after she set fire to her clothing.
The 25-year-old was badly injured whilst she was being transported to London Road station in the East End.
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On being arrested she is said to have struggled violently with officers, making it impossible to conduct a thorough search of her.
The incident, which took place on Saturday, April 27, 2019, saw police officers choose not to sit in an observation seat in the van while the woman was being moved to the station within the vehicle's holding cell.
The investigation found this meant monitoring of the woman was "problematic".
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The woman was in possession of a cigarette lighter and whilst within the police vehicle set fire to her clothing, causing serious burn injuries.
As the officers chose to sit in the front of the van, they were not made aware of the flames on her clothing until the fire "had taken substantial hold", causing a severe injury to the woman's right thigh.
At present the standard operating procedure allows some discretion for officers on the monitoring of people being transported in police vehicles. Investigators for the PIRC have recommended that this be reviewed in light of this incident.
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Police Scotland will now have to report to investigators within three months to report findings of a review into Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody Standard Operating Procedures.
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