DOZENS of people have died following contact with Avon and Somerset Constabulary over the past five years, new figures show.

The figures come as the Police Action Centre warns that police need to be better trained in de-escalating difficult situations.

Every year, the Independent Office for Police Conduct releases figures on the number of deaths following contact with police forces in England and Wales.

They show between April 2017 and March of this year, 28 people died after contact with Avon and Somerset Constabulary – including 10 in 2021-22.

Of the deaths recorded since 2017, four were the result of road traffic accidents involving police.

There were also three apparent suicides which happened after police contact – and Avon and Somerset Constabulary was also involved in a suicide that happened after contact with the British Transport Police.

There was also one person killed in a shooting involving Avon and Somerset Constabulary in the last five years – although there were none in 21-22.

A further 20 deaths that involved Avon and Somerset Constabulary occurred during other incidents that the IOPC has investigated – which can include police helping medical staff to restrain someone, or if officers are called to an incident that ultimately results in a fatality.

Other police forces were also involved in one of these incidents.

The organisation warns that as the figures include deaths that it has investigated, they may not cover every death that has occurred after police contact.

Director General of the IOPC, Michael Lockwood, said that each death is a "tragedy".

Across England and Wales there were 39 fatalities in road traffic accidents involving police in the year to March – with Avon and Somerset Constabulary accounting for two of them – compared to 25 the year before.

Mr Lockwood added that a "system-wide" response was necessary to tackle deaths in police custody, highlighting that mental health, drug and alcohol problems are prevalent among those who have lost their lives in the last year.

"We need to make sure that appropriate health and social services are available to meet the needs of those in crisis, particularly in response to issues of mental health.

Commenting on the figures, a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "All police forces in England and Wales are required to make mandatory referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) should a death occur following police contact.

"The IOPC will then decide whether the matter is suitable for the force’s Professional Standards Department to investigate, with its oversight, or if it wishes to lead the enquiries.

"Referrals are made at the earliest opportunity and do not necessarily mean police were either present at the time of the death or infer any suspected culpability.

"We are committed to being open about all our interactions with the public.

"The IOPC referral process is a vital step in ensuring the actions of our officers and staff receives independent scrutiny and we welcome the transparency it provides to ensure public confidence in our police service is maintained.

"We are a learning organisation and will ensure any improvements identified through this process are acted upon.”