Woman, 35, not subjected to full risk assessment dies after she's found unresponsive in police cell

A woman who died after she was found unresponsive in a police cell had not been subjected to a full risk assessment because she was 'drunk and violent', an inquest has heard.

Kelly Hartigan-Burns, 35, who grew up in Bolton, had been found unresponsive in a cell at Greenbank Police Station in Blackburn on December 4 2016 and was later taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital, Lancs Live reports. However, she had not been subject to a full risk assessment despite a suicide risk.

The ongoing inquest into her death, at County Hall in Preston, heard that she had been arrested in Barley Bank Street in Darwen on December 6 after allegedly punching her partner Collette in the face, was taken straight to a cell instead of being subjected to a full risk assessment because she was 'drunk and violent at [the custody sergeant's] desk'.

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However, the hearing heard how earlier in the evening, before she was arrested, Kelly had attempted to take her own life. She had a history of mental health problems and suicide concerns and had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act, the inquest heard.

She had also previously been arrested after a member of the public had made a 999 call because she was trying to step out in front of traffic and said "I need to die, I want to die."

The jury heard evidence from Sergeant Gary Wynne, who trains sergeants and detention officers in the use of the force's booking-in system. He talked the jury through the various tick boxes and options a custody sergeant must complete when a detainee arrives at the police station.

She was booked in at