THE locations of four deaths following police contact in West Mercia have been revealed.

The Worcester News previously reported how four people had died after coming into contact with West Mercia Police in 2017/18 according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the Office of National Statistics.

Following a Freedom of Information request, the Worcester News has learned the locations of the incidents.

One of the deaths was recorded as a suicide, with three marked as ‘other’. Of these, two were in Worcestershire – one in Kidderminster and one in Redditch.

None of the deaths occurred in Worcester, Evesham, Droitwich, Malvern or Ledbury.

The 'other' category refers to deaths in which the police are not necessarily involved.

According to the report: "This category includes deaths in a range of circumstances.

READ MORE: Figures show four deaths following police contact in West Mercia

"The police contact may not have been with the deceased directly, but with a third party.

"Of the 127 fatalities (nationally) that followed contact with the police about a concern for welfare, 35 people died following a report of a missing person.

"The police generally did not have direct contact with the deceased in these circumstances."

The deaths mentioned in the report were all investigated independently by the IOPC, previously the Independent Police Complaints Committee.

Superintendent Rebecca Love, head of professional standards for West Mercia Police said: “The death of anyone following contact with West Mercia Police is, as the public would expect, taken extremely seriously by the force.

“A robust system is in place which ensures that any death in these circumstances is referred to the Independent Office of Police Complaints and a thorough investigation is then carried out.”

Under the Police Reform Act 2002, forces in England and Wales have a statutory duty to refer to the IOPC a death during or following police contact where there is an allegation or indication that police contact, directly or indirectly, contributed to the death.

Deaths following police contact are deaths in which the police are not directly responsible.