Hartlepool Man's Death in Police Custody Back Before The Coroner More Than Three Years On....
By Google News Investigations ·
A coroner’s hearing into the death of Hartlepool man who died in Police Custody under the botched Operation Artemis Scheme has been listed for this Tuesday, more than three years after he died...
The official Teesside inquest schedule seen by the Teesside & Durham Post confirms a pre-inquest review hearing for Hartlepool Man Stephen Stead will now take place at 10am on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
It comes as Cleveland Police just days ago faces a further IOPC investigation after another death at Middlesbrough Custody Suite had occurred....
The listing marks a significant development in a case previously covered by The Teesside & Durham Post, bringing the Hartlepool Man’s death back into public focus years after the police watchdog cleared officers involved in his arrest & subsequent custody at Middlesbrough Police station, with crucial video evidence of the hours leading up to Mr Steads death never being recovered despite it being published by a local
newspaper.
Tuesday’s hearing is said to be a preparatory stage rather than the full inquest, helping to determine the scope of the eventual hearing, the evidence required and which witnesses or experts should attend.
Mr Stead, 50, died in June 2023, after being detained by Cleveland Police in Whitby Street South, Hartlepool.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s account, he arrived at Middlesbrough custody suite shortly before 10am. He then became unwell, an ambulance was called at 12.35pm, and he died shortly after 1pm despite efforts to save him.
An independent investigation followed a referral from Cleveland Police. Investigators reportedly examined custody CCTV, records and accounts from officers, staff and other witnesses although their names weren't formally disclosed...
The watchdog, who itself is facing questions over its credibility in the investigation subsequently found no indication that anyone serving with the police had behaved in a way that justified disciplinary proceedings.
However, it identified so called 'learning' for a custody sergeant, two special constables and a detention officer, addressed through a so called 'reflective practice process'.
Wider organisational learning concerned the communication of information to support risk assessments and questioning of detainees, with Cleveland Police claiming it had introduced changes to custody procedures and worked with officers and staff to ensure they understood them.
Despite this, claims Mr Stead was murdered surfaced long before any IOPC investigation was commenced following claims a video showing Mr Stead being 'assaulted' by two police officers was published to a local newspaper promoting Cleveland Polices Operation Artemis Scheme.
The video was subsequently removed & never shown again just hours later after Mr Steads death was announced.
The video footage has never been recovered, although it was said to have contained crucial evidence showing Mr Stead being punched in the chest by two police constables as he was then bundled into the back of a police van.
Despite the concerns over the way the IOPC investigation was handled, the forthcoming review confirms that the coroners process remains ongoing following those findings.
The hearing is listed at Court 13, Teesside Magistrates’ Court, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AS.
Anyone planning to attend should check the listing with the coroner’s service beforehand in case arrangements change.
Originally published by Google News Investigations
