The mother of a Fife man who died in custody has demanded police make a public apology to his family.
A Fatal Accident Inquiry concluded that serious failures within Dunfermline Police Station led to the death of James Bell, 31, of Cowdenbeath.
Mr Bell was found unconscious in his cell on Sunday June 5 2011 and efforts to revive him failed. He was taken to Queen Margaret Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His mum Ann Hynd claims she has lost trust in the police after hearing they failed to carry out regular 30 minute checks on her son and falsified paperwork claiming visits had been carried out.
Ann said: “I want a public apology from the police regarding the outcome of this inquiry. Whether it will happen I don’t know.
“I’ve not had any support since it happened and it’s taken three years for a Fatal Accident Inquiry to tell us.
“It’s been hellish waiting to know because your mind works overtime and you think the worst of everything.
“There has been no contact with the police whatsoever. I’ve no trust in either the police or the emergency services or the NHS anymore.
“Too many things happened over that weekend that could have been avoided and his death could have been avoided. It was a catalogue of errors.”
Sheriff Ian Abercrombie, who oversaw the FAI, also concluded that the Police Custody Security Officer on duty, Amanda Bettley, had showed a “complete lack of comprehension” about what she should be doing.
Ms Bettley was summarily dismissed for gross misconduct by Fife Council in March 2012 after the episode involving Mr Bell.
Ms Hynd said: “I’m happy with the conclusions that Sheriff Abercrombie came to because he did find out exactly what had happened. The PCSO to me was used as the scapegoat.
“Senior officers have since been demoted from sergeant down to PCs but to me that isn’t right. They shouldn’t even be in service anymore as far as I’m concerned.”
A dad of four, Mr Bell lived with his children and partner Debbie Douglas in Dalbeath Crescent.
Struggling with depression, he had been admitted to Queen Margaret Hospital in early June 2011 suffering from a methadone overdose.
Ann said: “James had taken methadone but he was not a methadone user. He had taken it to try and knock himself out because he was depressed.
“It wasn’t his methadone, he had been given it by someone. He wasn’t prescribed methadone because he wasn’t a heroin addict and never had been.
“All the family has to now try and properly start grieving for James because it wasn’t able to happen until all this came out. It’s been a horrendous length of time.”
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Ciorstan Shearer said: “Police Scotland acknowledges the determinations made by Sheriff Abercrombie in relation to the death of Mr James Bell which occurred on June 5 2011 within a custody centre at Dunfermline Police Station, then operated by Fife Constabulary.
“The determinations will be reviewed in detail, I am confident that the majority of issues raised were resolved and if this is found not to be the case will be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
“Police Scotland wishes to extend its sympathy to the family of James Bell.”