SIX people died during or following contact with West Yorkshire Police last year, latest figures show.

According to a report from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), there were 186 deaths involving forces across England and Wales in the year to March - down slightly from 199 the year before.

There were six fatalities involving West Yorkshire Police last year.

Of these deaths, four were apparent suicides after custody.

The IOPC also investigated two deaths involving the force which were due to a range of other possible circumstances.

In the previous year, IOPC figures showed there were 11 deaths following contact with West Yorkshire Police. 

Deborah Coles, director of the charity Inquest, said: "No one should be dying at the hands of police. 

"Ultimately to prevent further deaths and harm, we must look beyond policing and redirect resources into community, health, welfare and specialist drug and alcohol services."

Detective Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, of West Yorkshire Police's Professional Standards Directorate, said: "West Yorkshire Police is one of the largest police forces in the country and our officers and staff have contact with thousands of people on a daily basis, often in difficult and challenging circumstances, when people are at their most vulnerable.
 
"Safeguarding is a key priority for us and whether an individual comes to our attention as a missing person, victim or suspected offender, an assessment will be made of any medical issues or any threat that they may pose to themselves and measures put in place to try and mitigate any issues identified. 

"During live incidents, our officers and staff also have to consider wider public safety. 

"The decision to follow or pursue a vehicle for instance should be carefully assessed looking at the road conditions and potential risks for the driver themselves and other road users.   

"If there is a report of death and there has been any police contact which may have caused or contributed to the death, then a referral is always made to the IOPC who consider the full circumstances of the case."

IOPC director general Rachel Watson said: "It is important that any learning from investigations is acted on and fed into improvements to help police officers better manage risk."

Ivan Balhatchet, National Police Chiefs' Council's lead on custody, described it as a challenging and high-risk environment where staff "care for some of the most vulnerable and challenging people in society".