IOPC investigates Metropolitan Police Service death in custody

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is independently investigating the death of a 38-year-old man in police custody in Leyton, east London.

We have established that the man was detained after being approached by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers on a street in Leyton at around 5.30 pm on Saturday, 4 September, and was taken to Leyton Custody Suite.

Shortly after arrival at the custody suite at around 6.30pm, while the man was being booked in, he became unwell and then unresponsive. Officers called for an ambulance and began resuscitation efforts prior to the arrival of paramedics. Sadly, the man was pronounced dead in the custody suite soon after 8pm.

Following a mandatory referral from the MPS that evening, we sent investigators to the custody suite and to the post incident procedures, where those officers involved provided their initial accounts. Investigators have since been gathering relevant information and begun reviewing CCTV and body-worn video footage.

IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: “My thoughts are with the man’s family at this difficult time. We have made contact with his family to explain our role and will update them as our enquiries progress. As the man died in police custody, we will carry out a thorough, independent investigation into all the circumstances. We will examine interaction officers had with the man on the street, and what happened after he arrived at the custody suite. Our investigation is still in its early stages.”

HM Coroner has been informed and a post-mortem examination took place on Tuesday 7 September, the outcome of which was pending further tests. A date has yet to be fixed for the opening of an inquest.