Investigators came straight to Uxbridge to gather evidence following the death of a man in police custody.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has revealed that as soon as it was informed on the morning of Tuesday, June 24, that a man had died in the cells at the Warwick Place headquarters of Hillingdon Police, it sent a team to quiz officers and secure CCTV footage.
Their enquiries continue.
“Any death in custody is a very serious matter, and we have begun an independent investigation to establish exactly what happened,” said IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor.
“Our family liaison managers have made contact with the man’s family, and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time. I would like to assure them we will be conducting a thorough investigation into the man’s contact with police after he was arrested, and the period of time he spent in custody.”
A post-mortem examination of the 57-year-old is expected to take place today (Thursday), and an inquest is likely to be opened and adjourned, pending further investigations.
The man, who has not been named, was arrested in Peachey Lane, Cowley, at about 3.30pm on Monday, June 23, on suspicion of damaging a car and taken to Uxbridge police station where he was put into a cell.
At about 7.30am on Tuesday he was found unconscious, and confirmed dead shortly after.
The Met Police has said it will wait until the results of the post-mortem are known before speaking further on the matter.
