Man dies after falling ill in Westminster custody

A 42-year-old man has died after falling ill while in police custody at Charing Cross police station in Westminster. Officers discovered the man unresponsive in his cell at 4:27 AM on 2 October. First aid was administered by officers before paramedics from the London Ambulance Service arrived and took him to hospital, where he later died. The Metropolitan Police stated that a standard risk assessment was completed upon his arrival in custody.

IOPC Investigation Launched

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has begun an investigation into the conduct of custody staff at the station. The Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards was informed of the incident, and a mandatory referral was made to the IOPC when the man was found unresponsive. The IOPC confirmed its watchdog role in examining the actions of custody staff. The man's family will be kept informed of the investigation's progress, according to an IOPC spokesperson.

Background at Charing Cross

The man had been arrested on the afternoon of 1 October for recall to prison. The Metropolitan Police commented that their thoughts were with the man's family and friends. Commander Lou Sargent stated that the full circumstances surrounding the death would be independently examined and that the force would offer its full support to the IOPC investigation. This incident occurs in the context of ongoing scrutiny of Charing Cross police station and its custody suite, following an undercover BBC Panorama investigation into officer conduct. The Metropolitan Police has dismissed 13 officers who worked at the station over the past year.