Review finds police not responsible for man’s death

POLICE were not responsible for the death of a man who fell from a flat in Dundee just hours after he was quizzed by officers.

Steven Smeaton fell to his death from a third-floor property in Forester Street shortly after 6am on September 7.

Officers were called to a disturbance there a few hours before and, as police had been in contact with Mr Smeaton a short time before his death, a review into the incident was carried out by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

It has now concluded Mr Smeaton’s death cannot be attributable to any act or failure to act by police officers. The report revealed police received a call at 3.30am from a woman who said she could hear residents of a top-floor flat shouting and a child crying. Officers attended and spoke to the female occupant, who told them only she and a young child were there.

Police discovered Mr Smeaton hiding under a bed and he told them he had hidden there because he believed there were warrants in force for his arrest. Both Mr Smeaton and the woman said they were not in a relationship and the person responsible for the disturbance had left the flat before police arrived.

The woman also told officers she was happy for the man to remain in the flat and stay overnight. The officers found the child was in bed and did not appear distressed.

They then confirmed with the area control room Mr Smeaton was not wanted on warrant and, finding no evidence of a domestic incident, left the flat. Around 6.30am the police were then contacted by the ambulance service, who said a man had jumped or fallen from a window.

Commissioner Kate Frame said: “From all available evidence there is nothing to suggest the man’s death was attributable to an act or omission by police officers.”

Steven Smeaton