Calls to learn lessons from Bayoh review

Fife MSP’s plea as family still await answers three years after Kirkcaldy man’s death

A Fife MSP has demanded police “learn lessons” from a Scottish Government review into their conduct and handling of complaints following the death of Sheku Bayoh.

Welcoming the investigation, announced this week, Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker called for the review to reach out to Sheku’s family as their experience is “critical to understanding where improvements and changes must be made.”

Mr Bayoh died after being restrained by six officers in 2015, with CS spray and batons being used.

The review, to be led by Dame Elish Angiolini, will consider “current procedures and guidance” and “include a wider assessment of the frameworks and practice relating to complaints handling, investigations and misconduct issues”.

It will cover Police Scotland, The Scottish Police Authority and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

Ms Baker said: “I welcome the announcement of a review by the Scottish Government into police conduct and complaints.

“This review must tackle difficult questions and ensure that no stone is left unturned.

“For this to happen, we must ensure that it is not just officers and those involved in the force that are being interviewed for their experiences.

“PIRC and Police Scotland must learn the lessons from how they dealt with Sheku’s death and how they treated his family, both in the immediate aftermath of his death and in the three years since as his family still wait for answers.

“That is why I am calling for Dame Elish Angiolini to reach out and engage with Sheku’s family and with others that have first-hand experience of police conduct, complaints and investigations.

“Their experiences are critical to understanding where improvements and changes must be made.”

Mr Bayoh’s family announced last month that they would be suing Police Scotland for £1.85 million in damages.

Announcing the civil action, Sheku’s sister Kadi Johnson claimed the family’s “confidence is shattered” and “patience has been exhausted.”

In May 2015 police reacted to reports that a man – later identified as Mr Bayoh – was behaving erratically and brandishing a knife on a Kirkcaldy street.

His family’s lawyer said he was not carrying a weapon when he was stopped, although it is understood a knife was later found nearby.

A toxicology report said that ecstasy had been found in Mr Bayoh’s system, as well as traces of psychostimulant A-PVP, sometimes known as Flakka.

This review must tackle difficult questions and ensure no stone is left unturned. CLAIRE BAKER MSP

Sheku Bayoh died in 2015 after police were called to deal with a man behaving “erratically” and brandishing a knife in a Kirkcaldy street.