Independent inquiry call for deaths in police custody

● Ministers urged to follow Angiolini review south of the Border

A call has been made for an independent inquiry into the deaths of people in police custody.

Scottish Labour’s justice spokeswoman Claire Baker has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pressing for the investigation.

It follows a similar review in England and Wales by Dame Elish Angiolini QC, which has demanded sweeping reforms to the police and justice system south of the Border.

In Scotland, the family of Sheku Bayoh are still awaiting answers after his death in custody in 2015. Ms Baker said: “As Sheku Bayoh’s case shows, we face a number of the same challenges that prompted a similar review in England and Wales. We face being left behind if we do not set in motion our own inquiry.

“Two-and-a-half years after the death of Sheku Bayoh, his family are still waiting for answers. We need to do all we can to ensure that other families don’t face this heartache. That is why the First Minister must set up a separate Scottish inquiry now.”

Dame Elish’s review said specialist “drying-out’’ centres could be created to hold people who are detained while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

It also recommended the introduction of CCTV in police vans to allow monitoring of restrained detainees.

Mr Bayoh died after being restrained by officers responding to a call in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3, 2015. The 31-yearold trainee gas engineer was under the influence of drugs at the time.

The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner submitted a report into the incident to the Crown Office in August last year.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Any death in custody in Scotland is treated very seriously.

“We will study this comprehensive report by Dame Elish Angiolini carefully and determine whether there is any further action that should be taken here in Scotland.”

Dame Elish’s report, which contains 110 recommendations and runs to nearly 300 pages, says drying-out centres are widely used in Australia and have the potential to reduce deaths in police stations.

The UK Government should consider piloting a centre or centres in large urban areas, where it is most likely to be

0 Dame Elish Angiolini’s report said specialist ‘drying-out’ centres could be created in some cities cost-effective, the report says. The review notes that, of eight prosecutions of police officers in connection with a death in custody in the past 15 years, all have ended with acquittals.

It says the vast majority of officers conduct themselves with integrity at all times, often during “very challenging conditions”.

The review was commissioned by Theresa May in July 2015.