Police watchdog to look at tasered man's death

Body-worn footage from two Thames Valley Police officers will be reviewed by the police watchdog as part of its investigation

The police conduct watchdog has begun an investigation following the death of a man in custody after he was tasered by officers.

The 23-year-old, who has not been named, died in hospital in Milton Keynes on 22 August, while in Thames Valley Police custody.

He called police threatening to harm himself and others and was tasered to enable officers to restrain him, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

Its director Derrick Campbell said the investigation was designed to understand the circumstances in which the man died while in custody.

"Our thoughts are with the man's family and friends, and all those affected by his death," he said.

The 23-year-old contacted police in the early hours of 22 August and when officers arrived at the scene, he was harming himself, according to the watchdog.

The IOPC has not revealed where police were called to.

Two officers discharged their tasers so they could restrain him, but he had taken drugs prior to his arrest and later suffered seizures, said the IOPC.

He was taken, by ambulance, to hospital where officers remained with him and used leg restraints after he became agitated and made threats.

Throughout the day, his condition deteriorated and, despite medical treatment, he died that afternoon in hospital, the IOPC said.

According to the watchdog, a post-mortem examination was held on 29 August, but the preliminary cause of death has not been established and it was awaiting the results of further tests.

Mr Campbell said: "It's important that an independent investigation is carried out to fully establish the circumstances when someone has died while in the custody of police and we will ensure the man's family are kept informed as our investigation progresses."

IOPC investigators will review body-worn footage from police along with statements from the officers, who are all being treated as witnesses.

A full inquest into the death was adjourned until 10 February.