By James Simons-
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched a criminal investigation into the actions of two officers after a man fell from a balcony in South London and later died from his injuries.
The IOPC said it has established that shortly before midnight on April 11, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers attended a flat in a residential building on Rye Hill Park, Peckham, to a report of a man shouting on a balcony.
“They received no response from inside the flat and left. Prior to this, a similar report was made to the force in the early hours that morning, however, officers did not attend on that occasion,” said.
“A further report was received at around 1.25am on April 12, of a man making threats to jump from a balcony. Officers returned to the flat at around 2am and forced entry. They tried to persuade the man to come inside from the balcony and requested that a police negotiator attend the scene.
“Over the course of the next hour, some officers left the flat and two officers remained inside.
“Evidence at this stage indicates that an officer discharged their Taser, shortly before the man fell from the balcony railing at around 3.20am.”
The man fell five floors to the ground and was transported to hospital with critical injuries. He died later that day.
The police negotiator arrived at the location just before the man fell and had not entered the flat, the IOPC added.
The MPS said despite “extensive efforts”, the man is yet to be formally identified following the incident last month.
The coroner is taking forward identification and working with the MPS in a search for next of kin.
The IOPC said both officers have been advised they are under criminal investigation for gross negligence manslaughter. One of the officers is also being investigated for unlawful act manslaughter.
“They have also been served with gross misconduct notices for potentially breaching police standards of professional behaviour. This does not necessarily mean that criminal charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow,” said the IOPC.
The matter was referred to the IOPC by the force on Wednesday, April 12.
IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “Our thoughts are with the man who died and we sincerely hope that he is formally identified and that his family are able to be notified.
“This was a tragic incident and we recognise that the circumstances surrounding the man’s death have understandably caused concern within the community.
“Our enquiries are still in their early stages and it’s important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation that will be looking at the full circumstances, including the actions and decision-making of the officers who were present.
“Police officers are able to use force in the course of their duties and we will examine whether any force that was used was reasonable, appropriate and proportionate in these circumstances.
“Following the conclusion of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and we will determine whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.”
The IOPC said as part of the evidence-gathering process, investigators attended the police post-incident procedures, where a number of officers provided their initial accounts. Body-worn video footage has been secured and reviewed and Taser downloads will be analysed.
“We have also made enquiries with neighbours and spoken with a witness, as well as making enquiries into CCTV footage,” it added.
The IOPC is also as part of a separate investigation examining complaints linked to an incident in Poplar, East London, where a man was Tasered and two dogs were shot dead by MPS officers.
Officers had been called to reports of a woman being attacked by a dog on Commercial Road on Sunday May 7. A man was arrested at the scene and an officer discharged a Taser. Two dogs were shot dead by police at the scene.
On May 11, the MPS referred two complaints it had received, from individuals who had witnessed the incident to the IOPC, which it determined required independent investigation.
Regional director Ms Rowe said: “We understand the public concern regarding this incident and it is appropriate that it should be independently investigated. We will examine whether the actions of the officers involved were reasonable and proportionate in all of the circumstances and in line with relevant policy and procedure.”