Watchdog to probe death of man in custody

THE death of a 42-year-old man found unconscious in a cell at a Sheffield police station is to be investigated by an independent watchdog.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th May 2013, 01:01 BST

The man, who had been remanded in custody overnight after being charged with shoplifting, was found at Ecclesfield police station at 9am yesterday.

On seeing he was unconscious, officers called paramedics and tried to provide first aid. The man was pronounced dead at 10.05am.

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South Yorkshire Police say regular checks of the man, who has not been named, were carried out overnight and in the morning.

He had been due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

A spokeswoman said: “The family of the man have been informed. South Yorkshire Police have begun to follow standard protocols and the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).”

An IPCC spokesman said: “Investigators have been deployed to the scene to begin an independent investigation. The IPCC will issue further detail in due course.”