Investigation launched after 57-year-old man dies in police custody in London

The man was put in cells overnight and found dead in the morning

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An investigation has been launched into the death of a 57-year-old man in police custody in London.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the man, who has not been named, had been arrested in Hillingdon on suspicion of vandalising a motor vehicle on Monday afternoon.

He was taken into custody at Uxbridge Police Station and put into a cell where he was found dead the next day.

Custody officers who checked on him at 7.30am on Tuesday found him “unresponsive”, according to the IPCC.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said staff tried CPR and paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force referred the investigation to the IPCC, who sent investigators to Uxbridge Police Station to gather evidence and make inquiries.

CCTV footage is being recovered from the custody suite and police officers are being interviewed, the IPCC said.

A post mortem to establish the cause of death was expected to take place on Thursday.

Jennifer Izekor, the commissioner of the IPCC, said: “Any death in custody is a very serious matter, and we have begun an independent investigation to establish exactly what happened.

"Our family liaison managers have made contact with the man’s family, and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

“I would like to assure them we will be conducting a thorough investigation into the man’s contact with police after he was arrested, and the period of time he spent in custody.”