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Police officers will not face criminal proceedings over the death in custody which prompted last December's Brixton riots, it was disclosed yesterday. The death of 25-year-old Wayne Douglas, shortly after his arrest for alleged aggravated burglary, prompted a protest meeting which was followed by widespread violence in the south London neighbourhood.

There were complaints that officers, who used long-handled batons during the arrest, might have employed excessive force. But two post-mortem examinations showed Mr Douglas died of a heart attack. The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: "After careful consideration senior lawyers decided that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction." The circumstances surrounding Mr Douglas's death were investigated by the Metropolitan Police's complaints investigation branch, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority.