A 45-year-old man died after being restrained by police answering a call about a child assault in South Norwood, London.
Officers entered the house and found a 45-year-old man. He seemed to be having a medical issue and police say he resisted them strongly. They restrained the man and called paramedics for help.
Inside the ambulance, his condition worsened. He died at the hospital despite medical efforts.
Commander Andy Brittain shared his thoughts, stating, “Our thoughts are with the family.” He wants to reassure the South Norwood community and wants them to know the incident was handled well.
The IOPC will conduct an investigation, providing independent review. Brittain acknowledged the impact on officers who responded to a child in danger and faced a challenging situation.
Police will support the involved officers, as no officer wants someone to die. The Metropolitan Police contacted the IOPC and their Professional Standards department knows the case.
This referral doesn’t mean police did wrong; it’s required when someone dies. This is true after police contact or in custody. The man died after police responded to child abuse.