Man dies in Swindon custody as police watchdog launch probe

After a guy passed away while being held in Swindon, the police watchdog opened an investigation.

At approximately 7.30 am on Sunday, Wiltshire Air Ambulance was dispatched to the scene of the incident at  Police  Station, along with ambulance workers.

A man in his 30s who had been arrested and was being held in jail was declared dead after receiving treatment from 999 teams for almost an hour.

The investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) led to the custody suite’s total closure.

Detainees were sent to Melksham prison, and top police officers have cautioned front-line officers not to make arrests unless absolutely necessary.

Additionally, all scheduled interviews for voluntary attendance have been cancelled by the force. The custody suite might be closed for a while.

Superintendent Steve Cox confirmed the death of a man in his 30s while he was being held at Gablecross Police Station in Swindon in a statement.

“The individual, who had been under arrest since Saturday morning, started feeling ill this morning and was tragically pronounced dead at approximately nine in the morning.

Consequently, we have sent the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for required investigation, which they are currently conducting on their own.

“At this time, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

The announcement was made only a few days after the Melksham Custodial Suite reopened following a £3.7 million renovation in mid-February 2023.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*