WIREDGOV

We are investigating the circumstances of a man’s death on Saturday (30 June) following an operation in Newport carried out by Immigration Enforcement officers. A 23 year old Sudanese man fell from a height and died after being taken to hospital.

Immigration Enforcement staff attended the Shaftesbury car wash on Albany Street, Newport at around 10 am on Saturday as part of an operation. It is understood, following the arrival of the officers, a man working there climbed onto an adjacent factory roof. A short while later he was found on the floor of an annex building next to the factory with critical injuries.

Officers called an ambulance and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. He was transferred by ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where sadly he was pronounced dead soon after.

Our investigators went to the scene on Saturday and have begun enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. Initial accounts have been gained from the Immigration Enforcement officers who attended, and car wash staff and other witnesses are being spoken to. CCTV from the area of the factory is being recovered. HM Coroner for Gwent has been advised and the man’s next of kin in Sudan are being informed. Investigators have spoken to Sudanese friends of the man living in the UK.

Jonathan Green, IOPC regional director who has responsibility for Home Office matters, said: “This was a tragic and shocking incident and my thoughts go out to the man’s family and everyone else affected. We have a remit to investigate in certain circumstances where a death or serious injury occurs to a member of the public in the course of immigration enforcement staff carrying out their duties. We would like to assure everyone concerned by this incident that we have begun a thorough, independent investigation into exactly what happened on Saturday morning, and the planning of the operation.” 

The investigation follows a mandatory referral from the Immigration Enforcement team in the Home Office. The team carrying out the operation were based in Cardiff.

The IOPC has jurisdiction over Immigration Enforcement officers when carrying out specified enforcement functions in relation to immigration.