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Officer had been trying to help man before he fell from Bristol tower block, IPCC finds

A police officer had been trying to help a man before he fell from the eighth floor of a building in Bristol, an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation has found.

Abdul Nasir, aged 30, died after falling from his flat in Rawnsley House in Easton, Bristol on Tuesday 16 August 2016. An Avon and Somerset police officer was in Mr Nasir’s flat at the time.

On the morning of 16 August, Mr Nasir had been seen by several witnesses running into traffic in Stapleton Road. A passing police officer, who did not see Mr Nasir’s actions, was alerted by the witnesses to his behaviour and accompanied Mr Nasir to Rawnsley House in order to check his identity and welfare.

Mr Nasir walked into his flat and entered a small room off the living room area out of sight of the officer. The next time the officer saw Mr Nasir, he had positioned himself on a windowsill with the window open. Despite requests from the officer to come down Mr Nasir manoeuvred himself through the window. The officer made efforts to grab the clothing of Mr Nasir but he fell to the ground.

As a death following police contact, the IPCC had a duty to consider the nature and extent of police contact with Mr Nasir prior to his death.

Investigators interviewed the officer who was with the man at the time of his death, officers who attended the scene and a number of independent witnesses. All police officers were treated as witnesses.

IPCC Operations Manager Melanie Palmer said: “My thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Nasir and with the officer involved in this traumatic incident.

“By conducting checks, enquiring about the availability of any mental health specialist police employees, attempting to contact the Crisis Team, asking relevant questions and accompanying Mr Nasir back to what he thought was his friend’s flat, the officer was seeking to assist Mr Nasir and to better understand his needs.”

The independent investigation concluded in July 2017 and publication of our findings has awaited an inquest. An inquest, which concluded on Wednesday, found Mr Nasir died of multiple injuries.

 

Channel website: https://policeconduct.gov.uk/

Original article link: http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/officer-had-been-trying-help-man-he-fell-bristol-tower-block-ipcc-finds

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