INDEPENDENT POLICE
COMPLAINTS COMMISSION News Release issued by The Government News
Network on 23 August 2008
The Independent
Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has named the man who died
after being taken ill at Brixton police station on Thursday (21
August) as Sean Rigg.
At approximately 7.15pm on Thursday police were responding to
reports that Mr Rigg's behaviour was causing concern to
members of the public in the Atkins Road area. He was subsequently
arrested in nearby Weir Road on suspicion of public order offences
and assault on a police officer. He was taken to Brixton police
station but became unwell and was taken to hospital where he
subsequently died at 9.24pm.
The Metropolitan Police referred Mr Rigg's death to the
IPCC. IPCC investigators arrived at Brixton police station shortly
before midnight on Thursday.
IPCC investigators have obtained CCTV footage from Brixton police
station on the night of Mr Rigg's death. The IPCC has also
secured local authority CCTV footage from the area in order to
assist its inquiry.
A post-mortem, attended by an IPCC investigator, was carried out
by a Home Office pathologist on Friday. This showed no obvious
signs of any injury that could have caused his death.
The IPCC has interviewed a number of significant witnesses and
yesterday evening ran a witness appeal and leaflet drop in the
Weir Road area to identify witnesses who may have seen Mr
Rigg's arrest. There have already been some positive
responses to the witness appeal.
IPCC family liaison managers met with members of Mr Rigg's
family this morning and visited their home this afternoon and
shared with them as much information as possible.
The IPCC is appealing for anyone who saw a bare-chested man
wearing white trousers in the area of Atkins Road or Weir Road
between 7.15 - 7.45pm on Thursday, or who witnessed the arrest
itself, to contact them on 0800 096 9070 or email brixton@ipcc.gov.uk