The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to independently investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a 25 year-old Birmingham man as a result of which he lost consciousness and had to be resuscitated and was hospitalised.

At 9pm on 29 April 2006, West Midlands officers attended an incident at a block of flats in Anderton Road, Moseley where an alleged assault had taken place. On attending the scene, officers restrained and arrested a 25 year-old man. He subsequently claimed he was assaulted by officers and had to be resuscitated twice while in police custody.

The man has lodged a complaint with West Midlands Police, who have referred the case to the IPCC. Commissioner John Crawley has confirmed that an independent investigation will be carried out led by IPCC Investigator Kate Owen.

John Crawley, IPCC Commissioner said; “The alleged manner of restraint would have been dangerous and the apparent outcome suggests the man’s life was indeed endangered. I am therefore mindful that Article 2 of the European Human Rights Convention (the duty to preserve life) is potentially engaged. I have therefore decided that this should proceed as an IPCC independent investigation.

We will need to establish how officers dealt with this incident and whether the decision to arrest the man was well founded. We will also be looking at whether the force and the manner of its application used to restrain the man whilst in handcuffs were justifiable or reckless in all of the circumstances.

Finally I am conscious that some 6 months have passed since the incident, which inevitably will make the investigation that much more difficult. This is clearly wrong because the seriousness of the incident itself, with or without a formal complaint, required immediate referral. I have asked our investigation team to get to the bottom of this important issue.”