5 Feb 2013

IPCC investigates transport police misconduct claims

Home Affairs Correspondent

The IPCC investigates allegations of gross misconduct involving three British Transport Police officers in relation to statements given after a man fell to his death from a multi-storey car park.

The IPCC investigates allegations of gross misconduct involving three British Transport Police officers in relation to statements given after a man fell to his death from a multi-storey car park.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation, which concerns the death of Stephen Church, 53, in Reading in 2011, is also looking at the “possible involvement of the BTP Federation” in the alleged misconduct.

The officers under investigation are two Reading-based male police constables, aged 33 and 40, and a 58 year old male detective constable, based in London, thought to be an officer with the British Transport Police (BTP) Federation.

Stephen Church was detained by British Transport Police officers on May 13, 2011, under the Mental Health Act. He had previously been spotted on train tracks in Reading. After being taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital with an injured hand, according to an IPCC spokesman, “he left the hospital and died after falling from a multi-storey car park nearby”.

An initial IPCC investigation (routine for all deaths following police contact) into the BTP’s handling of Mr Church had been due to report its findings at the conclusion of an inquest hearing which was due to start in February.

In a statement released this morning, a British Transport Police spokesman said: “BTP identified concerns following an internal investigation and referred the matter to the IPCC on Thursday, 24 January…the officers have not been suspended from duty at this time”.

An IPCC spokesman said: “A new IPCC investigation will look at statements provided by two BTP officers after Mr Church’s death and the possible involvement of the BTP Federation.

“The findings of the first IPCC investigation were to be released at the conclusion of an inquest hearing that was due to start in February. The hearing has now been adjourned by the coroner following new information from BTP”.

The British Transport Police Federation, when contacted by Channel 4 News, declined to comment.