Key Takeaways
- A 39-year-old man died while in police custody in Glasgow after being taken into custody following a disturbance at a property
- Two women and a man were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries
- The death is being treated as unexplained and police have referred themselves to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC)
- The incident occurred on Berkeley Street in Glasgow, and police have sealed off the street and are continuing to investigate
- There is no threat to the wider community, according to police
Introduction to the Incident
Police in Glasgow are investigating the death of a 39-year-old man who died while in custody after being taken into custody following a disturbance at a property on Berkeley Street. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, with emergency services being called to the scene around 6:45am. Upon arrival, police found a disturbance at a property, and two women aged 25 and 40, and a 27-year-old man were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Incident Unfolds
As the situation unfolded, a 39-year-old man was taken into police custody, but he became unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service. The death is being treated as unexplained, and the man’s family has been informed. The police have sealed off the street, and a forensics tent could be seen on the road as part of their investigation. The police remain at the scene, and enquiries are continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
Investigation and Referral to PIRC
On Saturday, police confirmed that they would be referring themselves to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC). This is a standard procedure in cases where a person dies in police custody, and it allows for an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the death. A Police Scotland spokesperson stated, "The circumstances of the incident have been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC)." The PIRC will conduct an independent investigation into the death, and their findings will be made public in due course.
Scene and Ongoing Investigation
The scene on Berkeley Street remains sealed off, with police and forensic officers continuing to investigate. The police have stated that there is no threat to the wider community, and the incident is being treated as an isolated event. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. The forensic tent on the road is a visible sign of the ongoing investigation, and police are likely to remain at the scene for some time as they gather evidence and piece together the events of the early morning incident.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The death of a man in police custody is a serious incident, and the police are taking it very seriously. The referral to the PIRC is an important step in ensuring that the circumstances surrounding the death are thoroughly investigated and that any lessons learned can be applied to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the investigation continues, the police will work to determine the cause of the man’s death and to provide answers to his family and the wider community. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of police accountability and the need for transparency in cases where a person dies in police custody.
