A police union has been criticised after their lawyer claimed race played “no part” in the death of tragic Sheku Bayoh.
Peter Watson, acting for the Scottish Police Federation, told Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf the death was “directly related” to Bayoh taking illegal drugs.
Aamer Anwar, who represents the late man’s family, blasted: “The Federation sadly remain in a permanent state of denial on race.”
Bayoh, a trainee gas engineer, died in Kirkcaldy five years ago after he was restrained by up to nine police officers who used CS spray, pepper spray and batons.
The officers had responded to reports of a man holding a knife in the town centre. Bayoh was unarmed at the time of the clash.
The family blasted the police after the 31-year-old suffered 23 separate injuries.
Tests also showed Bayoh had taken the drugs Flakka and MDMA at some point before the clash.
In May, Yousaf announced the remit of a public inquiry would look at whether race played a part in the events.
According to letters released under freedom of information, Watson wrote to Yousaf in the run up to the remit being finalised.
He claimed: “We are unaware of any evidence which supports the narrative promoted by those representing the family of the deceased. All information we are aware of makes clear that race and diversity played no part in the incident leading to the death of Mr Bayoh.
“It is clear from the death certificate and the enquiries we have made to date, including the behaviour of the deceased, that his death is directly related to the consumption of proscribed drugs.”
He added: “It is also clear from the expert evidence that the behaviour exhibited by the deceased fits the pattern of Abnormal Behaviour Disturbance or Disorder which is a well understood consequence of consuming such proscribed substances.”
In an earlier letter, Watson said his client recognised the “utility” of investigating the race issue, if only to dispel the claim that race had a role.
Anwar added: “These desperate attempts to ‘exclude’ race from the public inquiry come as no surprise to the Bayoh family. A young man died after being attacked and then restrained by several police officers, in his death there have been repeated attempts to racially stereotype him and negate his right to life.
“The family have hope that the Public Inquiry will be independent, fearless and robust and it will investigate the role of race. Ultimately its conclusions will be written by Lord Bracadale and not dictated to by the Federation no matter how much they protest.”
The SPF declined to comment.
