The police officer who arrested and restrained Rashan Charles before his death failed to perform his role satisfactorily, the police watchdog has said.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that the performance of the officer who restrained the 21-year-old last summer "fell short of expected standards [...] either through a lack of competence or capability".
But the probe indicated that the failings were not deliberate and did not amount to misconduct, saying the officer "froze" in circumstances which were "difficult, stressful and exhausting".
Mr Charles died in the early hours of 22 July 2017 after being chased into a shop in the east London district of Dalston, where CCTV showed a police officer struggling with him on the floor.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced in January that the officer, known only as BX47, would not face charges.
An inquest into the young man's death in June found that BX47 failed to follow protocol in responding to problems with Mr Charles’ breathing and should have called the ambulance service sooner, but concluded that the death was an accident following justified use of force.
The IOPC's investigation into the incident, which was submitted to the coroner but was published on Wednesday morning, finds that although the officers "basic failings" may not have been the cause of Mr Charles' death, they do represent a failure to perform his role satisfactorily.
The Watchdog recommends that the officer should undergo unsatisfactory performance procedures for his failings that day - which the Met Police has agreed to.
It found that BX47 failed to switch on his body-worn video camera as he left his police vehicle in order to pursue Mr Charles, and asked that the force make clear to officers that they should be switched on immediately in operational situations.
The IOPC also identified conflicting advice given to police nationally about searching people suspected of placing drugs or other packages in their mouths, and announced a comprehensive review into the practice.
IOPC regional director for London, Jonathan Green, said: “This was a tragic incident and I cannot begin to imagine the loss that Rashan’s family have suffered. My sympathies remain with them and everyone affected by Rashan’s death.
“We found that Officer BX47 was responsible for some basic failings and although they may not have been the cause of Rashan’s death, I think they do represent a failure to perform his role satisfactorily - either through a lack of competence or capability.
“The evidence suggests that the situation which developed in the shop, did so rapidly, taking the officer by surprise to the extent that he ‘froze’ in circumstances which were difficult, stressful and exhausting.
“These failures, however, were not deliberate and it is acknowledged by witnesses present at the scene, supported by expert evidence gathered in this investigation, that BX47 did his best in difficult circumstances."
