The family of Rashan Charles, the young black man who died after a police chase in London, have told the police watchdog they are concerned about its “openness and transparency”.
After confirmation from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) that an object removed from Charles’s throat was a mixture of paracetamol and caffeine, the family have put out a statement asking that the composition of the object not be allowed to detract from their primary concerns.
The 20-year-old’s death in east London two weeks ago has sparked protests and violent clashes with police. His family said their “single objective” was to find out what happened to him “using all lawful means available”.
The IPCC has said the evidence it has seen so far suggests Charles was detained by a Metropolitan police officer who had followed him on foot into a shop in Kingsland Road, east London, after a chase with police on 22 July.
Video of the incident appeared to show him swallowing a package, leading to speculation that it contained illegal drugs, but tests have shown it did not.
The officer restrained Charles with the help of a member of the public and he was handcuffed. After he was detained, attempts were made to remove the object from his mouth or throat.
But Charles’s condition deteriorated and the officer called for a police medic, who provided assistance prior to the arrival of paramedics, according to the IPCC.
The watchdog said it had taken the decision to release information, including that the object removed from his throat was made up of a mixture of paracetamol and caffeine wrapped in plastic, “given the inflammatory nature of some ongoing speculation”.
Charles’s family urged the IPCC to carry out its investigation to the “highest possible standards”. The statement, released through Bhatt Murphy solicitors on Friday, said: “We are a large family and speak with one voice.
“Our single objective is to establish what happened to Rashan, and to do this using all lawful means available.
“We expect the IPCC to conduct an investigation to the highest possible standards, and to provide the answers we urgently seek. We have raised concerns with the IPCC about openness and transparency, which is regrettable at this early stage.
“We are aware, too, of the results on the forensic analysis conducted on the package recovered at the scene.
“Whilst this is important, we wish to make clear that the content of the package must not detract from our primary concern, which is to investigate the conduct of those involved in the incident that led to Rashan’s death.”
The IPCC said no cause of death had yet been confirmed. Investigators will consider whether Charles’s death was caused by the plastic wrapping rather than the contents.
The inquiry will also examine the restraint used by police and whether that played a part in the cause of death, as well as what technique of restraint was used and whether it was authorised.
According to Inquest, the charity that has been working with the family since his death, Charles is one of four black men who have died after police contact in just over six weeks in England.
Last Friday, protests over the death led to some violent scenes in Hackney, east London, and the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, has warned of growing disquiet over the case. Charles’s death and the resulting reaction has echoes of the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot by officers in 2011 in Tottenham, north London, leading to riots.
On Friday, the sixth anniversary of Duggan’s controversial death will be marked by a vigil and protest outside a police station in Tottenham.
