TEN of Sheku Bayoh’s family members have received compensation from Police Scotland, with one awarded more than £1 million from the force.
Almost 10 years after Bayoh’s death, his family resolved the civil action in March after it was first raised in May 2018, reaching an out-of-court settlement concerning his death.
The family’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, reportedly said a settlement was agreed without any admission of liability by Police Scotland.
A father-of-two, Bayoh died after he was restrained by around six police officers who were called to reports of a man carrying a knife on Hayfield Road in Kirkcaldy on May 3, 2015.
Officers were accused of using excessive force after they restrained him by his legs and arms, using CS spray or tear gas and batons.
Bayoh lost consciousness after being restrained and was pronounced dead in hospital.
His family launched a civil action against Police Scotland three years later and an ongoing public inquiry was launched to examine the circumstances leading to his death and whether or not race was a factor.
It was announced on Friday that up to ten members of the family have received compensation from Police Scotland, including a single award of more than £1m.
The figure appears in a report for the Scottish Police Authority’s (SPA) legal committee under the heading public liability claims.
The SPA report said, “quarter four saw the settlement of a very large litigation that involved several pursuers”.
The total amount paid out to all relatives of Bayoh was not revealed.
However, in 2018, Anwar said the action for damages in the Court of Session was £1.85m.
Anwar confirmed the settlement was agreed without any admission of liability by Police Scotland, despite previously describing Bayoh’s case as a “national disgrace”.
“On May 3, it will be the tenth anniversary of Sheku’s death in police custody, however, the struggle for the truth continues,” he previously said.
“As we reach the final stages of the Public Inquiry, those who broke the law should remember there is no time limit on justice. There will be no further comment today.”
The Scottish Police Federation, the body that represents rank and file officers, said it was “surprised” by the chief constable’s decision to settle the claim against the force.
A spokesperson said: “The only person who can be said indisputably to have broken the law is Sheku Bayoh.
“On any view of the evidence, he took illegal drugs, engaged in a fight with a friend, armed himself with a large knife and then took to the streets of Kirkcaldy, where he terrified many members of the public who asked the police to help before assaulting a female police officer by punching her to the ground.
“These are facts which are wholly unchallenged.
“As the inquiry continues, it would be inappropriate to say any more at this stage, other than to remind the public that the clear position of the officers involved in the apprehension of Mr Bayoh is that they acted reasonably, in the public interest in the circumstances, given the danger that he presented.”
