Key Points
- Fatal Incident in Custody: A 52-year-old man died while being held in police custody at the Windmill Road custody suite in Croydon, south London.
- Reason for Arrest: The deceased was arrested on Wednesday, 19 August, at 1.05pm after failing to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court regarding charges of being drunk and disorderly. A court-issued no-bail warrant prompted the arrest.
- Timeline of Emergency Response: Metropolitan Police officers discovered the man unresponsive during routine cell checks at 12.30am on Friday, 21 August. Officers initiated first aid and called the London Ambulance Service. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 1.17am.
- Prior Medical and Welfare Assessments: The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the detainee had been examined by a healthcare professional and received standard welfare checks during his time in detention.
- Independent Investigation Opened: The force’s Directorate of Professional Standards made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has opened an independent investigation into the incident.
Croydon (South London News) August 24, 2026 – An investigation has been launched after a 52-year-old man died while in police custody at the Windmill Road custody suite in Croydon, south London. As reported by Megan Howe of the Evening Standard, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers found the man unresponsive inside his cell during routine observation checks in the early hours of Friday, 21 August. Emergency first aid was administered immediately by police officers prior to the arrival of the London Ambulance Service (LAS), but despite medical intervention, the detainee was pronounced dead at 1.17am. The incident has now been formally referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for an independent inquiry into the events leading up to his death.
Why Was the Man Arrested and Placed in Custody?
According to statements issued by Scotland Yard and reported by Megan Howe of the Evening Standard, the 52-year-old man had been arrested in Croydon at 1.05pm on Wednesday, 19 August.
The arrest was carried out pursuant to a no-bail warrant issued by Croydon Magistrates’ Court following the man’s failure to appear in court to answer charges of being drunk and disorderly.
Following his arrest, he was processed and held at the Windmill Road custody suite in Selhurst, Croydon. Official police accounts state that during his detention, the man was examined by a qualified healthcare professional and underwent regular welfare and observation checks by custody staff prior to becoming unwell.
How Did the Emergency Unfold in the Cell?
As documented in official statements from the Metropolitan Police, the medical emergency began at approximately 12.30am on Friday, 21 August, when officers performed scheduled cell checks. Upon observing that the detainee had become unwell and was unresponsive, officers entered the cell and began administering immediate first aid.
The London Ambulance Service was summoned to the custody centre to provide advanced medical support. Despite efforts by both police personnel and attending paramedics, resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, and the man was officially declared deceased at 1.17am.
What Action Has the Police Oversight Body Taken?
Following established statutory procedure for deaths occurring in police care, the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The oversight body has formally taken over the investigation to establish the complete facts surrounding the detainee’s care and the timeline of events.
As quoted in media reports, Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman of the Metropolitan Police stated:
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones following his tragic death. The full circumstances of this death in custody will now be independently examined and we are providing our fullest support to that IOPC investigation.”
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Background of Deaths in Custody at Croydon Facilities
The Windmill Road custody suite in Croydon has previously been the focus of high-profile oversight investigations and legal proceedings following incidents within its cells and processing areas.
In September 2020, Police Sergeant Matt Ratana was fatally shot inside the facility while on duty, leading to an extensive review of custody search procedures and security protocols.
More recently, the facility was scrutinized following the death of 30-year-old Mikias Tekeste in July 2023, who became unwell in a cell at the Windmill Road suite after being arrested in Croydon town centre. The IOPC conducted an investigation into the supervision provided by transporting officers.
The investigation reviewed custody CCTV, transport logs, and medical intervention protocols, with internal misconduct proceedings concluding in July 2025.
Under statutory guidelines in England and Wales, all deaths occurring while an individual is detained under police authority automatically trigger an independent inquiry by the IOPC and a mandatory inquest overseen by a coroner to determine the cause of death.
Prediction: How This Investigation Will Affect Key Stakeholders
This development will directly influence several distinct groups:
- The Deceased’s Family and Legal Representatives: The opening of an independent IOPC investigation guarantees access to custody log records, CCTV footage from inside the suite, and medical evaluation reports. The family will be represented throughout the upcoming coroner’s inquest to determine if there were any gaps in medical screening or custody supervision.
- Metropolitan Police Custody Personnel: Staff on duty at the Windmill Road facility during the period of detention will be required to provide detailed witness statements and potentially face internal review as investigators examine whether observation intervals and healthcare protocols were strictly adhered to.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC): Investigators will face public scrutiny regarding the speed and transparency of their findings as they examine custody healthcare practices, risk assessment procedures for intoxicated detainees, and officer response times to medical deterioration in cells.
