IPCC renews witness appeal following death of Habib Ullah
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is today renewing its appealing for witnesses into an incident in Lee Court, Sharrow Vale, High Wycombe, following which Habib Ullah, aged 39, from the Colnbrook area of Slough subsequently died.
Mike Franklin, IPCC Commissioner said: “Our investigation is progressing well and identified witnesses have now been interviewed. The actions of five Thames Valley Police officers are currently under investigation. We are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests on the packages removed from Mr Ullah’s body and the pathologist’s report confirming cause of death.
“However we are still keen to hear from anyone who was in the area of Lee Court, Sharrow Vale on Thursday 3 July at the time this incident occurred. It has been indicated to me there are witnesses who remain unwilling to talk to the IPCC. I would therefore like to reiterate, to these people in particular, that our investigation is completely independent of the police and urge them to contact our witness appeal on 0800 096 9075 or email ullahappeal@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.”
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Notes for editors:
At approximately 7.15pm on Thursday 3 July, Thames Valley Police officers stopped a car and conducted a search, under the Misuse of Drugs Act, on three people sitting in the car in a private car park near Lee Court, Sharrow Vale. During the search, Mr Ullah encountered breathing problems and an ambulance was called. He was taken to High Wycombe General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Five police officers are currently under investigation. Four have been served with Regulation 9 notices as is normal in investigations of this nature (this is a notice required under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004 and is served on an officer to advise that their conduct is under investigation), with the fifth due to be served in the coming week. This decision has been made on the evidence as it presents to date and as with all lines of inquiry will remain under review.
The IPCC has overall responsibility for the police complaints system. Since April 2006 it has taken on responsibility for similar, serious complaints against HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in England and Wales. The IPCC's jurisdiction was extended in 2008 to cover UK Border Agency staff exercising police-like powers.
The IPCC has the task of increasing public confidence in the complaint systems and aims to make investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair.
The 15 Commissioners who run the IPCC guarantee its independence and by law can never have served as police officers. No Commissioner has worked for HM Revenue and Customs. They are supported by more than 100 independent IPCC investigators plus casework managers and other specialists.
Since April 1 2004 the IPCC has used its powers to begin 264 independent and 663 managed investigations into the most serious complaints against the police and other agencies. It has set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled. The Commission also handles appeals by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force.
The IPCC is committed to getting closer to the communities it serves. Its Commissioners and staff are based in IPCC regional offices in Cardiff, Coalville, London and Sale plus a sub office in Wakefield.
The IPCC web site is constantly updated at www.ipcc.gov.uk or members of the public can contact the IPCC on 08453 002 002.
For further information please contact Ash Bower, Regional Communications Officer on 01530 258774 or 07717 851320. Journalists with an urgent media enquiry about an incident outside normal office hours should contact the on-call press officer on 07717 851157.