An investigation is underway after a 52-year-old man was found dead in police custody at the Windmill Road custody suite in Croydon, London.
Officers discovered the man unresponsive in his cell at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, after he became unwell. They entered the cell, administered first aid, and requested emergency services. Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service took over medical treatment, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:17 a.m.
The man had been arrested in Croydon at 1:05 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, on a no-bail warrant issued by Croydon Magistrates' Court. He had failed to appear in court on charges of being drunk and disorderly.
While in custody, the man received care from a healthcare professional and underwent regular welfare and observation checks.
The Metropolitan Police Service's Directorate of Professional Standards was notified as a customary measure. A mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has now initiated an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman 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."