Officers held over Sean Rigg death in custody

Two serving and one retired Metropolitan Police officer were arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

They were arrested in connection with evidence given at the inquest into the death of Sean Rigg, who died in police custody.

Mr Rigg, 40, was being held in the back of a police van at Brixton police station in south London when he died of cardiac arrest in August 2008. An inquest jury last year found officers had used “unsuitable” force.

Last night the Independent Police Complaints Commission said they were arresting three officers on suspicion of perverting the course of justice over evidence given at that inquest. All three were being questioned at a London police station last night.

Mr Rigg, who had paranoid schizophrenia, was living in a hostel in 2008. Staff are thought to have called the police, whereupon three officers restrained Mr Rigg. He is thought to have died later while being held at the back of a police van. During the inquest officers were accused of lying to the jury to “cover up” inadequacies in their handling of the situation.