Police force cleared over death in custody

A police force has been cleared of any fault following the death of a man in custody.

Zbigniew Symonowicz, 55, was arrested by Cambridgeshire Police officers for breach of bail conditions at an address in Peterborough in July 2009.

He was taken to Thorpe Wood police station in Peterborough but collapsed and died about an hour after arrival.

Today the Independent Police Complaints Commission published the result of its inquiry.

In a statement, it said: “The IPCC's investigation found no evidence any police officers failed in their duties in their treatment of Mr Symonowicz for the short period he was in custody.”

Last week an inquest heard he was killed by a combination of alcohol and painkillers.

A jury returned a narrative verdict, saying there was “no clear evidence that he intended to take his own life”.

Mr Symonowicz, who was from Poland and spoke little English, was on police bail after being arrested for criminal damage and assault against his estranged partner.

PA