Reggae star Smiley Culture dies during drugs raid

(PA)

Reggae star Smiley Culture died today during a police drugs raid on his home.

Sources said the musician, who found fame in the 1980s with hits including Police Officer, is understood to have died from self-inflicted wounds when officers swooped on his home in east Surrey.

The police watchdog has been called in to investigate the death.

Smiley Culture, real name David Emmanuel, appeared on Top of the Pops in the 1980s with singles including Cockney Translation.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "As part of an ongoing operation officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Serious and Organised Crime Command today attended a residential address in east Surrey to make an arrest.

"While they were at the address, an incident occurred during which a 48-year-old man died.

"Officers from Surrey Police attended the incident and it has been formally referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

The IPCC confirmed it was investigating.