Reggae star raid - no IPCC action

Police officers who carried out a raid on the home of reggae star Smiley Culture, during which he died, will not face disciplinary action
12 April 2012

Police officers who carried out a raid on the home of Smiley Culture, in which the reggae star died, will not face disciplinary action from the police watchdog.

Following an investigation, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the operation at the home of the singer, whose real name was David Emmanuel, was "not satisfactory".

At least one of the four Metropolitan Police officers involved has been criticised by the IPCC after Mr Emmanuel died from a single stab wound to the heart while police searched his Surrey home on 15 March this year. But the criticism is not strong enough to initiate misconduct procedures, according to the IPCC.

The only action the officers can now face is if the Met initiates an "unsatisfactory performance procedure", which can result in dismissal, but which the IPCC cannot direct.

Mr Emmanuel's death was described as "bizarre" by his family, who also criticised police at the time.

In a letter to the singer's nephew, Merlin Emmanuel, Mike Franklin, IPCC commissioner, said: "On this occasion the investigation has identified aspects of the operation which were not satisfactory, and criticism has been made of some of the officers' actions. However, these do not meet the threshold for misconduct under the police misconduct system."

Mr Emmanuel's family was told that he stabbed himself while making a cup of tea, despite the presence of officers in his home.

The officers could still face criminal charges if the commissioner sees evidence of a criminal offence and sends the IPCC's report to the Crown Prosecution Service.

But in his letter, Mr Franklin said the IPCC has "not found any evidence which would suggest any criminal acts were committed by any of the officers in the house".

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "We await the IPCC report and we will fully consider their findings and recommendations."

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