Rashan Charles (pictured) died after he was chased on foot to the store in east London, and swallowed a package as he was detained
A police officer has been cleared of misconduct over the death of a 20-year-old who was restrained in an ‘unorthodox’ way on a shop floor.
Rashan Charles died in July 2017 after he was chased on foot to the store in Dalston, east London, and swallowed a package as he was detained.
A post-mortem examination concluded that he died from a heart attack after the package, found to contain a mixture of paracetamol and caffeine, blocked his airway.
The death sparked violent protests in the area and threats made against police officers, leading to those involved being granted anonymity.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) today found that while the officer had not done his job satisfactorily, he was not guilty of misconduct.
It said that the officer, known only as BX47, was too slow to render first aid or call an ambulance, and had not switched on his body-worn camera.
IOPC regional director for London, Jonathan Green, said: ‘We found that Officer BX47 was responsible for some basic failings and although they may not have been the cause of Rashan’s death, I think they do represent a failure to perform his role satisfactorily, either through a lack of competence or capability.
‘The evidence suggests that the situation which developed in the shop, did so rapidly, taking the officer by surprise to the extent that he froze in circumstances which were difficult, stressful and exhausting.

The death sparked violent protests in the area (pictured) and threats made against police officers, leading to those involved being granted anonymity
‘These failures, however, were not deliberate and it is acknowledged by witnesses present at the scene, supported by expert evidence gathered in this investigation, that BX47 did his best in difficult circumstances.’
The watchdog found that the decisions to stop Mr Charles’s car and chase him on foot were justified, and the officer’s restraint technique, although ‘unorthodox’, did not contribute to his death.
However, it said that BX47 did not follow recognised first-aid protocols when it became clear that Mr Charles may have swallowed something.

Protests outside Stoke Newington Police Station shortly after Mr Charles’ death
It added that he should have called an ambulance sooner, even though ultimately this would not have saved his life.
BX47, who also failed to switch on his body-worn video camera, will now be put through internal Metropolitan Police performance procedures.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin said: ‘The conclusion of the IOPC investigation supports the recent finding by the inquest jury, that BX47 lawfully and justifiably apprehended and restrained Mr Charles.
‘When it became apparent Mr Charles was in difficulty, first aid and CPR was carried out but nothing BX47 nor their colleague could have done would have saved his life.
‘The IOPC investigation has identified some learning to take forward for BX47 and this will be progressed.
‘The death of anyone after involvement with police is a matter of deep regret and our thoughts and sympathies remain with all those affected.’
In June, an inquest found that Mr Charles’s death was accidental, with a jury finding the officer’s restraint was a ‘justified use of force’.
But it said he didn’t follow Met Police protocol by taking ‘immediate and appropriate action in the face of a medical emergency’, and had not managed the involvement of the civilian bystander.

A post-mortem concluded Mr Charles died from a heart attack after the package, containing paracetamol and caffeine, blocked his airway as he was detained at this store in east London