Watchdog to investigate death of black man in police custody in Torquay
THE police watchdog has launched an investigation into the death of a black man in custody hours after he was arrested.
Simeon Francis, 35, died in a cell at Torquay police station on May 20, having been arrested in Exeter just before 1am, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.
An ambulance was called after he was found “unresponsive in his cell,” but Mr Francis was pronounced dead at about 6pm.
More from this author

In an exclusive investigation, BETHANY RIELLY looks at how the state targeted leading politicians and campaigning groups — labelling many well-known figures 'extremists' and 'subversives' for attempting to hold the police to account

On September 4, 16 Eritrean asylum-seekers were arrested at a protest against their country’s dictatorship and its supporters here. Since then, questions have been raised about whether the British authorities are doing enough to protect activists and asylum-seekers from the ‘long arm’ of the regime in Asmara