Man sustains serious injuries following police contact - Metropolitan Police Service, May 2018

On 11 May 2018 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) received multiple 999 calls from members of the public reporting a man on the roof of a south London supermarket. The initial messages included reference to the man having a knife. MPS officers arrived at the supermarket four minutes after the first call. Once at the scene, officers gained access to the roof and spoke with the man, while cordons were put in at ground level.

After over an hour of attempted engagement, the man jumped or fell from the roof. Officers provided first aid to the man until the arrival of ambulance personnel. He suffered serious injuries.

Our investigators attended the scene and conducted a detailed examination. MPS officers provided detailed statements of their actions, and many were wearing and using body-worn cameras. Footage from these was reviewed, alongside witness statements from medical professionals and the man’s family.

Following our investigation we found no evidence to indicate that the police caused or contributed to the man sustaining a serious injury. There was also no evidence to suggest that police were in close proximity to the man when he jumped or fell from the roof.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence.