The family of a man who died after being Tasered on a London bridge are threatening legal action against the police watchdog.
Relatives of Oladeji Omishore, who died in June, told Sky News the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) decision not to hold a criminal or misconduct investigation into his death is “wrong” and “unlawful.”
A viral video showed Mr Omishore being Tasered multiple times during a confrontation with two police officers, before he jumped off Chelsea Bridge.
The 41-year-old later died in hospital.
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At the time, a police press release incorrectly reported Mr Omishore was armed with a screwdriver. It was later confirmed the item was in fact a firelighter.
His family wants a judicial review of the IOPC’s decision, which they say treats the officers as “witnesses” rather than subjects under caution.
The officers involved remain “on active duty”, according to Inquest, a charity concerned with state-related deaths in England and Wales.
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The IOPC are investigating the incident.
However, they have stated there is currently “no indication that any of the officers involved may have breached police professional standards or committed a criminal offence”.
Mr Omishore’s family disagree, and say they find the IOPC’s comments “deeply disturbing”.
They say Mr Omishore – who they endearingly nickname Deji – stands in a line of other black people to have “excessive force” used “disproportionately” against them.
His older sister, Remi Omishore, told Sky News her younger brother had mental health issues around the time of the incident.
“It was barbaric what happened to my brother.
“It was a modern-day form of electrocution. It should never have happened.
“He had a right to live. He had a right to life. Nothing we can do will bring him back.”
A spokesperson from the IOPC has said that, during any investigation, the watchdog “take decisions based on the evidence available”.
Mr Omishore’s younger sister, Aisha Omishore, is unimpressed.
She told Sky News that she thinks there is a “lack of accountability” about how the IOPC conduct their investigations, adding there is an irony – that the principles the organisation seeks to apply “should instead be governing them”.
She said: “The IOPC have more evidence than we do,” referring to bodycam footage.
“My question to the IOPC would be, if they didn’t see professional misconduct, are they going to tell us that what they watched was good policing?”
Ms Omishore claims that the bystander viral footage shows that the officers “did not safeguard my brother and give him the duty of care that he was owed. He was Tasered while he was unarmed”.
Alfred Omishore, Oladeji’s father, agrees with his daughter.
He said: “This is not the way to police. What other evidence do [the IOPC] need? The bystander video was overwhelming and compelling evidence.
“Treating the officers as witnesses means ‘business as usual’.
“To us – it’s nonsense. It’s deeply insulting to the family.
“Deji was obviously in distress. All he needed was care and protection.
“There wasn’t an attempt to de-escalate by the police. They didn’t do any risk assessment. There was no planning, no communication.
“What he was given was torture. He was tortured.”
The family’s legal action comes after a damning report published on Monday, detailing serious misconduct within the force.
The publication of a review into Met police culture by Dame Louise Casey concluded that the force must take a “zero-tolerance” approach to misogyny and racism, and enable offending officers to be sacked more easily.
Remi Omishore is hopeful the review will help their case – and that the new Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, will “delve into the root cause issues of what’s going on and root out the bad police officers that are giving the Met a bad name”.
“Rowley has a duty to instil confidence. He needs to do the right thing,” she said.
Her younger sister Aisha agrees – and says it all comes down to police accountability.
She said: “The IOPC have an opportunity to prove to the public that they are fit for purpose.
“That they can be robust. Uphold the duty of law. Otherwise, it just doesn’t mean anything, you know?”
The IOPC’s spokesperson has said that “conduct matters are kept under constant review”, and that they are committed to keeping Mr Omishore’s family updated.
