The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old man in Southwark, London SE16 this morning.
IOPC investigators have been on the scene throughout the day, securing crucial evidence, including weapons discovered at the location. According to police call logs, officers were dispatched to the Bywater Place property shortly before 5 a.m. following multiple reports of a man attempting to forcibly enter the premises.
Reviewing body-worn video footage from the attending officers, it was confirmed that the man had gained entry to the property and was threatening harm to residents inside. It has been established that the deceased individual was known to at least one of the occupants of the address.
Local police officers made unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the man. In light of the threat posed by the individual, they subsequently requested assistance from armed officers. Upon arriving at the scene, the armed officers entered the house, and the man was subsequently shot. It has been confirmed that two shots were fired from a police-issued firearm, which will undergo further analysis.
Among the weapons discovered at the scene were crossbows, a knife, a sword, and a hatchet. The deceased, who was wearing body armour, was taken outside the property and provided with first aid; regrettably, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
A comprehensive search of the area is ongoing, and house-to-house inquiries in the neighbourhood have been conducted and will continue in the days ahead. Officers involved in the incident have provided their initial accounts during the police post-incident procedures.
Mel Palmer, Regional Director, IOPC, expressed condolences, stating, “Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident. The man’s next of kin have been informed, and we will be contacting them to explain our role and provide regular updates throughout our investigation.”
Given the fatality resulting from police intervention, the IOPC’s role is to independently investigate all aspects of the incident, including the actions and decisions taken by the police. The community’s desire for swift answers is acknowledged, and IOPC investigators are diligently working to ascertain the facts and piece together the sequence of events.
HM Coroner has been informed, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted
A Spokesman for the IPOC said:
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the circumstances of the fatal shooting of a man in Southwark, London SE16 this morning (30 Jan). Our investigators have been at the Bywater Place property all day where they have been securing key evidence, including weapons found at the scene. We have established from police call logs that officers were called to the house at just before 5am following several reports of a man trying to force entry into the property. We also have viewed police officers’ body worn video footage and established that the man, aged 30, was threatening to harm residents inside the address. We understand the deceased man was known to at least one of the occupants at the address. Local police officers unsuccessfully attempted to speak to the man who had gained entry to the property, but then called for assistance from armed officers after being threatened. After arriving at the scene, the armed officers then entered the house where the man was shot. We can confirm two shots were fired from a police issue firearm, which will be subject to further analysis.Among the weapons found at the scene were crossbows, a knife, a sword and a hatchet.The man, who was wearing body armour, was taken outside the property and given first aid but, sadly, died at the scene.A detailed search of the scene is continuing this evening and we have conducted house-to-house enquiries in the neighbourhood, which will continue in the coming days. We attended the police post incident procedures where the officers involved provided their initial accounts of the incident.Regional director Mel Palmer said:“Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident. The man’s next of kin have been informed and, in due course, we will be contacting them to explain our role. We will keep them regularly updated throughout our investigation.“Given a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident including the actions and decisions taken by the police.“We appreciate that the community will want answers quickly and our investigators are working hard to establish the facts and piece together what occurred.”HM Coroner has been informed and a post-mortem examination will take place. |
