Public inquiry into Sheku Bayoh death in Kirkcaldy

The news comes just a day after a review of the case by the Lord Advocate ended with the ruling that no police officers would be prosecuted after the death of Mr Bayoh.

His family vowed to seek a public inquiry, and today Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said he would ensure it was delivered.

Mr Yousaf said: “The First Minister and I met with Mr Bayoh’s family today to express our deepest condolences and assure them of our commitment to establishing the facts surrounding this tragic incident.

“They are right to expect a full public examination of the circumstances of Mr Bayoh’s death and I stated my determination to put in place a process to deliver that.

“Today I can confirm that I will establish a statutory public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 into the circumstances leading up to and following Mr Bayoh’s death.”

Father-of-two Sheku Bayoh died while being restrained by officers on Hayfield Road, Kirkcaldy in 2015.

A BBC documentary has claimed that the first officers on scene escalated the situation instead of trying to defuse it; and it also questions officers’ claims that a female officer was kicked and stamped on by Mr Bayoh.

The death of Mr Bayoh has been shrouded in controversy.

It has been the subject of a review by Police Independent Review Commission (PIRC) and been sent to the Crown Office for consideration.

But his family still have no answers over how he died.

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