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The family of a man who passed away following being held down by police officers have reached an agreement on compensation in their lawsuit against Police Scotland.

Relatives of Sheku Bayoh filed a lawsuit against the police after the 31-year-old passed away while in custody in 2015.

However, junior police officers have criticized the choice to provide a settlement, with the Scottish Police Federation showing their ‘astonishment’ over this action.

As part of their criticism towards Chief Constable Jo Farrell’s choice, the federation stated that ‘the only individual unequivocally seen as having violated the law is Sheku Bayoh’.

Mr Bayoh was held down by as many as six police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3, 2015. The authorities were alerted to the situation due to claims that he possessed a knife and was acting unpredictably; however, upon their arrival, they found him without any weapon.

The man who had two children passed away soon afterward, and ever since, the country’s main law enforcement agency has been handling the consequences of Mr. Bayoh’s demise while in detention.

A spokesperson for the force stated: “The civil settlement was reached without any acknowledgment of fault by Police Scotland.”

‘To protect the family’s privacy, the specifics of the arrangement will be kept secret.’

For Mr Bayoh’s family, the settlement marks the conclusion of a lengthy struggle that has spanned multiple years.

In May 2018, they filed a lawsuit against Police Scotland, initiating a unprecedented £1.85 million civil case against the force.

Following the incident and its consequences, officials who were part of it provided testimonies for the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry. Meanwhile, Police Scotland faced allegations and was deemed an institution fostering racism.

Last month, Chief Constable Farrell had an encounter with Mr. Bayoh’s family, characterized as ‘honest but harsh’. Aamer Anwar, their lawyer, stated yesterday: “On May 3rd, it marks ten years since Sheku passed away while in police custody; nonetheless, the fight for justice remains ongoing.”

‘As we approach the concluding phases of the public inquiry, those who violated the law should bear in mind that justice has no expiration date.’

The Scottish Police Federation has responded with anger to the settlement.

Yesterday, their spokesperson expressed surprise at the Chief Constable’s decision to settle the claim and criticized Mr. Anwar’s comments.

The spokesperson stated: “The sole individual unequivocally found to have violated the law is Sheku Bayoh.”

From any perspective of the evidence, he consumed unlawful substances, got into an altercation with someone close to him, obtained a big knife, and proceeded to wander around the streets of Kirkcaldy.

‘He frightened numerous individuals in the public who sought assistance from the police before attacking a policewoman by knocking her down with his fists. These details remain entirely uncontested.’

‘While the investigation proceeds, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this point. We must also recall that the officials who were part of Mr Bayoh’s detainment assert that their actions were reasonable, carried out in the public’s best interests considering the threat he posed.’

After the family meeting with the Chief Constable last month, Ms Farrell stated that she used this ‘chance to convey my personal sympathy and also reaffirmed those sentiments on behalf of the service’.

She mentioned that significant efforts have been made to become an ‘anti-racist, anti-discriminatory service’ that more accurately mirrors and embodies the communities we serve’.

The public inquiry investigating the events surrounding Mr Bayoh’s death, the ensuing probe, and whether racial factors played a role, has thus far incurred costs exceeding £23 million for taxpayers.

After Mr Bayoh’s passing, the Crown Office chose not to press charges against anyone. Mr Anwar had requested that the inquiry be expanded to investigate the reasoning behind that choice. Nevertheless, his request was denied last month.

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