Habib Ullah death: officers face gross misconduct charges

Five police officers who have escaped criminal prosecution over the death of a 39-year-old man are to face gross misconduct charges.

The Independent Police Complains Commission announced the Thames Valley officers would face a disciplinary hearing for changing their evidence at an inquest into the 2008 death of father of three, Habib Ullah.

Channel 4 News understands the officers’ ‘honesty and integrity’ is to be challenged for “leaving out significant details from statements they submitted to the IPCC and for subsequently failing to correct this omission.”

The decision follows a refusal by the Crown Prosecution Service to bring criminal charges because it says the evidence is ‘insufficient’ for a realistic prospect of conviction beyond reasonable doubt.

The standard of proof is less in a police disciplinary hearing where guilty verdicts are decided on the balance of probabilities.

Mr Ullah died after being stopped and searched in High Wycombe on suspicion of drug dealing.

There was a struggle when police attempted to prevent him swallowing a package containing and he died soon after.

Mr Ullah’s family , who’ve led a justice campaign for the last 6 years, said they were disappointed with the decision not to prosecute.

An inquest which was abandoned after revelations that officers had removed key parts of their statements is to resume on a date fixed.

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