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Police officer facing inquiry over death in custody 'wants to be church minister' Police officer facing inquiry over death in custody 'wants to be church minister'
(35 minutes later)
A Metropolitan police officer facing investigation over the death of a man in custody says he wants to leave the force to become a minister in the Church of England, the high court has heard.A Metropolitan police officer facing investigation over the death of a man in custody says he wants to leave the force to become a minister in the Church of England, the high court has heard.
PC Andrew Birks was stopped from retiring from the force in June and is under investigation over the death of Sean Rigg who died on the floor of a police station in 2008. PC Andrew Birks was stopped from retiring from the force in June and is under investigation over the death of Sean Rigg, who died on the floor of a police station in 2008.
Birks is challenging the decision by the Met to refuse his request to retire, saying it beaches his human rights. If accepted it would have meant he would not face the investigation. Birks is challenging the decision by the Met to refuse his request to retire, saying it breaches his human rights. If accepted it would have meant he would not have faced the investigation.
Rigg died in 2008 after being arrested and detained by police in south London.Rigg died in 2008 after being arrested and detained by police in south London.
An inquest jury condemned the police's actions, and Rigg's family have fought a six-year battle for justice.An inquest jury condemned the police's actions, and Rigg's family have fought a six-year battle for justice.
The Met accepted PC Birks' resignation on 12 April. They reversed their decision on the eve of legal action by Rigg's family. They also suspended the officer. The Met accepted PC Birks' resignation on 12 April but reversed their decision on the eve of legal action by Rigg's family. They also suspended the officer.
Hugh Davies, QC for Birks, denied the officer was motivated by a desire to escape investigation, telling the court the officer "wished to change careers and become a minister in the Church of England". Hugh Davies, QC for Birks, denied the officer was motivated by a desire to escape investigation, telling the court he "wished to change careers and become a minister in the Church of England".
The first inquiry into Rigg's death by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in 2010 cleared police.The first inquiry into Rigg's death by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in 2010 cleared police.
But this was effectively overturned by an inquest jury in 2012, which concluded that police used unsuitable and unnecessary force, with officers failing to uphold the detained man's basic rights as he collapsed after being pinned down for eight minutes. But this was in effect overturned in 2012 by an inquest jury, which concluded that police used unsuitable and unnecessary force, with officers failing to uphold the detained man's basic rights as he collapsed after being pinned down for eight minutes.
The IPCC then began a new investigation. Counsel for Birks told the high court that the officer had applied to the Church of England long before any disciplinary charge was brought.The IPCC then began a new investigation. Counsel for Birks told the high court that the officer had applied to the Church of England long before any disciplinary charge was brought.
The court heard Birks applied to the diocese of Chichester in 2009 and began a seven-year training programme began with the PC studying theology in his spare time. The court heard Birks applied to the diocese of Chichester in 2009 and began a seven-year training programme with the PC studying theology in his spare time.
Five officers are facing investigation by the IPCC over the death. Birks's counsel says he is the only one suspended from duty.Five officers are facing investigation by the IPCC over the death. Birks's counsel says he is the only one suspended from duty.
Birks says he told the Met he wished to resign before he was served with a disciplinary notice, the court heard on Wednesday.Birks says he told the Met he wished to resign before he was served with a disciplinary notice, the court heard on Wednesday.
During the restraint Rigg was placed face down, with his legs bent back, in a caged footwell of a police van. The jury found that Rigg was struggling but was not violent and officers had failed to spot the deterioration in his health. During the restraint Rigg was placed face down, with his legs bent back, in a caged footwell of a police van. The jury found he was struggling but was not violent and officers had failed to spot the deterioration in his health.
Rigg, 40, was a musician with paranoid schizophrenia. He was living in a south London hostel in August 2008 as his mental health deteriorated. One day he smashed up a gazebo and made karate moves that staff saw as threatening. They called the police, who did not initially respond to several pleas for help. Three hours after the first 999 call police responded, and three officers restrained Rigg.Rigg, 40, was a musician with paranoid schizophrenia. He was living in a south London hostel in August 2008 as his mental health deteriorated. One day he smashed up a gazebo and made karate moves that staff saw as threatening. They called the police, who did not initially respond to several pleas for help. Three hours after the first 999 call police responded, and three officers restrained Rigg.
The case continues.The case continues.