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Police watchdog to probe officers’ response before Dundee city centre death plunge

Police in Forester Street after Steven Smeaton's body was found.
Police in Forester Street after Steven Smeaton's body was found.

The police watchdog has launched a probe into the force’s response to the death of a man in Dundee city centre last month.

Steven Smeaton was found dead in Forester Street in the early hours of September 7.

But the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) has now been called in to investigate how the police responded to the incident – and a disturbance that occurred in the area just a few hours before Mr Smeaton’s death.

It is understood the 33-year-old fell from a window on the third-floor.

His death certificate states he suffered cranial injuries after suffering blunt force trauma after a “fall from height”.

The PIRC investigation will focus on Police Scotland’s initial response to a disturbance in the vicinity in the hours prior to the man’s death.

Police Scotland chief constable Phil Gormley is required to refer certain incidents to the watchdog so they can investigate.

A PIRC spokesman said: “The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner is carrying out an investigation following the death of a 33-year-old man outside a residential property in Dundee on  September 7 2016.

“The investigation will focus on Police Scotland’s initial response to a disturbance in the vicinity in the hours prior to the man’s death.

“The matter was referred by Police Scotland for investigation and a report on the PIRC’s findings will be submitted to the deputy chief constable in due course.”

Asked if Mr Smeaton’s death is still being treated as unexplained a Police Scotland spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate to comment while the PIRC investigation is ongoing.

The PIRC is already investigating Police Scotland’s response to the death of St Andrews woman Elizabeth Bowe last month.

She was found badly injured in a flat in Bobby Jones Place around 9pm on Saturday September 17.

She was taken to Ninewells Hospital but died three days later.

The Crown Office asked PIRC to investigate the initial Police Scotland response to the incident.

Ms Bowe’s brother, Charles Gordon, 51, also of St Andrews, has appeared in court charged with her murder.

The PIRC report into the death of Kirkcaldy man Sheku Bayoh in 2015 was submitted to the Crown Office in August.