The police watchdog carrying out an independent investigation into the mysterious death of Kirkcaldy man Sheku Bayoh set up road blocks on Sunday, exactly a week after the incident.
Six officers from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) stopped several dozen vehicles at the junction of Hayfield Road and Hendry Road, Kirkcaldy, between 6.30 and 7.30am.
The aim was to canvass witnesses who may have been in the area around the same time last Sunday when the 31-year-old died in mysterious circumstances having been detained by police.
Pirc said officers from Police Scotland Fife Division were deliberately kept away from Sunday’s operation.
Instead, Pirc was assisted in traffic control duties by police officers from East Division in Edinburgh.
It came as it emerged the Sierra Leone High Commission had stepped in over the death.Representatives from the organisation met the family of Sheku Bayoh and their lawyer Aamer Anwar.
The talks were held as the family, who flew to Scotland after the death,prepared to meet Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland over the case.
More than 6,000 people have now supported an online campaign over the death of Mr Bayoh.
Mr Anwar met the Sierra Leonegovernment officials in Glasgow.
Some witnesses claim Mr Bayoh,originally from the African country, had been seen waving a knife before around 15 officers tackled him.
However, friends of the British Gas employee said he had no history ofviolence.
An independent probe into MrBayoh’s death is now being carried out by Pirc.
The watchdog has also been liaising with the family and their solicitor to update them on the investigation.
Neither Police Scotland norPirc have been able to give un update on the condition of the female police officer who was injured and taken to hospital following last Sunday’sincident.
They were also unable to confirm or deny whether any police officers had been suspended in connection with the investigation.
At a gathering in Kirkcaldy on Wednesday night, the mother of Sheku Bayoh made an emotional appeal for “justice” following her son’s death.
Sheku’s family paid tribute to him at the spot in Kirkcaldy where the incident occurred.
Sources have suggested Mr Bayoh may have been the victim of positional asphyxiation while being restrained by officers.