Family of Sheku Bayoh reach out-of-court settlement with Police Scotland

The family of Sheku Bayoh have reached an out-of-court settlement with Police Scotland.

Last month, the family had a “brutally honest” meeting with Scotland’s top police officer, in the wake of a decision by the deputy first minister not to extend an inquiry into Mr Bayoh’s death to examine why no prosecutions were brought.

Sheku Bayoh, a father-of-two, died after he was restrained by around six police officers who were called to Hayfield Road in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3, 2015.

The Crown Office decided not to take legal action against the police officers involved in the incident following an investigation.

Mr Bayoh’s family had urged deputy first minister Kate Forbes to extend the terms of reference of a public inquiry investigating the circumstances of the 31-year-old’s death, and whether race was a factor, to also include the Crown’s decisions not to bring any prosecutions in 2018 and 2019.

However, Forbes said the remit of the inquiry would not be changed, saying it was not in the public interest.

On Monday, almost ten years after Mr Bayoh’s death, his family resolved the civil action first raised in May 2018, against the chief constable of Police Scotland.

The settlement was agreed without any admission of liability by Police Scotland, the family’s lawyer Aamer Anwar confirmed.

No details of the agreement were released

“On May 3 it will be the trenth anniversary of Sheku’s death in police custody, however the struggle for the truth continues,” said Mr Anwar.

“As we reach the final stages of the Public Inquiry, those who broke the law should remember there is no time limit on justice. There will be no further comment today.”

The Scottish Police Federation, the body that represents rank and file officers, said it was “surprised” by the chief constable’s decision to settle the claim against the force.

A spokesperson said: “The only person who can be said indisputably to have broken the law is Sheku Bayoh.

“On any view of the evidence, he took illegal drugs, engaged in a fight with a friend, armed himself with a large knife and then took to the streets of Kirkcaldy, where he terrified many members of the public who asked the Police to help before assaulting a female police officer by punching her to the ground.

“These are facts which are wholly unchallenged.

“As the inquiry continues, it would be inappropriate to say any more at this stage, other than to remind the public that the clear position of the officers involved in the apprehension of Mr Bayoh is that they acted reasonably, in the public interest in the circumstances, given the danger that he presented.”