TEN YEARS AFTER SHEKU BAYOH’S DEATH: PUBLIC INQUIRY IN CHAOS

THIS week will mark a decade since the death of Sheku Bayoh in a Kirkcaldy street

There is now a major question mark over whether the chair of the public inquiry into the death is going to step down or stay in the role.

Lord Bracadale was appointed inquiry chair in 2020 and has overseen years of evidence but the Scottish Police Federation is now questioning his impartiality.

The organisation has raised concerns about Lord Bracadale’s meetings with the family of Mr Bayoh.

The father-of-two was 31 when he died in May 2015 after being restrained by six police officers.

Former High Court judge Lord Bracadale will now seek the opinion of all the parties represented at the inquiry at a hearing in June, before deciding whether to carry on or step aside.

It he stays, the federation could challenge his decision through a judicial review.

A statement on the inquiry website today says, “The Inquiry intends to hold a public hearing in June on the fairness of the conduct and procedure adopted by the Chair in meeting with the families of Sheku Bayoh.”

The inquiry had reached the stage of closing submissions but now with the finishing line in sight, there could be significant delays in a report being delivered.

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said,“We have lost confidence in the inquiry and regrettably, we have been compelled to indicate that we consider it necessary to petition for judicial review.

“We are seeking a fair and transparent public inquiry. We will of course listen to what Lord Bracadale has to say at the forthcoming hearing but as things stand I imagine that it will be necessary to proceed with the petition.”

Aamer Anwar, the Bayoh family’s solicitor, described the SPF’s move as a “desperate and pathetic attempt to derail the inquiry”.

He said if Lord Bracadale does step down it would delay proceedings by “years”.

Sheku Bayoh died on 3rd May 2015.

The purpose of the Inquiry is to examine:

• the immediate circumstances leading to the death

• how the police dealt with the aftermath

• the subsequent investigation into the death

• whether race was a factor