AN INVESTIGATION has been launched by the police watchdog after a man fell to his death from a balcony in London when he Tasered by police.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police and paramedics were called to a flat in Peckham, south east London, during the early hours of April 12, over concerns for the welfare of man who was threatening to jump from the balcony.

A spokesperson for the Met said the man was thought to be Black.

Scotland Yard said he has not yet been formally identified and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the death and said officers arrived at around 2am and were present for over an hour trying to persuade the man to come inside, before he was Tasered and fell several floors to the ground.

An IOPC spokesperson said in a statement released to The Voice: “We have begun an independent investigation into an incident involving Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers on Wednesday (April 12) in southeast London, where a man was seriously injured and later died in hospital after falling from a balcony.

“We were advised that MPS officers attended an address in Peckham at around 2am following a report of a man threatening to jump from a balcony on a residential building.

“We have established that officers were present for over an hour and attempted to persuade the man to come inside from the balcony.

“The man has then been Tasered while on the balcony and he has fallen several floors to the ground. The man was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died later the same day.

“We received a mandatory referral from the force and declared an independent investigation the next day. Our investigation is in its initial stages and we have secured officers’ body worn footage as we begin gathering evidence.” 

The watchdog is now investigating the incident following a self-referral – which is mandatory – by the Met.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, in charge of policing for Lambeth and Southwark, said: “I know the community will be concerned about this tragic death and I share their concern. All police officers know that their actions will be scrutinised in situations such as these, and the Met is fully supporting the independent investigation by the IOPC.”

In a statement released to The Voice, a spokesperson for the Met said: “Police were called at 1:24am on Wednesday, 12 April to concerns for the welfare of a man threatening to jump from the balcony of a residential property in Peckham.

“Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. The man subsequently fell from the balcony. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and sadly he later died.

“Enquiries are under way to identify the man’s next of kin. Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

“A Taser was discharged by an officer on the balcony. Body worn video has been reviewed.

“A mandatory referral was made to the IOPC. The IOPC has launched an independent investigation and we are unable to comment further while this takes place.”

Last year, Oladeji Omishore, 41, from Pimlico, south London, died after he fell to his death into the River Thames off Chelsea Bridge on June 4, after he was tasered.

Oladeji was tasered multiple times by a Metropolitan Police officer.