Sylvester death: no charges for the police

Police will not be prosecuted over the death in custody of a black man who was restrained by eight officers, it was announced today.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced there is insufficient evidence to justify prosecution of any of the officers involved in Roger Sylvester's detention.

He died in a psychiatric hospital in January 1999 after being held down by the officers for 20 minutes.

The eight were suspended after an inquest ruled the 30-year-old had been "unlawfully killed", but they were reinstated when that verdict was quashed in the High Court.

Mr Justice Collins said there was no evidence any of the officers used excessive force and that the inquest jury had been "confused" by flaws in the coroner's summing-up.

Mr Sylvester, a manic depressive, was delirious on drugs when arrested at his Tottenham home. He collapsed after being restrained at St Ann's Hospital.

The CPS said this morning that its decision came after "very careful and lengthy consideration".