Death of Edson Da Costa

Edson Da Costa was a 25-year-old Black Portuguese man who died on 21 June 2017 after being stopped by police on 15 June in Beckton, London. The unclear circumstances of his death led to protests. In June 2019, an inquest jury found that Da Costa died by misadventure from the consequences of a cardiorespiratory arrest after he placed in his mouth a plastic bag containing 88 wraps of class A drugs. The coroner ruled that there was no "legal or factual basis" for a conclusion that could be critical of the police. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct concluded that the restraint by officers was necessary and proportionate.

The incident prompted a call for a review of first aid training and advice given to police officers for dealing with a person who is believed to have swallowed items.

Edir Frederico Da Costa was born in Portugal and had lived in the United Kingdom since 1996. He had a one-year-old son and was expecting his second child, due in January 2018.

At about 10 pm on 15 June, Da Costa and two friends were stopped in their car on Tollgate Road in Beckton, London 10.05pm on 15 June 2017. At some point before or during being stopped by police officers in his Mercedes hire vehicle, Da Costa attempted to swallow a number of bags which were later found to contain crack cocaine and heroin. The officers restrained Da Costa using pressure point tactics and 'distraction blows'. Da Costa handcuffed with his arms behind his back and one officer used CS spray. Da Costa lost consciousness and a second team of officers arrived at the scene and carried out first aid. An ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital. Da Costa died in hospital on 21 June. A postmortem examination gave his cause of death as a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by a blocked airway and said there was no evidence of excess force being used against Da Costa.

In the immediate aftermath, a crowdfunding website was set which claimed Da Costa had his "neck broken in two places and head injuries". The Independent Police Complaints Commission said this was "false and potentially inflammatory information" and contacted Da Costa's family to share the pathologist’s findings which found that Da Costa did not suffer a bleed to the brain, a broken neck or any other spinal injury.

According to Da Costa's father, police suspected that the car had been involved in a robbery. During the stop, Da Costa was detained and was subdued with CS spray. He died on 21 June. According to a 2000 study, there had been no human deaths to that time attributed to CS spray, but it was thought to have potentially lethal effects depending on circumstances. A 1989 review published in JAMA found that CS can cause severe pulmonary damage and can also significantly damage the heart and liver.

On 25 June, friends and family of Da Costa organised a protest outside of the Forest Gate police station. The protests turned violent, with protesters throwing bricks ripped from a wall at police and lighting fires near the Stratford bus station. Fourteen police officers were injured and four people were arrested for charges including disorder, arson and criminal damage. Some of the protesters carried signs reading "Black Lives Matter", referring to a movement that had been started in the United States.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IPOC). The IPOC investigation concluded on 30 October that the use of force in restraining him was proportionate but one officer may have committed misconduct over his use of CS spray. The investigation found that and the reason for police stopping the Mercedes Da Costa was in was justified and the restraint by officers was deemed necessary and proportionate.