A REFERRAL has been made by Thames Valley Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for an independent investigation after a man was found dead in police custody.

On Friday afternoon a 49-year-old man was arrested and taken to custody at Abingdon police station.

At 1am on Saturday , the man was found unresponsive in his cell and paramedics were called. However, once the ambulance staff arrived the man was pronounced deceased.

Thames Valley Police said: "Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this difficult time."

In the early hours of Saturday morning, a mandatory referral was made to the IOPC who are now independently investigating the incident.

Thames Valley Police has said it is fully co-operating with the investigation.

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