A man who was forcefully restrained by Islington police officers has died in hospital, it emerged today.

Islington Gazette: Aberdeen Park in Highbury was closed for several hours after the incident on Tuesday, March 12Aberdeen Park in Highbury was closed for several hours after the incident on Tuesday, March 12 (Image: Archant)

Darren Neville, 28, was handcuffed and leg restraints applied after police were called to an incident in Aberdeen Park, Highbury, in March.

A probe launched by watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will now be “widened” to see if officers acted properly. Mr Neville died at the Royal London Hospital on Sunday, it was announced today.

The Metropolitan Police this morning refused to say whether the officers have been suspended or placed under any other restrictions while the investigation deepens.

But IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “Through our initial enquiries it has become clear to me that our investigation needs to be widened so we are able to examine whether the officers involved followed the correct policies and procedures.

“We will continue to explore the events leading up to the police being called and the actions and decisions of officers who attended this incident.

“This is desperately sad news for Mr Neville’s family and I send my condolences to them at this extremely difficult time.”

Emergency services had been called at about 7am on March 12 to a hostel in Aberdeen Park where a man was reportedly threatening to kill staff.

Police arrived to find a 28-year-old man bleeding from unknown injuries and restrained him, but he stopped breathing.

A Met spokesman at the time said the restraint was for “officers’ and the public’s safety”.

The IPCC are now calling for witnesses to the incident in Aberdeen Park who should call 0800 096 9076 or e-mail aberdeenpark@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk with information to aid their investigation.