Metropolitan Police Service staff may face charges over homeless man’s death

Prosecutors will decide whether two Metropolitan Police Service employees should be charged over the death of a homeless man, the police watchdog has said.

Pericles Malagardis, 63, was found unresponsive outside Uxbridge police station in west London on March 5 last year, hours after being ejected from the reception.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider if charges of gross negligence manslaughter should be brought against two members of Metropolitan Police Service staff.

Mr Malagardis, who had been sleeping rough at Heathrow Airport, visited the police station on March 4 2016 to collect his dog, which had been put in kennels while he went to hospital.

The Greek national was asked to leave at 12.40am the next day and removed by staff, but stayed outside.

He was found unresponsive at around 5.30am and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6.45am.

The IPCC said its investigation had centred on the decision to remove the man and the level of care provided by staff in the hours after and when he was found unresponsive.

Tom Milsom, IPCC Associate Commissioner, said: “Our thoughts remain with Mr Malagardis’ family and friends and everyone affected by his death.

“We will now await a CPS decision on the matter.

“Our report on the investigation, including our findings as to whether or not the officers should face misconduct proceedings, has also been provided to the Metropolitan Police Service and we await its response.”

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