THE man who died after being arrested by police officers in Bexley has been named as Gerald Kent.

The 51-year-old was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and failing to stop in North Cray Road, Bexley, on Friday, March 28, during a speed enforcement operation.

He began to fell unwell in a police van which was transporting him to Bexleyheath Police Station.

Police officers called an ambulance at around 11.20pm and administered first aid as the man was struggling for breath.

He was taken to Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, but despite efforts to revive him, Mr Kent was pronounced dead at 12.41am on Saturday, March 29.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is investigating the incident, said Article 2 of the Human Rights Act - the right to life - was engaged by police officers at the time and therefore an investigation by its own officers into the case would suffice.IPCC Commissioner Mehmuda Mian Pritchard said: “Our investigators went to Bexleyheath immediately in the early hours of Saturday morning to assess how the inquiry should be carried out. “An IPCC investigator also went to the post-mortem. I have decided this should be investigated using our own staff. I will oversee the investigation and ensure that a full report is sent to the coroner.”