A Streatham man suffered a heart attack and died after being arrested by police in Clapham North on Thursday last week.

The 25 year old was stopped with another youth after the car they were in was seen driving erratically in Dalyell Road around 3.30pm. They were taken to Brixton police station to be searched, where officers discovered one and a half wraps of crack cocaine.

While they were being searched, police began to suspect the 25 year old had swallowed some of the drugs and called an ambulance. He was conscious as he was taken to hospital, but started to complain about feeling unwell shortly after arriving.

Police immediately contacted members of his family and brought them to the hospital, but by 10.30pm he was pronounced dead.

A postmortem held in Greenwich on Monday gave the cause of death as a cardiac arrest. Police are still awaiting a toxicology report to discover exactly what the victim had swallowed.

Borough Commander Brian Paddick said: We wish to offer our condolences to the family of this man. I will be seeking an early opportunity to meet with the family so I can offer my condolences personally. Whatever the circumstances of this incident, which will be thoroughly and independently investigated, it is tragic that a young man has lost his life.

The case has been voluntarily referred by police to the independent Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and a family liaison officer appointed to the bereaved family. Lambeths Community Police Consultative Group has also been informed.

PCA member Deborah Glass, who is heading the inquiry, said: I have gone to south London to begin the investigation into this tragic death and attended the post mortem. I hope to meet with the family to explain how the investigation will be carried out and will keep the family informed throughout.

The incident is the second death in five months involving Lambeth police, following the shooting of Derek Bennett in July, and has prompted renewed calls for an independent inquiry into deaths in police custody.

Lee Jasper, adviser to London Mayor Ken Livingstone on policing and race relations, said: We are extremely concerned about this incident and are repeating our call for a fully independent inquiry into deaths in custody.

Such an inquiry will reassure the community their concerns are not being ignored. The Metropolitan Police Authority are conducting its own inquiry but this is not independent.

By.Nino Williams