Key Points:
- Terry Cassidy, 45, died following an encounter with undercover Met Police officers in Dagenham on Mother’s Day.
- Cassidy, who was disabled, suffered brain damage and later died at Queen’s Hospital, Romford, on April 9.
- The Metropolitan Police stated Cassidy ingested something believed to be drugs when approached.
- Two witnesses reported visible injuries to Cassidy’s head and neck after the incident.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) declined to investigate, suggesting a self-investigation by the Met.
- Cassidy’s partner described him as a kind, generous man who “didn’t deserve to die in vain.”
- The Met’s internal professional standards department is now reviewing the incident.
A disabled man has died after suffering brain damage during a confrontation with undercover Metropolitan Police officers outside his girlfriend’s flat in east London, sparking questions over police conduct and accountability.
Terry Cassidy, 45, who grew up in Plaistow, was an IT specialist who had previously worked on television adverts and music videos before sustaining life-altering injuries. He died on April 9 at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, nine days after an incident involving police officers in a car park off Ivyhouse Lane, Dagenham.
What happened during the police encounter with Terry Cassidy?
According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were on patrol when they stopped a car around 4.50pm on Sunday, March 30, following concerns about drug use. The force claims that when approached, Mr Cassidy ingested something and subsequently became unwell.
Witnesses at the scene, however, observed injuries to Mr Cassidy’s neck and head. One friend who had been due to meet him for coffee said: “His neck was red raw with scratches on it.” Mr Cassidy’s partner, who asked not to be named, described “little thumb or fingerprints” on his neck, visible redness, and a developing bruise.
What did Terry Cassidy’s partner say about the incident?
Speaking to authorities, Mr Cassidy’s partner described the 45-year-old as “a kind man” and “a joker” who had never been in serious trouble. She explained that Mr Cassidy was “intelligent but wasn’t streetwise” and could barely walk following severe burns to his feet from an earlier accident.
She revealed that Cassidy had agreed to hold a small quantity of drugs for a friend on the day of the incident, calling it “a stupid mistake.” She last spoke to him minutes before the confrontation when he phoned to say he was being followed by “four unmarked police cars” from Becontree to her flat.
After he failed to arrive, she called him again, only to have a police officer answer and inform her that he was “rather unwell.” When she rushed to the car park, she found Mr Cassidy lying shirtless and shoeless, with officers attempting CPR.
How has the IOPC responded to Terry Cassidy’s death?
Despite concerns raised by witnesses, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) declined to launch an investigation. A spokesperson said: “Police body worn footage was reviewed, which did not raise concerns about the officers’ interactions with the man. Therefore, a paper referral was requested.”
After assessing the referral, the IOPC decided that “an investigation was not required and that the matter should be returned to the force to deal with as they deemed appropriate.” The Metropolitan Police’s internal professional standards department is now reviewing the incident.
What has the Metropolitan Police said about the case?
In a statement, the Met said: “Officers on patrol in Dagenham stopped a car close to Ivyhouse Lane at around 4.50pm on Sunday, March 30, following concerns around drug use.
“When approached by officers, it’s believed that the man inside the car ingested something and then became unwell. Officers gave immediate first aid and called the London Ambulance Service. The man, in his 40s, was taken to hospital. Sadly, he died on Wednesday, April 9. His family are aware and being supported by specialist officers.”
What are the wider concerns raised by this case?
Mr Cassidy’s partner called his death “a miscarriage of justice” and expressed fears that accountability would be lacking. “No one is going to get charged for this. No one ever does,” she said.
Reflecting on their relationship, she added: “He treated me like a queen. He taught me how to be loved. I’ve never been loved like this before. And now he’s gone… He didn’t deserve to die in vain like this.”
