An inquest into the death of Nanu Miah was opened at East London Coroner’s Court on Thursday (January 15).
Mr Miah was pronounced dead at the police station at 4.02am on April 2 last year.
Senior coroner Graeme Irvine said: “Mr Miah had been arrested in relation to drug-related offences on March 31 and was taken to Romford Police Station and was subjected to investigative processes.
“It was during this period in custody that he was found unresponsive in a custody cell at 3.28am on April 2.”
CPR was performed and an ambulance was called but Mr Miah could not be resuscitated.
Mr Irvine said the delay in opening an inquest was a result of an absence of any clear understanding of how Mr Miah had died.
The coroner ordered a post-mortem and laboratory tests but they were not able to shed any light.
“Regrettably, no clear mechanism of death has been discovered despite the extensive forensic investigation,” Mr Irvine said.
The death is the subject of an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.
A spokesperson for the police watchdog said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Nanu Miah and anyone affected by his death.
“In April we began an investigation into the actions and decisions of Met Police officers and custody staff involved in Mr Miah’s arrest and detention in Romford.
“As part of the ongoing investigation we have served misconduct notices on three sergeants and four designated detention officers.
“The serving of notices does not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings will follow. At the end of our investigation we will decide if anyone should face disciplinary proceedings.
“A provisional date of June 16 has been set for an inquest hearing into his death.”
Mr Irvine said it is possible but not certain that the inquest will be heard in front of a jury.
The Met Police declined to comment while the inquest is ongoing.
