Family of man who died after being Tasered hit out at lack of support from police

Marc, 30, was Tasered by an officer after police were called to Langton Road following reports of a man wielding a knife. His family claim he was no danger to others or himself and his death is now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Now three weeks after the death of the father of two, his sister, Lisa, told the Packet: "We as a family would like to say thank you so much to all of the very kind people in our community who have offered messages of support, solidarity and love.

"We have received over 700 messages on social media alone from friends, neighbours and the wider community. We’ve had messages of support from human rights activists and ex police officers who are firmly against the use of Tasers, who have taken a keen interest in Marc's death.

"These messages have really helped us in these first few awful weeks after Markie’s tragic death. Whilst our close knit community has rallied around us in true Cornish spirit, the same cannot be said for the authorities. Our family has not been offered any type of family liaison support.

"Usually when a family are notified of a traumatic death, a liaison officer will be on hand to signpost the family to therapeutic support services. I have worked extensively in mental health services in Manchester and to now be in my home town with absolutely no guidance towards emotional support services is unbelievable."

But a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said because of the death it had mandatorily referred the matter to the IPCC and it would be the IPCC that arranged contact with the family.

“The IPCC are independently investigating this and, as a result, Devon and Cornwall Police cannot give family liaison support to the family concerned in line with IPCC advice," said the spokeman.

“All family contact on the matter would be co-ordinated and managed by the IPCC during an independent investigation.

“Devon and Cornwall Police continue to co-operate fully with this ongoing enquiry.”

She added: "We have a large family and friendship group including babies and young children who have been directly affected by traumatic loss and these situations need careful handling.

"This week Marc’s partner had to tell my four-year-old nephew that his Daddy will never be coming home. To do the unimaginable you need support, especially when you are engulfed in grief and yet here we are with no support for the children.

"I have spent the last two weeks, when I have needed to grieve for my brother, chasing up support for the children. It’s just not what you want to be dealing with at a time like this."

The family also criticised the police after receiving a letter addressed to Marc which was "chasing up" a parking ticket. "I was absolutely horrified and deeply upset that they can be completely exempt from offering support but still be able to send out a letter a few days ago, to the family of a person who was killed following a fatal incident involving the police," she said. "I am absolutely speechless that this has been allowed to happen. We are all devastated and my poor Mum does not need to be tormented like this."

Despite their grief, Marc's family want to do what they can to prevent another death in similar circumstances. "We could be so very angry about the horrifying way my brother's life was taken but we choose peace," said Lisa. "We choose to focus on the babies and the wonderful people of Falmouth and the wider community who have shown us unwavering support.

"We choose to invest time in the long term by making a change to ensure something like this never happens to a father, a son, a friend again."

A Justgiving page will soon be set up to help support Marc’s young sons, Caden and Caleb.

Devon and Cornwall Police have been asked for a response to Lisa's claims, but had not responded by the time of going to press.