Watchdog to investigate death of man after police contact at Bristol protest
Summary
A police watchdog is investigating the death of Nicholas Stone, a 65-year-old retired NHS worker who became unwell and died after police used force against him at a protest in Bristol. Stone attended a counter-demonstration against a far-right group, and the investigation will review whether the police’s actions were necessary and appropriate.Key Facts
- Nicholas Stone died on January 10, 2026, after attending a protest in Bristol city centre.
- The protest was against a far-right group called the Bristol Patriots.
- Police used force to stop Stone from passing a street where they were forming a cordon, and he fell to the ground.
- Stone was helped by other protesters and later by a first aider, then taken by taxi.
- Emergency services found him in cardiac arrest and he died at the scene.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) initially declined to investigate but later decided to conduct an independent inquiry after pressure.
- The IOPC will examine the use of force by officers to see if it was necessary and reasonable.
- Stone’s daughter said her father was a kind mental health worker with no known health problems and wants justice.
- Avon and Somerset police will cooperate with the independent investigation.
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