AN EXTERNAL police force will conduct an investigation into the death of a Suffolk man in a police station cell.The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has announced that a force, not yet named, will lead the inquiry into the death of a 51-year-old man.

AN EXTERNAL police force will conduct an investigation into the death of a Suffolk man in a police station cell.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has announced that a force, not yet named, will lead the inquiry into the death of a 51-year-old man.

The man, who has not been identified, had been arrested on suspicion of theft from premises in Felixstowe town centre.

He was taken to a cell at the town's police station and died less than two hours after his arrest on Friday. The man's address has not been released although he was described as a local man.

A spokesman for the IPCC said: ''The man was in custody when officers became concerned at his medical condition.

''An ambulance was called and he was subsequently pronounced dead at the police station just after 2pm.''

David Petch, commissioner of the IPCC, said: ''My sincere condolences go to this man's family and friends.

''They can be assured that the IPCC investigation will establish the facts of what happened.

''IPCC investigators were deployed to the scene and provided me with an assessment. I have decided to manage the investigation which will be undertaken by an external force under the direction and control of the IPCC.''

He said that a post mortem had taken place on Saturday. Details of the post mortem have not been released and Mr Petch said the man's identity would not be released until after investigators had spoken to his family.

The IPCC is called in as a matter of course in such cases and it will publish its findings when the investigation is completed.