AN INVESTIGATION was launched last night after a Suffolk man died in a police cell less than two hours after he was arrested.Police had detained the 51-year-old man at premises in Felixstowe town centre on suspicion of theft shortly after 11.

AN INVESTIGATION was launched last night after a Suffolk man died in a police cell less than two hours after he was arrested.

Police had detained the 51-year-old man at premises in Felixstowe town centre on suspicion of theft shortly after 11.30am.

He was in a cell at Felixstowe police station in High Road West but died shortly after 1pm.

Last night, a force spokesman confirmed the Independent Police Complaints Commission had been called in to investigate what happened.

No further details were available about how the man died or his identity, although he was a local man.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “The 51-year-old local man had been taken to the police station in High Road West soon after 11.30am after being arrested at premises in Felixstowe town centre on suspicion of theft.

“He was taken to a police cell to await interview. At 1.15pm officers became concerned for his welfare and paramedics were called, but attempts to revive the man failed and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A full investigation is under way and Suffolk Constabulary has referred this matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.”

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

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service confirmed they were called to the police station at 1.20pm. There was a report that a man had collapsed and was bleeding from his nose.