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- The daughter of a retired NHS worker is calling for a full and independent investigation into the death of her father after it emerged he died after police contact at a protest against the far right.
Nicholas Stone, 65, who lived in Bristol, died on 10 January after becoming unwell at a protest opposing the rightwing group Bristol Patriots, who were staging a demonstration in the city centre.
According to information from Stone’s family’s legal team and the police, during the demonstration, at approximately 11.54am, Stone ran towards Clare Street at the same time police officers were approaching that street to form a cordon. Two officers used force to prevent Stone passing.
As a result, he ended up on the ground on his back. He was helped back to his feet by several others attending the protest. At about 1pm, a first aider was asked to assist him, as he was siting on a bench and said he was feeling clammy and cold. She helped him get in a taxi at 1.19pm. Avon and Somerset police told the Guardian they received a call from the ambulance service about a man in cardiac arrest at 1.50pm. He died at the scene.
His daughter, Celia Stone, 33, who lives in Manchester, was given the news of her father’s death in the early hours of 11 January after officers from Greater Manchester police knocked on her door to tell her what had happened.
Celia Stone: ‘What happened to my dad needs to be fully and independently investigated.’ Photograph: Joel Goodman/The Guardian
“The police didn’t give me much information about my dad’s death,”she said. “I spent the next few hours trying to get hold of someone at Avon and Somerset police. Eventually a family liaison officer there told me he had died following police contact. The whole thing has been so traumatising for me. I’m an only child and my dad brought me up as a single parent. He had no diagnosed medical conditions at the time of his death.”
Avon and Somerset police are carrying out an internal investigation into the events before Stone’s death, after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) initially declined to investigate. The IOPC says it is now reconsidering this decision.
“What happened to my dad needs to be fully and independently investigated,” said Stone. “My dad was a retired mental health worker. He spent over 20 years working for the NHS supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society. He was a very gentle and kind man and was very passionate about human rights and making the world a better and safer place. He always stood up for equality.
“I believe that if the police intervention at the protest had not happened, my dad would still be alive today.”
Celia Stone’s solicitor, Hazel Metcalfe of Birnberg Peirce, said: “This case is of utmost concern to both the family and the public. The initial decision of the IOPC to not investigate the matter themselves was a disappointment. The family are now hopeful the IOPC will make the right decision and direct an independent investigation.”
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: “Officers were called at around 1.50pm on Saturday 10 January by the ambulance service to Redcatch Road, Bristol, following a report of a man in cardiac arrest. Sadly, despite efforts from emergency personnel, the man died at the scene.
“During inquiries it was established the man had attended protest activity earlier in the day in Bristol city centre, where there was prior police contact. As a result, a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, who decided it was suitable for a local investigation to be carried out by our professional standards department.
“We’ve been informed this decision is now being reassessed by the IOPC.”
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We can confirm we received a referral from Avon and Somerset police in connection with this matter, in January 2026. After assessing the information provided by the force, we decided that an investigation was required and that it was appropriate for that to be carried out locally by Avon and Somerset police.
“Following representations made to the IOPC, we are now reassessing our original decision for the force to investigate the matter.”
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