AN INVESTIGATION into the death of a Hampshire woman who died while in police custody has been completed, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Martine Brandon was found collapsed and not breathing in her custody cell at Southampton central police station.

But the findings of the probe carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission will not be revealed until the inquest into the 48-year-old’s death.

It comes as Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Hayes, gave his support to the launch of a new review into deaths or serious injury suffered by those in custody.

Official figures revealed there were 17 such death in 2014-15 – the highest number for five years – including the death of Ms Brandon in Southampton last November.

As previously reported, the IPCC launched an inquiry into the circumstances of her death while she was behind bars.

Officers discovered Ms Brandon, who was not breathing, in the city’s custody suite at the station at 7.15am on November 1 last year.

An ambulance was called to the cell at 7.15am but, despite efforts to save her, the woman was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital an hour later.

The IPCC confirmed that their investigation into the death has been completed but that their findings will not be released before an inquest, which has yet to be set a date.

Home secretary Theresa May have vowed to start an independent review into such deaths in or following custody in England and Wales.

Mr Hayes said: “Going into police custody is something that the majority of people will never experience. However, for those who do, they should expect to be treated fairly and with dignity and respect.”

The review launched by the home secretary will examine “procedures and processes” involving custody deaths and serious non-fatal incidents.

It comes after high-profile cases and allegations of wrongdoing.

In a speech Mrs May said: “Police custody is a place where a number of dynamics meet.

“It is a place where dangerous and difficult criminals are rightly locked up. Where officers and staff regularly face violent, threatening and abusive behaviour, and where the police use some of their most sensitive and coercive powers.

“But it is also a place where all too often vulnerable people, often with mental health problems, are taken because there is no other place to go.”

She pledged the review would have the experiences of families at its heart, and its chairman – yet to be appointed – would be someone prepared to ask “difficult questions”.