The family of a Sheku Bayoh, who died in police custody in May, have raised concerns that a proposed public inquiry will be dismissed.
Father-of-two Mr Bayoh died after an alleged incident in as yet unexplained circumstances claimed to involve up to nine officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
A female officer was injured also also injured in the episode which began at around 7am on May 3, last year.
But the Bayoh family fear the breadth of both probes will be insufficient to uncover the circumstances surrounding Sheku Bayou's death.
In a statement through their solicitor, they are said to have "voiced serious concerns" about the scope of the case during meetings with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Justice Secretary Michael Matheson
The family's lawyer Aamer Anwar, pictured above with the Bayoh family, said neither the PIRC probe or the FAI have the scope to deal with "serious public concerns, the wider issues of deaths in custody and use of restraint techniques, nor would the findings of an FAI be binding on Police Scotland”.
"We were advised that serious consideration would be given to such a request [for a full public inquiry but we are still at the investigation stage.
“Whilst it is for the Lord Advocate to decide on whether there are grounds for criminal proceedings, a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory.
“But the family have told both the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Government that they do not believe an FAI has the remit to deal with serious public concerns, the wider issues of deaths in custody, use of restraint techniques, nor would the findings of an FAI be binding on Police Scotland."
Mr Bayoh's partner Collette Bell, mother of their son Isaac, has said she believes "if the police hadn't treated Sheku the way they did, he would be here today".
It is claimed CS and pepper sprays and leg and arm restraints were used by officers on Mr Bayoh, who died in police custody in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in May.
Mr Bayoh, 31, died in as yet unclear circumstances in an early-morning incident involving up to nine officers who were called to reports of a man carrying a knife.
The father-of-two did not have a knife when police arrived but one was recovered next to the scene.
The Bayou family is seeking a public inquiry similar to the probe into Vale of Leven Hospital following the country's worst Clostridium difficile (C. diff) outbreak.
Of the 143 patients with C. diff, it was a contributory factor in 34 deaths.
Mr Bayoh's mother Aminita, 65, and three older sisters Kadi Johnson, 37, Adama Jalloh, 35, and Kosna Bayoh, 40, were among hundreds who attended Bayoh's funeral in June.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The Lord Advocate has made clear there will be a Fatal Accident Inquiry which will provide public scrutiny into the circumstances of the incident.”
Below: Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC
Police Scotland, who unable to comment while the PIRC investigation is ongoing, has previously met with the Bayoh family.
A spokesman for the PIRC said: “The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Sheku Bayoh in Kirkcaldy on Sunday May 3 is ongoing.
“A report will be submitted to the Lord Advocate in due course.
“It would be inappropriate to go into further details during a live investigation.”
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