A POLICE watchdog is no longer looking into the the death of 49-year-old who plunged from a multi-story car park. 

Last month Cumbria's force refered themselves to The Independent Police Complaints Commission as "standard procedure" because an incident had took place while criminal proceedings were ongoing.

The IPCC have assessed the matter and handed it back to the county's constabulary.

Cumbria police say they are now reviewing the circumstances of Steven Archer's death themselves to "establish if any lessons can be learned."

He fell to his death on August 18 from the car park above The Forum onto Duke Street, Barrow, just before 1pm.

The area was cordoned off to the public as paramedics tried to save his life. He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries. 

Archer, of Chester Place, Barrow, was due to stand trial that morning (17) at Carlisle Crown Court. He had pleaded not guilty to one allegation of possessing cocaine with intent to supply on June 4. When he failed to show Judge Barbara Forrester issued a warrant backed by bail for his arrest just after noon. 

A spokesperson for the IPCC said: "The referral was assessed and, based on the information provided, we are content for the matter to be handled by Cumbria Constabulary without any further IPCC involvement."

A force spokesperson said: "Police attended an incident on August 18 whereby Steven Archer, aged 49, died after falling from the roof top car park onto Duke Street, Barrow. 

"His death was not treated as suspicious and details have been passed to the coroner. Police have confirmed that Steven Archer was on bail at the time of his death after being charged with drug offences. Any death following police contact is referred to the IPCC for them to assess. In this case the IPCC are not undertaking an independent investigation. The constabulary are reviewing the circumstances of the death, as is normal procedure in a death following police contact, to ensure processes were followed correctly and to establish if any lessons can be learned."