Updated: AN investigation is under way after a woman collapsed in police custody in York and died.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the 31-year-old woman on Thursday evening.

The woman, who has not yet been named by North Yorkshire Police, was detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, in the Bootham area of York.

The IPCC said the woman had been stopped at about 2.50pm after a man flagged down police officers and raised concerns about her behaviour.

The Press understands she was with her brother, behaving violently and erratically, and was seen wandering in traffic trying to get into people’s vehicles.

Officers had tried to calm the woman down but later had to arrest her and took her into custody in a marked police van.

She was taken to Fulford Road police station shortly before 3pm but was found collapsed in her cell shortly before 6pm.

It is thought she continued to struggle with police and to behave in a violent manner.

The woman had been assessed by an on-duty nurse while in custody and deemed fit to be there but about two hours later her condition had deteriorated and she became unconscious.

Staff at the police station tried to perform resuscitation and called the ambulance service but the woman was pronounced dead on arrival at York Hospital at 6.48pm.

The Press understands the woman had a history of drug addiction for which she received medical treatment.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said they were co-operating fully with the IPCC investigation. He said: “While this independent investigation is ongoing it would not be appropriate for North Yorkshire Police to comment further other than to extend our deepest sympathy to the woman’s loved ones at this very difficult time.”

Deaths in police custody trigger an automatic IPCC investigation and Nicholas Long, for the commission, said an investigator had been appointed to the case on Thursday evening.

The IPCC are now examining the circumstances of the woman’s detention, her transportation to the station and the care she received while in custody.

Mr Long added: “I would urge anybody who was on Bootham on Thursday afternoon and saw a woman behaving strangely or being detained by police, to contact the IPCC to help inform our investigation.”

A post mortem examination took place yesterday afternoon but was inconclusive and further tests will therefore take place.

Anybody with any information is asked to phone the IPCC on 08453 002 002 or to email enquiries@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk