The family of Habib Ullah, who died in police custody, have criticised the “unacceptable” length of time it has taken for the inquest into his death to come to fruition.

Mr Ullah’s loved ones said they are concerned that another inquest is needed to look into his death more than six years ago.

The Justice4Paps campaign was set up by members of Mr Ullah’s family after he died during a police stop and search on July 3, 2008.

An inquest was originally held in December 2010 but had to be abandoned after it was revealed that officers altered parts of their statements following legal advice.

The CPS looked into bringing charges against the officers but in August it was decided there was insufficient evidence to charge any individual in relation to Mr Ullah's death or in relation to allegations of perverting the course of justice.

Mr Ullah’s family are reviewing the CPS’s decision and the awaiting the misconduct hearing brought about by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which will now take place after February’s inquest.

Nasrit Mahmood, Mr Ullah’s sister, said: “We are concerned that we are having to look at another inquest into my brother’s death whilst we are still in the process of reviewing the CPS decision not to charge the officers.

“It also needs to be recognised that those officers are still facing gross misconduct charges some of which are related to their actions in the inquest that collapsed in December 2010.

“For the family it feels like a never ending investigation with very little light at the end of the tunnel.”

The family said they hope the extensive security arrangements that were in place at the first inquest are relaxed and that people attend to hear for themselves about the circumstances that led to the 39-year-old’s death.

Zia Ullah, Mr Ullah’s cousin, said: “We need to clarify that CPS had determined that there was insufficient evidence for the likelihood of any convictions.

“Our frustration with the CPS decision is that there were very real offences that were committed and that it should have gone to trial for a jury to decide themselves.

“In February 2015 when this new inquest is due to take place it will be almost seven years since Habib’s death.

“For families to wait this length of time is unacceptable but it seems that in death in custody cases this is common.

“In the context of our on-going review of the CPS decision not to prosecute and the Thames Valley Police misconduct hearing we have a lot on our plate but like all the other families we are not giving up.”