FIVE police officers walked away from potential criminal charges yesterday despite their complicity in a cover-up after the death in custody of a Slough man.

Habib Ullah asphyxiated to death in 2008 when he was forced to the ground by Thames Valley Police officers during a stop and search operation in High Wycombe.

During a 2010 inquest into his death it was discovered that — at the advice of a solicitor — key passages from the officers’ original statements had been deleted.

Despite this, a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman announced yesterday that “no further criminal action should be taken” due to lack of evidence.

Mr Ullah’s family said it was “disappointed with the decision.”

The CPS investigation took into account the possibility of the officers having been responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence, perjury, misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice.

“At the inquest they admitted that they had changed their statements and withheld key evidence on legal advice,” said the victim’s sister Nasrit Mahmood.

“How on earth can the CPS disregard the facts?”

The Independent Police Complains Commission (IPCC) confirmed, however, that the five officers would face disciplinary action for manufacturing evidence — a development welcomed by Ms Mahmood and her legal team.

“But there are still many questions left unanswered,” she added.

The Thames Valley Police solicitor is likely to face an inquiry into his advice by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Mr Ullah’s family solicitor Marian Ellingworth said: “Such conduct by public servants under a duty to conduct themselves with integrity is highly reprehensible.

“It is to be regretted that the CPS does not consider that there is sufficient evidence to charge.”