THE treatment of a man who lost three fingers at Colchester police station is to be further investigated.

Six Colchester police officers are already being investigated to discover how a prisoner, 33, lost the tips of three fingers while in a cell.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has now expanded the investigation to include not just the event itself, but all the actions surrounding the incident.

It is alleged the man may have needed mental health support, which was not supplied, and medical help was not sought for as long as 30 minutes after he lost his fingertips.

This may have contributed to the fingertips not being able to be reattached.

The incident took place in April this year after officers entered the cell after he was seen standing in the toilet.

Six officers tried to restrain him while he held on to the rim of the metal toilet before the tops of his fingers came off.

The Romanian national, who lives in Colchester, has not been identified.

One officer has been placed on restricted duties while the investigation continues.