A meeting was held this week for friends and family of Mr Khan, known as Dean, to discuss the ongoing investigation into his death at Burnley Police Station on June 30th. He was arrested at 8-50 a.m. in Halifax Road, Brierfield, for smashing up cars.

The community meeting, at the Jinnah Community Centre in Brougham Street, was attended by Carol Pounder, whose son Adam Rickwood is the youngest person to die in custody in the UK, and Janet Alder, who hit the headlines in 1998 when her brother, Christopher, died in police custody in Hull.

Mrs Pounder, from Burnley, spoke about Adam's death in 2004, at a detention centre in County Durham. He was found hanged in his room after a scuffle with staff. She said: "I've been through hell over the last three years. It has been absolutely sickening."

Janet Alder has campaigned for nearly a decade to get the details of her brother's last hours and death. An inquest and independent police inquiry were later held but Humberside police were absolved of wrongdoing.

She told the meeting: "You deserve to know what happened to Dean. You are his family and you deserve the truth and you deserve justice."

The circumstances of Mr Khan's death are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission who this week appealed for more information.

Mr Khan's family made a heartfelt plea for witnesses and more information through their solicitor, Joanne Kearsley, of Farleys Solicitors, Burnley. She told the meeting: "We believe there are a couple of people who were in Halifax Road at the time and near the police station when Dean was brought in that morning.

"The family do not want people to speculate what may or may not have happened to Dean. At this point we need real facts."

The Independent Police Complaints' Commission is appealing for any remaining witnesses to the arrest of Mr Khan to come forward.

The IPCC says the public response has been good. However, it is believed some witnesses have yet to come forward. In particular, investigators are keen to speak with anyone who witnessed Mr Khan being arrested outside the Modern Hairdressing Salon in Colne Road, Brierfield, and anyone who witnessed his behaviour prior to his arrest.

Information from other witnesses has revealed Mr Khan travelled along Montrose Street, Halifax Road and Colne Road.

Naseem Malik, IPCC Commissioner, said: "The response of the public has been very good so far and we would like to thank them for the information they have supplied.

"However, we are sure there are some witnesses who have yet to come forward and we are very keen to construct as complete a picture as possible of the events surrounding Mr Khan's arrest. We would urge people to come forward even if they do not think the information they have is important. The information they hold will undoubtedly assist us."

Contact the IPCC witness line on 0800 096 9078 or visit khan_investigation@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk