Jason Arday, a former professor at the University of Cambridge and a figure who had been involved in a public plagiarism debate in recent days, has been found dead in south London. The police’s official account says the death is being treated as unexpected and, at this stage, not as suspicious.
Found unresponsive in Battersea
Emergency services said Arday was found unresponsive on Friday afternoon in Battersea, south London.
According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were called by the London Ambulance Service and a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.
Resignation after plagiarism allegations
Last week, Arday resigned from his post as professor of the sociology of education at Cambridge after plagiarism allegations were raised against him and questions were cast over some of his professional achievements.
He had denied the plagiarism claims, while acknowledging that there had been errors in his work.
What police say
In its statement, the Metropolitan Police said the death is currently being treated as unexpected.
According to the official account, there are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.
Public pressure at the center of the debate
Shortly before he was found dead, the 41-year-old academic had said the recent reactions had brought what he described as a merciless level of public scrutiny and personal attack.
The case has drawn attention because of the overlap between a fierce academic debate and the serious development reported by the British authorities.
At this stage, public information about the circumstances of the death remains limited and is based mainly on official statements from the police and emergency services.
The plagiarism allegations against Arday had already opened a sensitive debate on academic integrity and the way such issues are handled publicly.