Brit anti-corruption cop is found dead in his car submerged in the sea off the British Virgin Isles: Family’s fury as death is ruled ‘an unfortunate accident’

A British anti-corruption police officer has been found dead in his car submerged in the sea off the British Virgin Islands, while his family say they fear a cover-up.

Paul France, 61, was part of a team investigating organized crime and corruption in the British Overseas Territory.

The father of four was found dead in his car on October 7, his vehicle completely submerged in seawater off the coast of Tortola, the BVI's largest island.

According to reports, the ex-Greater Manchester Police detective's discovery came just hours after drugs and weapons were seized in raids.

Island police chiefs referred the case to the coroner, but the Royal Virgin Islands Police announced The sun newspaper that his death was an “unfortunate accident.”

Paul France, 61, was part of a team investigating organized crime and corruption in the British Overseas Territory. He was found dead in his car in October, completely submerged in the sea

Detective France's vehicle is lifted from the water after it was found in October

An investigation into the incident also appears to have been dropped, the publication said.

This has sparked anger among Mr France's family, who believe there was more to his death, and has upset his colleagues.

'Everyone thinks the same about it. How do you end up in the ocean?' Mr France's cousin Anne, who is from Bolton, told The Sun.

“We are angry that we have been left in the dark.”

A source told the newspaper that Mr France's death in October had left his police colleagues in disarray.

“It's made a lot of them nervous. They are not wanted there,” the source said.

However, officials on the island say they do not believe there is any foul play.

Instead, they suspect a “medical episode” or “vehicle malfunction” is the most likely explanation, Police Chief Mark Collins said in October.

“I don't have anything to suggest there was any foul play,” he said.

'I don't think we can rule out a medical episode and I don't think we can rule out a vehicle malfunction. “I'm not going to go into the inquest because the file is obviously made available to the Coroner, but to answer your question, I don't think he's the type of man who would have committed suicide.”

Mr. France had been a police officer in Britain or the British Virgin Islands for 40 years, according to local reports, in the aftermath of his death in October.

The vehicle was found off the coast of Road Town, the capital of Tortola, in the Waterfront area, close to Queen Elizabeth II Park.

Photos and videos from the crime scene showed locals and police officers peering into the water, where the vehicle can be seen completely submerged.

Other footage shows the car being lifted out of the sea by a crane, with water flowing past the vehicle's doors.

On that day, Mr Collins sent his condolences to Mr France's family.

“The RVIPF has suffered the loss of one of our own,” the commissioner said.

The father of four was found dead in his car on October 7, his vehicle completely submerged in seawater off the coast of Tortola, the BVI's largest island (pictured)

“Detective France was a highly regarded member of our organization, and this tragedy saddens us deeply. Our deepest condolences go out to his family.”

Meanwhile, Governor John Rankin CMG also released a statement saying he was saddened to hear of the loss of Detective France.

At a later press conference, amid reports that more test results were being sought following an autopsy on Mr France's body, Governor Rankin also ruled out foul play.

“It is not yet clear what exactly happened,” he said at the end of October. “I can say that there is no evidence to date that his death was the result of foul play.”