Custody Deaths & Abuse

4WardEverUK

No10 Security refused deaths in custody letter

all credits: David ‘Panda’ Mery
published: 30th October 2010

The United Families and Friends Campaign UFFC, a coalition of families and friends of those who have died in the custody of police, prison and psychiatric hospital officials, organised a procession to Downing Street to give a letter to the Prime Minister. The police refused to let Samantha Rigg-David in Downing Street and they refused to accept it.

The letter was taped to the gate; a copy will be sent by post; it is reproduced below. Whether the decision not to accept the letter was entirely a police operational one or a political one, it showed a shameful lack of respect to those families seeking justice and peace.

The last conviction of a police officer following a death in custody was in 1971 [following the brutal killing of David Oluwale in Leeds].

See the full re-produced letter here >

4WardEverUK

IPCC publish deaths in police custody study

box filesall credits: Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody
published: December 2010

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) have published a major study of 333 deaths in police custody between 1998/99 and 2008/09. The study shows a fall in the number of deaths over an 11 year period and makes a series of recommendations for police forces and health service providers to prevent future tragedies.

In the first year of the study (1998/99) 49 people died in police custody in England and Wales, but by the last year (2008/09) this had fallen to 15. The long term study gathered information about all deaths in custody between 1998/99 and 2008/09, including personal characteristics of those who died, medical factors and the circumstances of their arrest, to identity themes.

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4WardEverUK

Habib Ullah: Long awaited inquest commences

provided by: Justice 4 Habib Ullah Campaign
published: 16th November 2010

Statement from the family of Habib Ullah:

Habib Ullah’s inquest commenced on 6th December, and will run to 15th December 2010 @ the Evreham Centre, Iver near Slough. We are looking for support in key ways:

1) Attend the inquest and pledge your support to come to one sitting – most days there will be a morning and afternoon session. Come and support the family and the campaign.

2) If you cannot attend please put a message of support up on the Facebook page or on the website.

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