Care assessed after police custody death in Warwickshire

originally published by: BBC News
published: 7th September 2010

Care for a man who collapsed in police custody and died was below the standard expected, an investigation has found.

It said Sean Walsh, 42, was taken in 2008 to the Warwickshire Justice Centre in Nuneaton and assessed as being unfit for questioning as he was intoxicated. The Independent Police Complaints Commission added officers did not seek medical advice at appropriate times.

Warwickshire Police said it had reacted quickly to recommendations identified through the IPCC investigation process. It added that one officer had had a written warning and another had received formal words of advice, but no actions taken by the force could have prevented the death.

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IPCC probe after a Birmingham man dies in police custody

all credits: BBC News
16th August 2010

An investigation has started after a 39-year-old man died shortly after being taken into police custody. Lloyd Butler, from Sheldon, Birmingham, was arrested following a call from his family that he was drunk and incapable.

He was put in a cell at 1215 BST on 4 August and kept under observation due to his poor condition, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said. West Midlands Police checked on him at 1515 BST then started first aid. He was taken to hospital but declared dead.

Police referred the death at Stechford police station to the Independent Police Complaints Commission IPCC which began investigating on 5 August. The IPCC said it had been asked to review the police officers’ actions to ensure they had followed national and local guidelines for custody care.

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Blair Peach killed by police at 1979 protest, Met report finds

Blair Peach
Blair Peach

originally published by: The Guardian
27th April 2010

New Zealand-born Blair Peach died after a blow to the head during a demonstration in Southall, London, against the National Front in April 1979. The anti-fascist protester Blair Peach was almost certainly killed by police at a demonstration in 1979, according to a secret report released today.

Documents published on the Metropolitan police’s website shed new light on the death of Peach, a 33-year-old teacher from New Zealand, whose death marked one of the most controversial events in modern policing history. A campaigner against the far right, Peach died from a blow to the head during a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London.

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