Name for Justice over Police Killings: The massive media outcry over the charging of a police officer for homicide over the killing of Chris Kaba is a reminder to me that hundreds have died in police custody, in jail, immigration detention and safe psychiatric hospitals, many below very suspicious circumstances, nearly definitely over 2000 since 1990.
Official figures fail to file many of those deaths has having taken place in custody and people accountable have typically lied or withheld proof. Investigations have typically been superficial and a few inquests, moderately than trying to get on the fact have been used to cover it.
The Kaba case is one thing of a landmark and whereas the officer involved stays harmless till proved responsible, if convicted he would be the first to be discovered responsible of both homicide or manslaughter for such a dying. Though it appears apparent that the police needs to be held answerable for their actions, till now our justicve system has failed to take action.
Earlier this month, the IOPC (Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct) revealed a letter to the household of Sean Rigg, making a unreserved apology for the failures in investigating his dying in Brixton Police Station in August 2008. It was an apology which solely happened after 15 years of decided campaigning and investigation by the household, notably Sean’s sister Marcia, doing a lot of the job the police ought to have themselves achieved and being met by lies, deceit and cover-up.
This apology was additionally a primary, and plenty of different households are nonetheless ready for any semblance of justice and with little hope of ever receiving it.
Policing isn’t a simple job, but it surely isn’t made simpler by among the actions of the police and the institutional failures, together with racism. Policing within the UK is supposed to be by consent, however that could be a consent that needs to be earned, and one that’s squandered by failures to correctly reply to complaints and examine the actions of officers.
Yearly since 1998, the United Households and Buddies Marketing campaign (UFFC), a coalition of households of individuals killed by police, in prisons, in immigration detention and in safe psychiatric hospitals have met in Trafalgar Sq. and made a march of remembrance to a rally reverse Downing Avenue. Most years I’ve taken half and photographed this, and the photographs on this publish come from the march on twenty eighth October 2006.
You possibly can learn what I wrote then about this a way down the My London Diary October 2006 web page, and I received’t repeat it right here. There are in fact just a few extra photos too, linked from there, although you can even go on to them.
However there are some specific issues I’d prefer to level out about that 12 months’s march. Firstly is that amongst these collaborating had been members of the Household of Jean Charles de Menezez, the Brazilian electrician shot with out warning as he sat peacefully in an Underground prepare at Stockwell Station. The girl who ordered this homicide was later rewarded with numerous promotions and honours and cleared at a trial of any private culpability for his dying and rose to turn out to be Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and was honoured for her service.
On her watch we noticed the primary plans for patrols within the UK by armed police, elevated use of controversial cease and search powers, stay facial recognition, the heavy dealing with of a vigil for Sarah Everard, numerous failures to implement reforms and hinder the course of justice in instances involving the police.
Additionally collaborating in 2006 was Pauline Campbell, whose daughter Sarah Campbell died in Styal Jail in 2003, who instructed us that house workplace had lastly admitted duty for the dying of her daughter. The dying of her daughter drove her to turn out to be a robust and chronic campaigner taking direct motion in opposition to the growing variety of deaths of girls in custody. However Pauline’s story had a tragic finish when her physique was discovered on her daughter’s grave after committing suicide on her daughter’s birthday in 2008.
Tags: downing avenue, Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct) revealed a letter to the household of Sean Rigg, Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct., IOPC, London, march, march of remembrance, peter Marshall, police, policing, protest, Trafalgar Sq., UFFC, United Households and Buddies Marketing campaign
You possibly can go away a response, or trackback from your personal web site.
