Controversial Deaths in UK Police Custody

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Main article: UK Deaths in Custody

There have been a disproportionate number of deaths of black people in British Police custody which have never been properly investigated. According to the Institute of Race Relations, out of 75 cases of such deaths in custody they recorded in 1991, only one has resulted in a prosecution (of the police) and only in that one has the family of the deceased received compensation.[1]

The following is a list of deaths of individuals which have taken place in police custody and which have given rise to concern because of unexplained or mysterious circumstances surrounding those deaths and / or allegations of maltreatment, dereliction of duty or brutality:[1]

In an article in New Statesman, Darcus Howe after the murder of Zahid Mubarak at Feltham in 2006 predicted that such deaths in custody would increase.[2]

Name Age Ethnicity Date of Death Institution Circumstances surrounding deaths Cause of Death
Michael Ferreira 19 black /ethnic minority 10/12/78 police custody Died in Stoke Newington police station after being stabbed in a racist attack Inquest verdict unknown
S. Singh Grewal 40 black /ethnic minority 02/08/79 police custody Died in Southall police station Inquest verdict unknown
Henry Floyd 26 black /ethnic minority 23/08/79 police custody Found hanged in cell of West End Central police station Suicide
Leroy Gordon 20 black /ethnic minority August 80 police custody Died in Pershore police station after crowd suspecting him of robbery-sat on him Asphyxiation due to compression of the neck
Winston Rose 27 black /ethnic minority 13/07/81 police custody Died in police van after being restrained by police officers taking him to psychiatric hospital Unlawful killing at the hands of the police
Shohik Meah 43 black /ethnic minority 06/11/81 police custody Died in Thornhill Road police station - Birmingham Inquest verdict unknown
Changa Singh 60 black /ethnic minority 25/03/82 police custody Died of alcoholic poisoning in Cathay Park police station Misadventure
Franklyn Lee 20 black /ethnic minority September 1982 police custody According to the police died of injuries sustained during a burglary Inquest verdict unknown
Simeon Collins 17 black /ethnic minority 10/12/82 police custody Died of acute injuries to liver and spleen day after being arrested by City Road police Accidental death
Colin Roach Age unknown black /ethnic minority 12/01/83 police custody Died of gunshot wound sustained while he was in Stoke Newington police station Suicide
James Ruddock 44 black /ethnic minority 14/02/83 police custody Died after being denied treatment for diabetes and sickle cell for 12 hours in Kensington police station Natural causes attributed to self neglect
Nicholas Ofusu 31 black /ethnic minority 06/05/83 police custody Death by misadventure
Mathew Paul 19 black /ethnic minority 06/05/83 police custody Found hanged in Leman Street police station Suicide due to lack of care
Michael Dean Martin Age unknown black /ethnic minority 06/07/84 police custody Accidental death aggravated by lack of care
James Hall Age unknown black /ethnic minority 30/03/85 police custody Inquest verdict unknown
John Mikkelson 34 black /ethnic minority 15/07/85 police custody Unlawful killing; after police appeal verdict changed to death by misadventure
Cynthia Jarrett Age unknown black /ethnic minority 06/10/85 police custody Accidental death
Stephen Bogle 27 black /ethnic minority 12/08/86 police custody Natural causes aggravated by lack of care
Caiphas Lemard Age unknown black /ethnic minority 08/10/86 police custody Non-dependent drug abuse aggravated by lack of care
Clinton McCurbin Age unknown black /ethnic minority 20/02/87 police custody Death by misadventure
Nenneh Jalloh Age unknown black /ethnic minority 24/04/87 police custody Death by misadventure
Mohammed Parkit 50 black /ethnic minority 01/05/87 police custody Open verdict
Tunay Hassan 25 black /ethnic minority 26/06/87 police custody Drug dependency aggravated by lack of care
Mark Ventour Age unknown black /ethnic minority 24/09/87 police custody Asphyxia caused by chewing gum in throat
Joseph Palombella 40 black /ethnic minority October 1987 police custody Inquest verdict unknown
Oakley Ramsey 25 black /ethnic minority June 1988 police custody Inquest verdict unknown
Derek Buchanan 19 black /ethnic minority 04/09/88 police custody Drowning
David 'Duke' Daley 44 black /ethnic minority February 1989 police custody Open verdict
Nicholas Bramble 17 black /ethnic minority March 1989 police custody Accidental death
Vincent Graham 40 black /ethnic minority July 1989 police custody Inquest verdict unknown
Jamie Stewart 22 black /ethnic minority 02/07/89 police custody Death by misadventure due to excessive overdose of cocaine
Edwin Carr 39 black /ethnic minority 12/07/89 police custody Inquest verdict unknown
Oliver Pryce 30 black /ethnic minority 24/07/90 police custody Unlawful killing
Vandana Patel 21 black /ethnic minority 29/04/91 police custody Died after being stabbed in DVU in Stoke Newington police station Inquest verdict unknown
Ian Gordon 24 black /ethnic minority 12/08/91 police custody Psychiatric patient shot dead by Telford police Lawful killing
Arthur Allison 50 black /ethnic minority 1992 police custody Died four days after being arrested by Leicester police Inquest verdict unknown
Leon Patterson 32 black /ethnic minority 21/11/92 police custody Died while on remand at Stockport police station Unlawful killing verdict was overturned in 1994 and changed to 'Misadventure to which neglect contributed'
Randhir Showpal 43 black /ethnic minority 19/12/92 police custody Died in Norbury police station after being detained under the Mental Health Act Misadventure
Joy Gardner 40 black /ethnic minority 01/08/93 police custody Died after being arrested by 'specialist' officers from the Extradition Unit of the Met; was gagged with 13 feet of tape Inquest adjourned till trial of officers involved; officers later acquitted
Kwanele Siziba 27 black /ethnic minority 27/04/94 police custody Fell 150 feet to her death attempting to flee what she believed were immigration officials Misadventure
Mark Harris 31 black /ethnic minority 10/07/94 police custody Found hanged after arrested by Bristol police officers Open verdict
Shkander Singh 37 black /ethnic minority 19/09/94 police custody Died in Stewart Street police station (Glasgow); Had been heard shouting and crying in cell but was ignored Heart Failure
Joseph Nnalue 31 black /ethnic minority 23/10/94 police custody Died after falling from balcony in flat in Stockwell - police and immigration officials wee calling at his flat at the time Accidental death
Tyrone Wilson 34 black /ethnic minority 18/11/94 police custody Died 18 days after police were called to his flat in Ipswich Inquest verdict unknown
Oluwashiji Lapite 34 black /ethnic minority 16/12/94 police custody Died during a struggle with police officers from Stoke Newington police

station || Unlawful Killing - In June 1998 the CPS reaffirmed its decision not to prosecute the officers involved

Brian Douglas 33 black /ethnic minority 08/05/95 police custody Died 8 days after being restrained with new batons by Clapham police officers Misadventure
Wayne Douglas 25 black /ethnic minority 05/12/95 police custody Died in Brixton police station Accidental death
Noorjahan Begum 35 black /ethnic minority 15/03/96 police custody Died after falling from balcony of flat where she was living; two immigration officials were calling at the flat at the time Accidental death
Ibrahima Sey 29 black /ethnic minority 16/03/96 police custody Died after being sprayed (while handcuffed) with CS spray in Ilford police station Unlawful killing. In October 1998 the CPS decided that thare was not enough evidence to prosecute the officers involved in his death
Ziya Bitirim 47 black /ethnic minority April 96 police custody Died after collapsing and vomiting during his arrest Accidental death
Donovan Williams 36 black /ethnic minority April 96 police custody Died after collapsing in his cell during a search in Peckham police station Accidental death
Ahmed El Gammal 33 black /ethnic minority 13/8/96 police custody Died after struggling with police from Leyton police station Inquest verdict unknown
Fred Tokunpor Akiyemi 46 black /ethnic minority 4/10/96 police custody Died after falling from 5th floor of flat; Peckham police were calling at his flat at the time Inquest verdict unknown
George Bosie Davies 36 black /ethnic minority 7/10/96 police custody Died in Marylebone police station after being arrested on suspicion of being drunk Inquest verdict unknown
Oscar Okoye 53 black /ethnic minority 11/11/96 police custody Died 5 months after being arrested by Streatham police on suspicion of being drunk Natural causes
Herbert Gabbidon 68 black /ethnic minority 10/01/97 police custody Died while in the custody of Walsall police who were deporting him back to Jamaica Inquest verdict unknown
Peter Austin 30 black /ethnic minority 30/01/97 police custody Found hanged in Brentford magistrates court Lack of care contributed to accidental death
Marlon Downes 20 black /ethnic minority 23/03/97 police custody Found hanged in cell of Harlesden police station Open verdict
Peter San Pedro 25 black /ethnic minority 3/04/97 police custody Died after walking into path of lorry hours after being arrested and sprayed with CS spray Open verdict (December 98)
Lytton Shannon 36 black /ethnic minority 1/05/97 police custody Collapsed and died after being arrested by Wolverhampton police Inquest verdict unknown
Christopher Alder 37 black /ethnic minority 1/04/98 police custody Died after being arrested by Hull police; taken to the station; placed on floor face down and handcuffed. In June 2002 a judge ordered the jury to clear 5 police officers charged with manslaughter and misconduct in public office charges because of conflicting evidence on how he died Unanimous unlawful killing verdict
Patrick Louis Age unknown black /ethnic minority 2/11/98 police custody Died in the custody of Plumstead police who arrested him for being drunk and incapable Inquest verdict unknown
Roger Sylvester 30 black /ethnic minority 18/01/99 police custody Died 7 days after being restrained by police in Tottenham Inquest verdict unknown
Robert Allotey 37 black /ethnic minority 24/01/99 police custody Collapsed and died after being arrested by Wolverhampton police Inquest verdict unknown
Leon Marshall Age unknown black /ethnic minority 15/07/99 police custody Died in hospital two days after being arrested for drugs related offences; officers were aware he had swallowed drugs but failed to take him to hospital Accidental death
Spencer Weston 21 black /ethnic minority 8/99 police custody Died after being hit by a car during a police chase. Spencer was involved in a fight in Leicester city centre between black and white youths and suffered head injuries from a racist attack. Chased by police wanting to make an arrest he received fatal injuries after falling in the path of a passing car. The inquest into his death in May 2003 recorded a narrative verdict that "Spencer James Weston received fatal multiple injuries when he was hit by a motor car. At the time of the road traffic collision the deceased had evidence of MDMA (Ecstasy) at a concentration of 66 milligrams per litre and quite high levels of alcohol in his blood. He had also been seen a few minutes prior to the collision to run from the scene of a public order disturbance with a head injury of unknown severity. The head injury together with the alcohol and ecstasy may have impaired his judgement." hit by a motor car
Sarah Thomas (aka Lai Hong Cheng) 34 black /ethnic minority 6/08/99 police custody Died in hospital two days after collapsing in Stoke Newington police station Inquest verdict unknown
Mr. Benmerabet 42 black /ethnic minority 3/1/00 police custody Algerian Mr. Benmerabet collapsed outside the Atomics nightclub in Kent; Kent police were called to assist the ambulance service but deny restraint was used Inquest verdict unknown
Asif Dad 26 black /ethnic minority 16/1/00 police custody Died in the custody of Chelmsford police; according to the police. Asif was arrested after they were called to a disturbance in the street and he collapsed and died after a struggle Inquest verdict unknown
Sultan Khan 50 black /ethnic minority 30/6/00 police custody Died after being restrained by police officers in Clarence Park St Albans. He had just left a nearby mosque and was restrained using handcuffs and leg restraints. The PCA press release commented that he had been arrested for drugs offences The inquest into his death opened in November 2001.
Derek Bennett Age unknown black /ethnic minority 16/7/01 police custody Shot dead in the street by Brixton police who alleged they were called by a member of the public; Derek was carrying a novelty lighter shaped like a gun Inquest verdict unknown
Ricky Bishop Age unknown black /ethnic minority 22/11/01 police custody Taken to Brixton police station to be searched where he was restrained; then taken to Kings College hospital where he died Inquest verdict unknown
Joseph Crensil Age unknown black /ethnic minority 25/11/01 police custody Died after falling from a third floor window of a flat in Streatham; two immigration and two police officers were questioning five other men at the flat; Joseph - who was hiding in the bathroom - tried to escape and fell to his death Inquest verdict unknown
Lee Duvall 23 black /ethnic minority 14/08/02 police custody Found dead in Ladywell police station a day after his arrest.
Fosta Errol Thompson Age unknown black /ethnic minority 15/08/02 police custody Shot dead by police in St. Werbergh's area of Bristol.

At the time he was shot he was engaged with armed police officers trying to shoot them with an illegally converted firearm. Therefore the officers were later after an extensive investigation found to be not guilty of any malpractice and cleared of any responsibility.|| Inquest verdict unknown

Kwame Sasu Wiredu Age unknown black /ethnic minority 30/08/02 police custody Arrested and taken to Stoke Newington police station where he complained of stomach pains; a doctor claimed he was fit enough to be detained; he was later found collapsed in his cell and died in Homerton hospital Inquest verdict unknown
Sponford Antonio Green 43 black /ethnic minority 27/3/03 police custody Died after falling from the thirteenth floor balcony of the flat where he was staying. The inquest jury recorded a narrative verdict that 'he accidentally fell from the 13th floor whilst trying to evade custody.' Police were calling at his flat to arrest him for a breach of licence. According to his girlfriend Antonio fled to the balcony (as he had on previous occasions when the police called) but was surprised to find police offices waiting on the neighbouring balcony. She also commented that "one of the officers grabbed hold of him on the shoulder. I didn't know whether he was pulling Antonio back or pushing him over." Accidental death
Michael Powell 38 black /ethnic minority 7/9/03 police custody Died after being arrested by police in Lozell's Birmingham. The police were called by his family after he began behaving erratically. During the course of the struggle to restrain him Michael was knocked over by a police car and then according to witnesses restrained by police using batons and CS spray. Six officers were suspended
Paul Yorke 38 black /ethnic minority 2/11/03 police custody died after being arrested by police officers at Terminal Two of Heathrow airport. He was taken to Heathrow police station where he was charged with being a 'prohibited person' (it is alleged that he had been banned from airport property) and then detained in a cell. He was according to police seen by a Forensic Medical Examiner on at least three occasions and deemed fit for detention. However the following day officers called an ambulance at 7.00 am after he was found collapsed in his cell. He was taken to Hillingdon hospital where he was pronounced dead The Police Complaints Authority and the Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating his death
Nuur Saeed 22 black / ethnic minority 24/01/05 Plumstead Police Station Died from a massive brain injury after being taken to hospital nby Police. They claim he fell from a second floor balcony during a search on a house.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Black Deaths in Custody", Institute of Race Relations. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.