UK: CRE asked to investigate racism at HMP Armley
01 August 2004
The Commission for Racial Equality is being asked to set up an inquiry into claims of racially motivated assaults by prison staff at HMP Armley, Leeds. It has been alleged that Asian and black inmates were verbally abused, unfairly denied access to facilities, and punched and kicked by prison staff. The allegations surfaced in April, after an Asian prisoner, Shahid Aziz, was found dead in his cell at Armley. One prisoner alleged an officer held him by the throat and banged his head on the floor. Another inmate claimed that he was punched in the face 20 times. Some prisoners have commenced civil proceedings in relation to their treatment at the jail.