• Home /
• Statewatch Database /
• UK: Damages for injury - but not for death

UK: Damages for injury - but not for death

01 March 2001

In May 1995 Brian Douglas became the first victim of the US-style long-handled baton following its issue to the Metropolitan police force (see Statewatch vol 5 no 3, vol 6 no 4). Brian and his friend Stafford Soloman were stopped by two police officers in south London - the stop resulted in Brian being hit across the back of the head by one of the policemen; he died from his injuries five days later. Stafford Soloman was struck on the arm with the new baton in the same incident. In 1996 an all-white inquest jury returned a verdict of “misadventure” on Brian, a decision that was condemned by his family as “a gross misjustice”.
Stafford Soloman took a civil action against the Metropolitan police for the injuries that he received. Now the force has agreed to pay £45,000 in an out of court settlement. Brian's sister, Brenda Weinberg, said: “The [Metropolitan police] have refused to accept any form of liability but by making this payment they are admitting liability for their actions. We will not stop until the officers responsible for the death of my brother are prosecuted.” Her views were endorsed by Brian's girlfriend, Rochelle Field, who said: “As far as I am concerned this is an admission of liability for what they did to Stafford and Brian because they would not pay out otherwise.”