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UK: Justice for Brian Douglas

01 May 1995

A 33-year old black man, Brian Douglas, died on 8 May, five days after being arrested by Kennington police officers in a car in Clapham, south London. Witnesses to the arrest claimed that Brian was beaten about the head by policemen using the new US style telescope baton. A friend of Brian's, Stafford Soloman, had his arm broken allegedly protecting his head from blows in the same incident. The two men were then taken to Kennington police station where Brian collapsed and slipped into unconsciousness. Despite being visited four times by doctors it was 15 hours before he was taken to a hospital, where he died. The police have claimed that the two men had a knife and CS gas spray cannister, but there is no evidence that they had the items on them when arrested. All the indications are that they were found later, when the police searched their car. It is worth noting that Stafford Soloman has only been charged with driving offences and possession of cannabis. Friends and family of Brian have formed the "Justice for Brian Douglas Campaign and are calling for an independent inquiry into his death. They have also called for the two police officers involved in Brian's killing, PCs Harrison and Tuffey, to be suspended; at the moment they are on compassionate leave. On the 14 May the Campaign called a picket of Kennington police station for which nearly 1000 people turned out to express their anger. In June 2000 angry people, led by Brian's brother Donald and other members of the family, marched through south London to protest at the killing; a minutes silence and moving wreath laying ceremony took place outside the police station. The Justice for Brian Douglas Campaign can be contacted at 77a Atlantic Road, London SW9. Tel. 0171 733 7790 or 0956 430124.