UK: No action on black deaths in custody
01 November 1996
The outcome of recent inquests, covering the deaths of black men in police custody, confirms the widely held view that even when a coroners jury blames the police they will not be held responsible. According to the advice and support group, Inquest: "Recent cases follow a pattern where officers whose conduct has led to death or serious injury have not been subject to criminal or disciplinary charges."
At the inquest into the death of Shiji Lapite, who died in east London after his arrest by two plain-clothes policemen in December 1994, a unanimous verdict of "unlawful killing" was reached (see Statewatch Vol. 6, no. 3, Vol. 6, no. 4). The jury's decision was effectively ignored by the Crown Prosecution Service's refusal to prosecute the officers involved in his death. Now the Police Complaints Authority have ruled that not even disciplinary charges are to be brought against the officers involved. This latest move has been condemned by Mr Lapite's family who will seek a judicial review of the decision.
At another recent inquest into the death of a black man in police custody the jury ignored the advice of coroner Leonard Gorodkin who instructed them that the police should not be accused of "neglect" in the death of Leon Patterson. The jury - who heard how Patterson spent 20 hours naked and handcuffed on the floor of a police cell incoherent and covered in bruises - rejected his advice, concluding that police neglect was contributed to his death.
Leon Patterson's body was found in a cell at Denton police station, six days after his arrest, in November 1992. Patterson, who was a heroin addict, was visited by police doctors but received neither adequate treatment nor hospital assistance despite requests from his solicitor. The bruises and abrasions that covered his body were so severe that his twin sister was unable to recognise his body. She believes that he must have been assaulted by police officers after his arrest.
The first inquest to investigate his death was halted, in November 1993, when it was discovered that a juror was married to a local police officer. In April 1994 a second inquest returned a unequivocal verdict of "unlawful killing". This was later overturned by the High Court.
The latest hearing into Patterson's death took place in November and was monitored by Inquest, an advice and support group for the families of those who die in custody. In response to the verdict their Co-Director, Deborah Coles said: "This verdict is a damming indictment of the treatment Leon received while in the custody of the Greater Manchester police...We remain deeply concerned about the way in which this death was investigated under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. What this meant in reality was the Greater Manchester police investigating the Greater Manchester police."
In December an inquest into the death of Wayne Douglas heard eyewitness evidence that he screamed in agony as police beat him with long handled batons (see Statewatch, vol 5, no 6, vol 6, no. 1). Despite this the jury decided that he died accidentally. His solicitor, Louise Christian, said that the family would seek a judicial review of the decision. She said "There was no reason for him to die in Brixton police station. Time and time again people, particularly black people, are dying in police cells and no action is taken."
"Neglect contributed to death of Leon Patterson..." Inquest Briefing (undated); PCA announce no action against officers responsible for death of Shiji Lapite 2.12.96. (available from Inquest, Ground Floor, Alexandra National House, 330 Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2PJ); Guardian 7.12.96.