NEWS

PRESS RELEASE 16.08.10
On 21 August 2008, our brother Sean Rigg, was arrested by police, “restrained” and transported to Brixton police station in the back of a van. He was removed from the van in a collapsed state and died a short while after whilst in the station yard. He never entered the custody suite door....

BMH UK 16.08.10
Second memorial for service user Sean Rigg set for 21 August 2010. A candle lit vigil to mark the second year since the tragic death of a mental health service user Sean Rigg is set to take place outside Brixton Police station at 5.00pm on Saturday....

BMH UK 08.04.10
IPCC fails to inspire public confidence. The Home Affairs Committee has slammed the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for failing to inspire the public's confidence in their handling of complaints against the police...

House of Commons 07.04.10
Home Office Affairs Committee REPORT. 'The work of the Independent Police Complaints Commission' Published on 7 April 2010 by authority of the House of Commons.

BBC 01.04.10
Ian Tomlinson's death marked at first anniversary vigil... "Everybody saw what happened on camera," said Ms Rigg-David, who asked why it had taken "so long" to bring about a legal case against the officer involved. She said there was a need to bring about a prosecution for one reason in particular: "It will show police officers that they aren't above the law."

House of Commons 23.02.10
The work of the IPCC, evidence session. TRANSCRIPT. Home Office Affairs Committee, Inquest, Rigg Family Member, John Crawley and Nick Hardwick.

YouTube 24.08.09
In loving memory of Sean Rigg 1 year on

Guardian 21.08.09
His family, who have been given contradictory statements about the existence of CCTV footage of the events leading up to Sean's death, tell the Guardian about their campagin to find out what actually happened....

Guardian 21.08.09
Family claim cover-up over death in police custody....

Wandsworth Guardian 20.08.09
Vigil for Tooting man dead in custody....

Evening Standard 19.08.09
His family, who have been given contradictory statements about the existence of CCTV footage of the events leading up to Sean's death, tell the Guardian about their campagin to find out what actually happened....

Channel 4 23.05.09
Police custody death: family's anger. The family of a man who died in police custody tell us why they think the independent police investigation into his death has been so flawed. Emily Reuben reports....

Indymedia 23.05.09
Hundreds of folks take to the streets to protest against police violence, naked brutality and killings in custody, on the United Campaign against Police Violence's first national demonstration – STOP POLICE VIOLENCE! KETTLE NEW SCOTLAND YARD!...

Indymedia 11.04.09
Sean Rigg's sisters attend and speak at the Ian Tomlinson Memorial March, who died minutes after being brutally assaulted by a policeman at the G20 protests...

BMH UK 27.03.09
Vigil for the service user, Sean Rigg, 40,who tragically lost his life after he was taken into police custody...

IPCC 26.01.09
Apology to family for misleading wording of press releases...

New Nation 12.01.09
How did this man Die?

Guardian (Borough News) 8.01.09
Why did Sean die in custody?

BMH UK 6.01.09
Community Police Consultative Group for Lambeth to hear questions on death of service user Sean Rigg...

The Independent 4.01.09
Family hit out at IPCC over death in custody...

ITN 25.10.08
March against custody deaths...

BBC 25.10.08
Custody death families in protest

BMH UK 15.10.08
Service user Sean Rigg, buried on eve of WHO report on Europe's mental health care

BMH UK 3.10.08
Funeral of former service user Sean Rigg sends message that police cells are not 'places of safety'

BMH UK 9.09.08
Tragic death of former service user, Sean Rigg, sends shockwaves through the community...

WRP 25.08.08
Brixton custody death anger...

BBC 24.08.08
Watchdog sees custody death CCTV

BBC 23.08.08
Family seek custody death answers...

BBC 22.08.08
Assault suspect dies in custody...

IPCC 22.08.08
IPCC is appealing for witnesses to a disturbance in the Atkins Road and Weir Road area

IPCC 22.08.08
IPCC investigates Brixton death in custody

The Family seek answers and justice for this tragic death in police custody...

Sean’s sudden and untimely death has come as a shock to the family. On 21st Aug ‘08 he was arrested and restrained by Brixton police - he died very shortly after...Why?

Growing up, Sean was a gifted and talented young man. An artist and dancer, he also enjoyed Martial Arts, and wrote, performed and produced an album and had completed writing a rappers opera which will be performed in his honour later this year - he had so much to live for.
A charismatic and ambitious person, Sean was a natural musician and rapper who wrote and recorded his own material, working with many different producers, singers and musicians to produce his debut Album ‘Be Brother B Good’ in 2007. He set up his own record label ‘Dan Man Records’ with friends from which he put out his own music
Gentle and loving by nature, he achieved so much in his short life despite the many adversities he managed to overcome the odds that were stacked against him. This showed his strength of character and determination not to be stigmatised by bouts of mental illness. For most of the time, Sean was able to achieve a good quality of life. Although he had a history of mental illness, in the last few years he spent much of his time giving back to the community. He was a mentor, be-friender, an advocate and gave many hours in volunteering at the Franz Fanon Community Centre in Brixton.
Born and raised in England, he was well travelled and enjoyed discovering aspects of different cultures.

Click here to listen to a Sample mix of Sean's music (stage name 'Jahaan')

What happened on Thursday 21st August 2008?

SUS
by Barry Keeffe
-7pm
****
Show of the week
Time Out

****
'Uncannily prophetic... Obisesan's production has raw power'
The Guardian

****
'Shocking, powerful... pitch-perfect'
Daily Telegraph

'Brilliantly handled by director Gbolahan Obisesan - a name to watch.'
Independent on Sunday

'Remarkable acting... an uncompromising production'
Daily Mail

Election night 1979

The sus laws had made it legal for police to stop and search anyone - purely on suspicion.

Two detectives on the graveyard shift in an East London police station place bets on which party will win. A black man is picked up. He is incensed, believing that he'll be fodder for an incoming government keen to flex its law-and-order muscles.

Set on the eve of the Thatcher victory, this revival of Keeffe's classic coincides with the general election of 2010. What's changed?

'Police forces face threat of 'racist' label over stop and searches'
The Guardian, March 2010

Originally produced as part of the Jerwood Directors Award 2008, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

Sus has toured Lincoln, Liverpool, Barking, Bracknell, Birmingham, Ipswich and Manchester

CLICK HERE FOR PLAY

UNITED 4 JUSTICE
Date: 15th May 2010

Remembrance... (United 4 Justice)
15th May 2010
Information, Banner Displays, Stands, Films, Live Music and Poetry to remember our lost loved ones.

4WardEver UK in association with the Mikey Powell Campaign, Habib Ullah Campaign and Leicester Civil Rights Movement are presenting this major event in May 2010 taking place at The Highfields Centre in Leicester.
 
An event to mark what would have been Mikey Powell's 45th birthday, and to showcase other families that have suffered the loss of a loved one in police, prison or psychiatric custody. The event will also pay tribute to Tony Egbuna Ford and others facing capital punishment in the United States.