c/o Inquest 89 - 93 Fonthill Road London N4 3JH
Email: contactuffc@gmail.com
Telephone: 07770 432 439
By
Fax & By Post – 020 7925 0918
And
By Hand
The
Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP
The
Prime Minister
10
Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
FOR IMMEDIATE
PUBLICATION
28
October 2011
Dear
Prime Minister
Deaths
in State Custody
We
write to you from the United Family and Friends Campaign (UFFC), the coalition
of family campaigns who have lost loved ones as a result of violence or neglect
of state officials charged within their care. These include the police, prison
and immigration officers and NHS staff.
This
Saturday, 29 October, will mark the UFFCÕs 13th annual remembrance
procession and we will march to Downing Street from Trafalgar Square. For the
record, this is the 13th annual letter to the head of the government
from UFFC since its inception in the late 90Õs when it was formed to demand
justice for those who have died in state custody in suspicious and
controversial circumstances. On no occasion has the government engaged in a
process of meaningful dialogue following the delivery of the letters.
Please
see attached Press Statement from some members of the families.
It
is widely accepted that the spark of this summers disturbances was because of
the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by police in Tottenham. This was in
culmination of a number of high profile deaths including that of David
Emmanuel, Demetre Fraser and Kingsley Burrell and all these deaths continue
unabated. So has the anger. It is therefore now MOST URGENT if not imperative
that you and your cabinet now put the issue of deaths in custody as a priority
on your political agenda and be seen to be doing as such.
In
the last year it has become clear in a number of cases that the Independent
Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) are not independent of the police. In
February 2010, your Home Affairs Select CommitteeÕs Inquiry by the Rt. Hon
Keith Vaz MP found that the work of the IPCC failed to inspire public
confidence in their handling of complaints against the police. Not surprisingly, amongst other things,
this is due to its employment of ex-police officers and biased assertions by
the IPCC that the police can do no wrong.
Repeated recommendations made by them are repeatedly not acted
upon. The IPCC are therefore
no longer fit for purpose.
In
Crispin Blunt MPÕs (unhelpful) letter of 8 December 2010 (copy enclosed) in
reply to our letter to you of 30 October 2010, he claims that Òall deaths are
deeply regretted". What Òdeep regretÓ does Blunt and/or the government
really have towards families of those killed by the state? Families waiting years for inquests
into their loved ones death does not show regret. Families being perpetually lied to does not show
regret. Officers not made
accountable for wrongful doing and deceit does not show regret. Families compelled to contribute large
sums for legal representation at Inquests, while state officials receive full
funding from the taxpayersÕ purse, does not show regret.
Past precedents show that the judicial system has not
afforded any meaningful and/or no justice whatsoever to grieving families,
hence the reason for our continued peaceful protests for redress following
denials of basic human right to life of our loved ones. There is a strategy of
long drawn out investigations, which go on for years in order to wear families
down. We have relentlessly used the judicial process system to no avail.
We
demand the following actions:
1. Replacement
of the IPCC to ensure open robust transparent and thorough investigations into
police deaths in custody by a ÔtrulyÕ independent body from the very outset of
the death.
2. Officers
and officials directly involved in custody deaths to be suspended until
investigations are completed.
3. Immediate
interviewing of officers and all officials concerned with the death.
4. Officers
and officials should never be allowed to ÔcolludeÕ over their evidence and
statements of fact.
5. Full
disclosure of information to the families.
6. Prosecutions
should automatically follow Ôunlawful killingÕ verdicts at Inquests and
officers responsible for those deaths should face criminal charges, even if
retired.
7. Implementation
of police body cameras and cameras in all police vehicles in the interests of
both the officers and the public.
8. The
end of means testing of families for legal aid. There is a lack of funds for family legal representation at
Inquests whilst officers and NHS staff get full legal representation from the
public purse – this is unbalanced.
It
is evident that the judicial system against those who commit crimes requires
urgent attention. We respectfully request that you engage in a meeting with us
personally to address the issues outlined in this letter, to which please
acknowledge receipt.
Please
note that this is an open letter in the interests of the public. All our rights are reserved.
Yours
faithfully
Marcia
Rigg and Samantha Rigg-David
Joint
Chair
On
behalf of UFFC
Encl: Press Statement – 28 October 2011
REPLIES TO OUR LETTERS:-
Letter from Nick Herbert MP dated 7.12.11
Letter from Crispin Blunt MP dated 8.12.10