Monday 29 June 2009

10 July - Put the "Independent" Police Complaints Commission on trial!

On Friday July 10th it will be 100 days since the death of Ian Tomlinson. To mark this sad occasion, and to show solidarity with the Tomlinson family and the countless other families and friends still awaiting justice the United Campaign Against Police Violence asks you to join us in putting the Independent Police Complaints Commission on trial.

WHERE: IPCC HQ, 90 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6BH
WHEN: Friday July 10th, 4-6pm
WHY: Currently those who police the police have shown themselves to be neither independent nor just. We are going to hold our own public investigation and trial of the IPCC and invite all those with complaints to bring them down to be aired (and judged) in public. We also come to stand in solidarity with all victims of police brutality, their families and their friends.


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Thursday 25 June 2009

AFTER 30 YEARS REPORT INTO THE DEATH OF BLAIR PEACH TO BE DISCLOSED

This from a press release from Inquest:

Today the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police conceded to the family’s request that the full report by former Commander John Cass into the death of Blair Peach in Southall in 1979 should be disclosed, subject to any legally necessary redactions. This momentous decision followed an ongoing campaign that was given added momentum following the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests and the similarities between the two fatal indicents. Prior to the MPA meeting today, INQUEST met MPA member Jenny Jones, Blair’s former partner Celia Stubbs and his brother Philip Peach to discuss the motion requestingdisclosure.

Deborah Coles, Co-Director of INQUEST, said:

We welcome the lifting of the veil of secrecy surrounding this death that has undermined family and public confidence in the Metropolitan Police Service. The challenge now is to ensure that there is as full disclosure as legally possible and that reasons are given for any redactions given ongoing public concern about this process.

It was the negative experience of Blair Peach's family and friends with the investigation and inquest system that led them to join with others to set up INQUEST in 1981. Sadly, the need for the organisation remains as urgent today. Non-disclosure of evidence has been one of the most problematic issues following deaths in custody and has seriously undermined family and public confidence in the police complaints system. The whole basis on which the Cass report has been withheld from the Peach family for 30 years has been discredited and it is accepted by government that the results of investigations into deaths following police contact are now disclosed to families.

Tuesday 16 June 2009

More police brutality

Nottingham police have been busy in recent weeks.

First we read about the case of Reece Staples, 19, who was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Reese, a former Nottingham Forest midfielder, was taken to Oxclose Lane Police Station. At 5am the police called an ambulance, finding him to be unwell - he was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

This story is all too common, and is similar to the story of Sean Rigg, who also died in highly suspicious circumstances having been taken to a police station in South London.

Today reports come out of the police Tasering and allegedly beating an apparently unarmed man in Nottingham.

Both incidents have been reported to the IPCC - which has a 100% record of protecting the police involved in such cases of brutality.

This is why UCAPV is organising protests at the IPCC offices around the country on 10 July. More details will follow, but get in touch with the campaign if you can help us build it.