Kevin Clarke death: police watchdog reopens investigation – The Guardian

‘The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has reopened its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kevin Clarke, a mentally ill black man who could be heard saying the words “I can’t breathe” while he was being restrained by police shortly before he died.’

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The Guardian, 16th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

More than 50 died in Home Office asylum seeker accommodation in past five years – The Guardian

‘More than 50 people have died in Home Office asylum seeker accommodation in the last five years, with the number increasing steeply over the past 18 months, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN calls for end of ‘impunity’ for police violence against black people – The Guardian

Posted June 29th, 2021 in death in custody, news, police, racism, reports, United Nations, violence by sally

‘A UN report that analysed racial justice in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd has called on member states including the UK to end the “impunity” enjoyed by police officers who violate the human rights of black people.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andrew Hall inquest: Police used ‘justified’ force on man who died – BBC News

‘Police officers used “justified, necessary and proportionate” force to restrain a man who later died, an inquest jury has found.’

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BBC News, 22nd June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police watchdog threatened with legal action over inquiry into man’s death – The Guardian

‘The police watchdog has been threatened with legal action for refusing to investigate whether the conduct of officers who restrained a man for a significant period of time committed a criminal offence or that their behaviour amounts to misconduct.’

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The Guardian, 4th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Immigration removal and an Article 2 inquest – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R (Lawal) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2021), Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), Unreported, JR/626/2020 (V).
The death of an immigration detainee, as with all prisoners, is rightly subject to legal scrutiny. This is because detainees are completely under the state’s control. Article 2 ECHR requires that the state carry out an effective investigation into all deaths in detention where there is a reasonable suspicion that the death was unnatural. A coroner is required to hold an inquest into all deaths in custody, and specifically a jury inquest where there is reason to suspect the death is violent or unnatural. In this case, a two-judge panel of the Upper Tribunal (President of the Upper Tribunal, Mr Justice Lane, and Upper Tribunal Judge Canavan) found that the respondent Home Secretary had breached her Article 2 procedural obligations in respect of deaths in immigration detention. In particular, she had failed to ensure that crucial witness evidence was secured for use at an inquest and had failed to halt the deportation of a relevant witness.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th April 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Home Office breaching human rights law by failing to investigate detainee deaths, court rules – The Independent

‘The Home Office’s policy for investigating deaths in immigration detention has been found to breach human rights law.’

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The Independent, 15th April 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police watchdog expands inquiry into death of Mohamud Hassan – The Guardian

‘The police watchdog has begun an investigation into another four police officers as part of its inquiry into the sudden death of a man shortly after being released from custody.’

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The Guardian, 16th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police watchdog says Mohamud Hassan may have been injured during disturbance at home – The Guardian

‘The police watchdog investigating the arrest of a man who died suddenly after being released from custody, have indicated he could have suffered injuries during a large disturbance at his home the night before his death.’

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The Guardian, 2nd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

IOPC investigates five Thames Valley police officers over death of man, 24 – The Guardian

‘Five police officers are under investigation for manslaughter after the death of a 24-year-old man in police custody earlier this month.’

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The Guardian, 25th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

BLM UK to fund ‘people’s tribunal’ for deaths in custody – The Guardian

Posted February 18th, 2021 in death in custody, news, police, prisons, tribunals by sally

‘Black Lives Matter UK has announced £45,000 of funding to the United Families and Friends Campaign to set up a “people’s tribunal” for deaths in custody.’

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The Guardian, 17th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police officer given misconduct notice over Mohamud Hassan’s death – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2021 in complaints, death in custody, disciplinary procedures, news, police by sally

‘A police officer has been served with a misconduct notice as part of an investigation into the sudden death of a 24-year-old shortly after he was released from custody.’

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The Guardian, 15th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met police officer faces new hearing over death of mentally ill black man – The Guardian

‘A senior police officer cleared of misconduct over the high-profile death of a mentally ill black man is to face fresh disciplinary proceedings because of failings in the original case, the Observer can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Families of citizens dying after contact with police still await justice – The Guardian

‘Relatives of people who have died after contact with the police have told of their distrust in and dissatisfaction with the ability of the complaints system to help deliver justice.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Death of Cardiff man after night in police custody ‘deeply concerning’ – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2021 in complaints, death in custody, news, police, Wales by sally

‘The Welsh first minister has described the sudden and unexplained death of a 24-year-old man from Cardiff hours after his release from custody as “deeply concerning”.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

A duty of care – what does the new standard of proof in inquests mean? – 5SAH

‘On the 11th of July 2016 a prisoner Mr James Maughan was found dead in his prison cell having hanged himself. The investigation into the factual circumstances surrounding his death found that he had a history of mental health issues and had previously made threats of self-harm. The evening before his death he had been in an agitated state.’

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5SAH, 7th January 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Supreme Court reduces standard of proof for suicide and unlawful killing in inquest conclusions – Park Square Barristers

‘The Supreme Court has on 13 November 2020 handed down the judgment in this case concerning the appropriate standard of proof for conclusions at inquests.’

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Park Square Barristers, 13th November 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Met police restraint contributed to death of mentally ill man, jury finds – The Guardian

‘The police’s inappropriate use of restraints on a mentally ill man contributed to his death, an inquest jury has found.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Deaths from natural causes in English and Welsh prisons ‘unacceptably high’ – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2020 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The number of deaths from natural causes on the prison estate is “unacceptably high”, a watchdog has warned, urging ministers to do more to allow inmates to be allowed out to die.’

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The Guardian, 30th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Christopher Alder: Legal action sought over body mix-up – BBC News

‘The sister of a man found in a mortuary 11 years after he was believed to have been buried is planning to take legal action against South Yorkshire Police.’

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BBC News, 25th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk