The Black Death in Police Custody - Essay Example

Deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody since 1990. The details of deaths of blacks which have taken place in police custody and which have given rise to concern because of unexplained or mysterious circumstances surrounding those deaths and / or allegations of maltreatment, dereliction of duty or brutality have been discussed. The Study will be increasingly contacted by a small but nevertheless disturbing number of families where a relative has died in suspicious circumstances and they are unhappy with the police investigation.

Whilst it is not within our remit to provide assistance in such cases we have referred many families to members of our Lawyers group. The police are investigating themselves that makes it very difficult for them to win the trust of the deceased's family, friends and local community. This is particularly the case following a black death in custody, when the police face a black community that already has, as senior police officers acknowledge, a heightened mistrust of the police. Families frequently complain about the length of time that the investigation takes, their lack of involvement in it and, as mentioned earlier, the nature of the questions about the deceased.

One major cause of anger for black families following a death in police custody is the misinformation - perhaps more accurately 'spin' - put out in the police's publicity about the circumstances of the death. This misinformation, issued soon after the death, has tended to shape news coverage and wider public perceptions of the causes of a death and seems to be intended to play down the involvement of police officers.Table 1:Deaths in Police Custody 1990-1998 (to July)Source: INQUEST monitoring RTA = Road Traffic AccidentFor the family of the deceased the inquest is their only opportunity to find out the circumstances of the death.

This is particularly important given the lack of prior disclosure of information. However there are a number of serious obstacles in the way of effective representation. For a start not everyone has a family; in some cases there is no one who qualifies as a 'properly interested person' under the Coroners' Rules. There is no legal aid (provision for it was made in the Legal Aid Act 1949 but never brought into force; it was repealed in 1988). In cases where families have had legal advice and representation (often free as there is no legal aid) experienced barristers and solicitors have been able to shed new light on the cause of death.

Aim of ResearchThe Study's principal aim is to explore the reasons behind the black deaths in police custody. And there are should be a wide ranging public inquiry into deaths in custody to consider:- to investigate legal processes which follow;- to focus in particular on the treatment of bereaved families;- to address the disproportionate number of black