The New Dark Age

“Families are continuously traumatised by the unnecessary lengthy delays in investigating the death of their loved one, with no real admission, accountability, or justice from the state. Therefore, how can they heal?”

– Marcia Rigg, sister of Sean Rigg who was killed by police in Brixton in 2008.

Since 1990, records show there have been 1,948 deaths in police custody or following contact with police. In that time, only one on-duty police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter, and none for murder.

For bereaved families who have lost a loved one at the hands of the police, the system they are suddenly forced to navigate is complex, slow, and stacked against them. Investigations can take years. Inquests are postponed.

Throughout, families are forced to become campaigners: they are also left carrying the emotional, financial and psychological burden of seeking answers, while those responsible continue largely without consequence.

Yet every year, new families have taken up the struggle. On 31 October this year, 27 years on from the first procession, UFFC will march again from Trafalgar Square.

Netpol is encouraging as many of our supporters as possible to join the procession on 31 October. Share the flyer, turn up at noon and wear black.

You can read more about the campaign for justice on the Netpol blog. The families in UFFC need our solidarity and support more than ever. 

Remarkably, there is still no independent body responsible for ensuring these recommendations are acted upon and so vital lessons are forgotten, increasing the risk of repeated failures that lead to further harm and deaths that may have been prevented.

That is why Netpol is supporting the INQUEST “National Oversight Mechanism” campaign for solving this lack of accountability and taking part in its Human Rights Day letter-writing campaign in December – we hope you will join us!