The campaigning charity Inquest has published a new report on “Race, Death and British Policing“. It’s tough stuff to read, no doubt at all. That said, it’s probably important that we do and in particular because it contains testimony from families of those who have died in police custody set against a wide survey of the many thematic inspections, preventing future death reports and other evidence which has built up in Inquest’s archives over the last forty years. The Inquest press release sets out the summary headlines, but I would encourage you to read the whole report.
And why? – because despite the focus being on race and death, it ends up covering a history of policing and mental illness.
Of course, there are a number of young, white men who have died in custody – Thomas Orchard and James Herbert amongst others; but many of the most high profile cases are those featured in the report – Sean Rigg, Seni Lewis and Leon Briggs, amongst many others. Black men, especially mentally ill black men, are disproportionately likely to die in police custody and this report sets out again many of the factors which drive that. And in fairness to Inquest, who are not always seen by some police officers as being balanced in their critique, the report does allude to failures in mental health care which often contribute the reasons behind why police officers end up being called in to situations which are fundamentally healthcare situations.
The report speaks for itself: but I’ll end up quoting the Director of Inquest, Deborah Coles. At the NPCC / College of Policing national mental health conference in Oxford in 2017, she spoke to the attendees and said something which is one major theme running through this new report, in addition to questions about race –
“You’re not just guilty of failing to learn lessons, you’re repeatedly guilty of failing to learn repeated lessons.”
Winner of the President’s Medal, the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Winner of the Mind Digital Media Award
All opinions expressed are my own – they do not represent the views of any organisation. (c) Michael Brown, 2023
I try to keep this blog up to date, but inevitably over time, amendments to the law as well as court rulings and other findings from inquests and complaints processes mean it is difficult to ensure all the articles and pages remain current. Please ensure you check all legal issues in particular and take appropriate professional advice where necessary.
Government legislation website – www.legislation.gov.uk
Mental Health Cop 