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Picket of Attorney General's Office 3.30pm to 5pm Wednesday 27th February 2002 Attorney General's Chambers 9 Buckingham Gate London SW1 (Nearest tube: St James's Park) Called by the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) On Wednesday 27th February 2002, families and friends of those who have died in custody have been invited to meet the Attorney General as part of a review of the role of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in bringing charges following a custody death. The meeting follows a private screening at the CPS in December of the film 'Injustice' - the police custody deaths film that the Police Federation has sought to suppress. Families will call upon the Attorney General to re-open the files on controversial deaths such as those of Brian Douglas, Ibrahima Sey, Shiji Lapite, Harry Stanley and Roger Sylvester, not one of which resulted in criminal charges. The persistent failure of the Crown Prosecution Service to bring police and prison officers to trial, in circumstances when anyone else would 'in the public interest' face criminal charges, means that those responsible for 'custody deaths' have an effective 'licence to kill', secure in the knowledge that no action will be taken against them. UFFC members want to know what difference a 'review' will make if the cosy relationship between the CPS and police and prison officers continues to allow state officials to get away with murder. UFFC is also calling for: Automatic murder/manslaughter charges to be brought after an inquest verdict of unlawful killing, Full disclosure of all information to families prior to an inquest An independent public inquiry into all deaths in custody. Picket supported by the families of and campaigns for: Brian Douglas, Joy Gardiner, James Ashley, Christopher Alder, Rocky Bennett, Orville Blackwood, Alphonso Coley, Wayne Douglas, Eugene Edigin, David Davies, Glenn Howard, Paul Jemmott, Shiji Lapite, Alton Manning, Leon Patterson, Kenneth Severin, Ibrahima Sey, Aseta Simms, Harry Stanley, Roger Sylvester. UFFC is supported by Newham Monitoring Project, MOJUK, Irish Deaths In Custody Campaign and INQUEST. Add Your Organisation's Support For The Picket: Further information: E-mail Kevin Blowe at |