Controversial Deaths in UK Police Custody

There have been a disproportionate number of deaths of black people in British Police custody which have never been properly investigated. According to the Institute of Race Relations, out of 75 cases of such deaths in custody they recorded in 1991, only one has resulted in a prosecution (of the police) and only in that one has the family of the deceased received compensation.1

The following is a list of deaths of individuals 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:

In a article in New Statesman, Darcus Howe after the [...] of Zahid Mubarak at Feltham in 2006 predicted that such deaths in custody would increase.2

Name	Age	Ethnicity	Date of Death	Institution	Circumstances surrounding deaths	Cause of Death
Michael Ferreira	19	black /ethnic minority	10/12/78	police custody	Died in Stoke Newington police station after being stabbed in a racist attack	Inquest verdict unknown
S. Singh Grewal	40	black /ethnic minority	02/08/79	police custody	Died in Southall police station	Inquest verdict unknown
Henry Floyd	26	black /ethnic minority	23/08/79	police custody	Found hanged in cell of West End Central police station	[...]
Leroy Gordon	20	black /ethnic minority	August 80	police custody	Died in Pershore police station after crowd suspecting him of robbery-sat on him	Asphyxiation due to compression of the neck
Winston Rose	27	black /ethnic minority	13/07/81	police custody	Died in police van after being restrained by police officers taking him to psychiatric hospital	Unlawful [...] at the hands of the police
Shohik Meah	43	black /ethnic minority	06/11/81	police custody	Died in Thornhill Road police station - Birmingham	Inquest verdict unknown
Changa Singh	60	black /ethnic minority	25/03/82	police custody	Died of alcoholic poisoning in Cathay Park police station	Misadventure
Franklyn Lee	20	black /ethnic minority	September 1982	police custody	According to the police died of injuries sustained during a burglary	Inquest verdict unknown
Simeon Collins	17	black /ethnic minority	10/12/82	police custody	Died of acute injuries to liver and spleen day after being arrested by City Road police	Accidental death
Colin Roach	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	12/01/83	police custody	Died of gunshot wound sustained while he was in Stoke Newington police station	[...]
James Ruddock	44	black /ethnic minority	14/02/83	police custody	Died after being denied treatment for diabetes and sickle cell for 12 hours in Kensington police station	NATURAL causes attributed to self neglect
Nicholas Ofusu	31	black /ethnic minority	06/05/83	police custody		Death by misadventure
Mathew Paul	19	black /ethnic minority	06/05/83	police custody	Found hanged in Leman Street police station	[...] due to lack of care
Michael Dean Martin	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	06/07/84	police custody		Accidental death aggravated by lack of care
James Hall	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	30/03/85	police custody		Inquest verdict unknown
John Mikkelson	34	black /ethnic minority	15/07/85	police custody		Unlawful [...]; after police appeal verdict changed to death by misadventure
Cynthia Jarrett	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	06/10/85	police custody		Accidental death
Stephen Bogle	27	black /ethnic minority	12/08/86	police custody		Natural causes aggravated by lack of care
Caiphas Lemard	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	08/10/86	police custody		Non-dependent [...] abuse aggravated by lack of care
Clinton McCurbin	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	20/02/87	police custody		Death by misadventure
Nenneh Jalloh	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	24/04/87	police custody		Death by misadventure
Mohammed Parkit	50	black /ethnic minority	01/05/87	police custody		Open verdict
Tunay Hassan	25	black /ethnic minority	26/06/87	police custody		[...] dependency aggravated by lack of care
Mark Ventour	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	24/09/87	police custody		Asphyxia caused by chewing gum in throat
Joseph Palombella	40	black /ethnic minority	October 1987	police custody		Inquest verdict unknown
Oakley Ramsey	25	black /ethnic minority	June 1988	police custody		Inquest verdict unknown
Derek Buchanan	19	black /ethnic minority	04/09/88	police custody		Drowning
David 'Duke' Daley	44	black /ethnic minority	February 1989	police custody		Open verdict
Nicholas Bramble	17	black /ethnic minority	March 1989	police custody		Accidental death
Vincent Graham	40	black /ethnic minority	July 1989	police custody		Inquest verdict unknown
Jamie Stewart	22	black /ethnic minority	02/07/89	police custody		Death by misadventure due to excessive overdose of [...]
Edwin Carr	39	black /ethnic minority	12/07/89	police custody		Inquest verdict unknown
Oliver Pryce	30	black /ethnic minority	24/07/90	police custody		Unlawful [...]
Vandana Patel	21	black /ethnic minority	29/04/91	police custody	Died after being stabbed in DVU in Stoke Newington police station	Inquest verdict unknown
Ian Gordon	24	black /ethnic minority	12/08/91	police custody	Psychiatric patient shot dead by Telford police	Lawful [...]
Arthur Allison	50	black /ethnic minority	1992	police custody	Died four days after being arrested by Leicester police	Inquest verdict unknown
Leon Patterson	32	black /ethnic minority	21/11/92	police custody	Died while on remand at Stockport police station	Unlawful [...] verdict was overturned in 1994 and changed to 'Misadventure to which neglect contributed'
Randhir Showpal	43	black /ethnic minority	19/12/92	police custody	Died in Norbury police station after being detained under the Mental Health Act	Misadventure
Joy Gardner	40	black /ethnic minority	01/08/93	police custody	Died after being arrested by 'specialist' officers from the Extradition Unit of the Met; was gagged with 13 feet of tape	Inquest adjourned till trial of officers involved; officers later acquitted
Kwanele Siziba	27	black /ethnic minority	27/04/94	police custody	Fell 150 feet to her death attempting to flee what she believed were immigration officials	Misadventure
Mark Harris	31	black /ethnic minority	10/07/94	police custody	Found hanged after arrested by Bristol police officers	Open verdict
Shkander Singh	37	black /ethnic minority	19/09/94	police custody	Died in Stewart Street police station (Glasgow); Had been heard shouting and crying in cell but was ignored	Heart Failure
Joseph Nnalue	31	black /ethnic minority	23/10/94	police custody	Died after falling from balcony in flat in Stockwell - police and immigration officials wee calling at his flat at the time	Accidental death
Tyrone Wilson	34	black /ethnic minority	18/11/94	police custody	Died 18 days after police were called to his flat in Ipswich	Inquest verdict unknown
Oluwashiji Lapite	34	black /ethnic minority	16/12/94	police custody	Died during a struggle with police officers from Stoke Newington police station	Unlawful [...] - In June 1998 the CPS reaffirmed its decision not to prosecute the officers involved
Brian Douglas	33	black /ethnic minority	08/05/95	police custody	Died 8 days after being restrained with new batons by Clapham police officers	Misadventure
Wayne Douglas	25	black /ethnic minority	05/12/95	police custody	Died in Brixton police station	Accidental death
Noorjahan Begum	35	black /ethnic minority	15/03/96	police custody	Died after falling from balcony of flat where she was living; two immigration officials were calling at the flat at the time	Accidental death
Ibrahima Sey	29	black /ethnic minority	16/03/96	police custody	Died after being sprayed (while handcuffed) with CS spray in Ilford police station	Unlawful [...]. In October 1998 the CPS decided that thare was not enough evidence to prosecute the officers involved in his death
Ziya Bitirim	47	black /ethnic minority	April 96	police custody	Died after collapsing and vomiting during his arrest	Accidental death
Donovan Williams	36	black /ethnic minority	April 96	police custody	Died after collapsing in his cell during a search in Peckham police station	Accidental death
Ahmed El Gammal	33	black /ethnic minority	13/8/96	police custody	Died after struggling with police from Leyton police station	Inquest verdict unknown
Fred Tokunpor Akiyemi	46	black /ethnic minority	4/10/96	police custody	Died after falling from 5th floor of flat; Peckham police were calling at his flat at the time	Inquest verdict unknown
George Bosie Davies	36	black /ethnic minority	7/10/96	police custody	Died in Marylebone police station after being arrested on suspicion of being drunk	Inquest verdict unknown
Oscar Okoye	53	black /ethnic minority	11/11/96	police custody	Died 5 months after being arrested by Streatham police on suspicion of being drunk	Natural causes
Herbert Gabbidon	68	black /ethnic minority	10/01/97	police custody	Died while in the custody of Walsall police who were deporting him back to Jamaica	Inquest verdict unknown
Peter Austin	30	black /ethnic minority	30/01/97	police custody	Found hanged in Brentford magistrates court	Lack of care contributed to accidental death
Marlon Downes	20	black /ethnic minority	23/03/97	police custody	Found hanged in cell of Harlesden police station	Open verdict
Peter San Pedro	25	black /ethnic minority	3/04/97	police custody	Died after walking into path of lorry hours after being arrested and sprayed with CS spray	Open verdict (December 98)
Lytton Shannon	36	black /ethnic minority	1/05/97	police custody	Collapsed and died after being arrested by Wolverhampton police	Inquest verdict unknown
Christopher Alder	37	black /ethnic minority	1/04/98	police custody	Died after being arrested by Hull police; dragged to the station; placed on floor face down and handcuffed. In June 2002 a judge ordered the jury to clear 5 police officers charged with [...] and misconduct in public office charges because of conflicting evidence on how he died	Unanimous unlawful [...] verdict
Patrick Louis	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	2/11/98	police custody	Died in the custody of Plumstead police who arrested him for being drunk and incapable	Inquest verdict unknown
Roger Sylvester	30	black /ethnic minority	18/01/99	police custody	Died 7 days after being restrained by police in Tottenham	Inquest verdict unknown
Robert Allotey	37	black /ethnic minority	24/01/99	police custody	Collapsed and died after being arrested by Wolverhampton police	Inquest verdict unknown
Leon Marshall	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	15/07/99	police custody	Died in hospital two days after being arrested for drugs related offences; officers were aware he had swallowed drugs but failed to take him to hospital	Accidental death
Spencer Weston	21	black /ethnic minority	8/99	police custody	Died after being hit by a car during a police chase. Spencer was involved in a fight in Leicester city centre between black and white youths and suffered head injuries from a racist attack. Chased by police wanting to make an arrest he received fatal injuries after falling in the path of a passing car. The inquest into his death in May 2003 recorded a narrative verdict that "Spencer James Weston received fatal multiple injuries when he was hit by a motor car. At the time of the road traffic collision the deceased had evidence of MDMA ([...]) at a concentration of 66 milligrams per litre and quite high levels of alcohol in his blood. He had also been seen a few minutes prior to the collision to run from the scene of a public order disturbance with a head injury of unknown severity. The head injury together with the alcohol and [...] may have impaired his judgement."	hit by a motor car
Sarah Thomas (aka Lai Hong Cheng)	34	black /ethnic minority	6/08/99	police custody	Died in hospital two days after collapsing in Stoke Newington police station	Inquest verdict unknown
Mr. Benmerabet	42	black /ethnic minority	3/1/00	police custody	Algerian Mr. Benmerabet collapsed outside the Atomics nightclub in Kent; Kent police were called to assist the ambulance service but deny restraint was used	Inquest verdict unknown
Asif Dad	26	black /ethnic minority	16/1/00	police custody	Died in the custody of Chelmsford police; according to the police. Asif was arrested after they were called to a disturbance in the street and he collapsed and died after a struggle	Inquest verdict unknown
Sultan Khan	50	black /ethnic minority	30/6/00	police custody	Died after being restrained by police officers in Clarence Park St Albans. He had just left a nearby mosque and was restrained using handcuffs and leg restraints. The PCA press release commented that he had been arrested for drugs offences	The inquest into his death opened in November 2001.
Derek Bennett	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	16/7/01	police custody	Shot dead in the street by Brixton police who alleged they were called by a member of the public; Derek was carrying a novelty lighter shaped like a gun	Inquest verdict unknown
Ricky Bishop	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	22/11/01	police custody	Taken to Brixton police station to be searched where he was restrained; then taken to Kings College hospital where he died	Inquest verdict unknown
Joseph Crensil	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	25/11/01	police custody	Died after falling from a third floor window of a flat in Streatham; two immigration and two police officers were questioning five other men at the flat; Joseph - who was hiding in the bathroom - tried to escape and fell to his death	Inquest verdict unknown
Lee Duvall	23	black /ethnic minority	14/08/02	police custody	Found dead in Ladywell police station a day after his arrest.
Fosta Errol Thompson	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	15/08/02	police custody	Shot dead by police in St. Werbergh's area of Bristol	Inquest verdict unknown
Kwame Sasu Wiredu	Age unknown	black /ethnic minority	30/08/02	police custody	Arrested and taken to Stoke Newington police station where he complained of stomach pains; a doctor claimed he was fit enough to be detained; he was later found collapsed in his cell and died in Homerton hospital	Inquest verdict unknown
Sponford Antonio Green	43	black /ethnic minority	27/3/03	police custody	Died after falling from the thirteenth floor balcony of the flat where he was staying. The inquest jury recorded a narrative verdict that 'he accidentally fell from the 13th floor whilst trying to evade custody.' Police were calling at his flat to arrest him for a breach of licence. According to his girlfriend Antonio fled to the balcony (as he had on previous occasions when the police called) but was surprised to find police offices waiting on the neighbouring balcony. She also commented that "one of the officers grabbed hold of him on the shoulder. I didn't know whether he was pulling Antonio back or pushing him over."	Accidental death
Michael Powell	38	black /ethnic minority	7/9/03	police custody	Died after being arrested by police in Lozell's Birmingham. The police were called by his family after he began behaving erratically. During the course of the struggle to restrain him Michael was knocked over by a police car and then according to witnesses restrained by police using batons and CS spray.	Six officers were suspended
Paul Yorke	38	black /ethnic minority	2/11/03	police custody	died after being arrested by police officers at Terminal Two of Heathrow airport. He was taken to Heathrow police station where he was charged with being a 'prohibited person' (it is alleged that he had been banned from airport property) and then detained in a cell. He was according to police seen by a Forensic Medical Examiner on at least three occasions and deemed fit for detention. However the following day officers called an ambulance at 7.00 am after he was found collapsed in his cell. He was taken to Hillingdon hospital where he was pronounced dead	The Police Complaints Authority and the Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating his death
Nuur Saeed	22	black / ethnic minority	24/01/05	Plumstead Police Station	Died from a massive brain injury after being taken to hospital nby Police. They claim he fell from a second floor balcony during a search on a house.