Injustice

Since 1969 a thousand (!) people have died in England in police custody. Only one policeman has ever been convicted. Injustice looks at several distressing cases, especially involving black victims.In 1994, asylum seeker Shiji Lapite was arrested by two policemen `because he was acting suspiciously’. Half an hour later he was dead. The cause of death was asphyxiation because of a collar that was too tight. In 1996, Brian Douglas (33) was on his way home with a friend. They were arrested for no apparent reason. One of the policemen hit Brian on his head with a gun. A few days later Brian died. He could only be buried three months later; his brains were not released. The police report was very shaky. The policeman alleged that he tapped Brian on his shoulder when Brian made an unexpected movement, but a witness and doctor argued that Brian received a very hard blow to the head. No charges were brought. Immediately after the incident, the families of the victims were still convinced that justice would be done in the end, but as time passes they are becoming increasingly bitter. Ken Fero: ‘When we started investigating the cases, the facts where so clear that it was never a question of right and wrong, it was simply wrong, and a wrong that has been hidden.’