- Conference
- 2018 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 19 September 2017
- Decision
- Carried
West Midlands Black Members Self Organised Group (WMBMSOG) would like the National Black Members Committee to raise awareness of United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC). UFFC is a coalition of families who have experienced the deaths of loved ones by the State. Whether by the police, prison or psychiatric settings. (Clinics, Hospitals).
The Lammy Review, An independent review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the Criminal Justice System published 8th September 2017, found ‘greater disproportionality’ in the number of Black people in prisons in England and Wales than in the United States of America (U.S.A.) Black people are 3 percent of the population and 12 percent of the prison population. Compared with 13 percent and 35 percent respectively in the U.S.A. Source Guardian 8th September 2017.
The UFFC demands that:
1)Prison deaths be subject to a system of properly funded investigation that is completely independent of the Prison Service;
2)Officers involved in custody deaths be suspended until investigations are completed;
3)Prosecutions should automatically follow ‘unlawful killing’ verdicts;
4)Police forces be made accountable to the communities they serve;
5)Legal Aid and full disclosure of information is available to the relatives of victims;
6)Officers responsible for deaths should face criminal charges, even if retired.
Below are some of the families involved in the coalition:
David ‘Rocky’ Bennett (died in psychiatric custody in 1998), Sarah Campbell (died in Styal prison in 2003), Sean Rigg (Police station August 2008), Kingsley Burrell Brown (Police restraint March 2011).
We therefore call on the National Black Members’ Committee to:
a)Work with the National Executive Council to ensure this issue is publicised throughout UNISON at National and regional level with branches.
b)Work with Labour Link to develop a campaign around this issue.
c)Write an article for Black Action as soon as it is possible.
d)Publicise in all Unison Media, Website, Unison Focus and U Magazine.
e)Invite UFFC to send a speaker to Conference 2019.
f)Invite UFFC to hold a fringe meeting at Conference 2019.
g)Publicise their annual March & Rally held every October in London.