- Conference
- 2012 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 20 September 2011
- Decision
- Carried
DYING ON THE INSIDE
Conference is disturbed and deeply concerned at the number of unexplained deaths of Black people including young men, women and children, whilst in Police Custody, Prisons, Hospitals, Young Offenders Institutes and Remand Centres. In the last 13 years over 300 unexplained deaths of Black people have occurred. More and more of our Black people aged between 19-53 years, are dying without a proper explanation being given to their family, friends and loved ones, including the community.
Conference, following a Coroner’s inquest a report was produced that shows an increased level of deaths in prison custody between 2000-2010. The report also focusses on young people and children, highlighting self-inflicted injuries, restraint and other non-natural causes.
Conference the Community has lost faith and trust in the criminal justice system, because since 1969, not one Police Officer has been prosecuted for any of these unexplained deaths.
Conference the Police have now been given extra powers to stop and search our young people in order to further criminalise them. This has widened the mistrust between the Black community and the Police.
Conference the Police Investigation Complaints Authorities cannot come up with any reasonable explanation for these unexplained deaths, leaving the families and the community without any justice.
Conference, how long will this mistreatment of Black people continue? We have the right to justice and fair treatment.
Conference therefore calls upon the NBMC:
·To work with the N.E.C and appropriate bodies, to encourage the use of Public Inquiries, in cases of unexplained deaths, in an attempt to prevent the likelihood of investigations, being concealed by the police or prison officers.
·To campaign with Labour Link in conjunction with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in order to consider alternative strategies for undertaking robust, independent enquiries pertaining to the deaths of Black people whilst in police/prison custody.
·To raise awareness with Regions and Branches as well as providing appropriate support that will enable engagement with community leaders and campaigners for justice to jointly tackle this issue.