Month: September 2011

4WardEverUK

Family and friends remember Mikey

Well wishers and family gatherThe Powell family have held a candlelight vigil in memory of Mikey Powell who was killed in police custody in 2003. The vigil took place outside the Thornhill Road police station, Birmingham, West Midlands.

See more photographs from the event >

Mikey’s sister, Sieta Lambrias said; “On Sunday 11th September, a day many people were remembering there loved ones because of the 911 attacks in America, we were also remembering Mikey. This years candlelit vigil for Mikey’s 8th memorial was attended by many family and friends.

“We were also supported by new friends and old including members campaigning for justice for Smiley Culture, Ricky Bishop and Kingsley Burrell.

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4WardEverUK

IPCC takes over van complaint investigation

IPCC logoIPCC to take over investigation into complaint against van officers

The IPPC are to independently investigate a complaint by Claris Powell, made following the jury’s verdict at the Inquest into the death of her son, Mikey, in a police van on the way to a police station.

The IPCC made this decision on 27 May 2011, after Claris Powell threatened to judicially review their decision to allow West Midlands Police themselves to investigate the complaint against their own officers.

An Inquest jury found on December 18 2009 that Mikey had died in the back of a police van of positional asphyxia. The jury found that Mikey had been put in the police van on his side; that he had been transported to the police station “in between” being on his side and on his front; and that he was “on his front” when he arrived at the police station. The danger of positional asphyxia is greater to someone on their front than on their side.

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Tippa Naphtali

WMPA to investigate the Chief Constable

Police watchThe IPCC have upheld the appeal of Mikey’s mother, Claris Powell, against the refusal of the West Midlands Police Authority to record her complaint against the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.

On 16 June 2011 the IPCC directed the Police Authority to record the complaint. The Police Authority should now investigate. It is rare for a complaint about a Chief Constable to be recorded and a real victory for Claris Powell.

The complaint is that the Chief Constable’s report to the West Midlands Police Authority on 25 March 2010 entitled “The Organisational Response to the Death of Michael Powell and Linda Burt” was misleading. The issues include:

The Report was misleading about the findings of the Inquest jury in relation to when and where Mikey died.

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