Author: Tippa Naphtali

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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Tippa Naphtali

Call for police to wear body cameras

Body Camera LensTippa Naphtali was 41 when his cousin Mikey Powell died in police custody. The fight to learn the truth about what really happened on the night of September 7, 2003, caused Tippa to quit his job in London and return to Birmingham. Eight years later, the Yardley-based charity worker is still searching for justice.

The online petition >

While a criminal trial against the police officers involved collapsed due to lack of evidence, an inquest jury last year found that Mr Powell died from the position he was placed in the police van.

The same inquest ruled that there were “police failings” in how the 38-year-old father of two, who had a history of mental illness, was arrested. In particular, they said he became more vulnerable after being sprayed with CS gas, hit by a moving police car and restrained on the ground.

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Tippa Naphtali

Proceedings against West Midlands Police chief

WM Police HQLong before the criminal trial and the Inquest, Mikey’s mother Claris and other family members issued claims against the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police because of Mikey’s death.

Once the Inquest was finished the family served details of their claims on the Chief Constable – this is the next step towards a trial in the High Court.

The details are based on the evidence at the Inquest. The Chief Constable gave his defence on 25 June 2010 – he denies more or less everything.

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