Author: Tippa Naphtali

Tippa Naphtali

Families of men with mental health issues who died in custody welcome new report

Thomas Orchard
Thomas Orchard

source: ITV News
published: 30 October 2017

The families of two men with mental health issues who died in police custody has welcomed a report into how vulnerable people should be treated by emergency services. 32-year-old Thomas Orchard died in police custody in Exeter in 2012 and 25-year-old James Herbert died at Yeovil Police Station seven years ago.

The report into deaths in custody was ordered by Theresa May when she was the Home Secretary. It has stressed mentally ill people should never be held in cells.

Thomas Orchard suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and his family say being held in Exeter’s Heavitree Road Police Station made his condition worse. Before reaching the station Mr Orchard was handcuffed and bundled into a van. Moments before falling unconscious, a restraint was wrapped around his head.

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Tippa Naphtali

Lack of inquest legal aid for bereaved families a ‘false economy’

Legal Gavelsource: The Law Gazette
published: 31 October 2017

Bereaved families of people who have died in police custody could be spared the ordeal of applying for legal aid, the government has hinted.

Responding to Dame Elish Angiolini QC’s independent review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody, published yesterday, the government said the lord chancellor will review existing guidance ‘so that it is clear that the starting presumption is that legal aid should be awarded for representation of the bereaved at an inquest’ subject to the director of legal aid casework’s ‘overarching discretion’.

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Tippa Naphtali

Support The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund

National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund
‘support for families affected by deaths in state custody in the United Kingdom’

source: 4WardEverUK
published: 6 March 2016

The purpose of the Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund is to ensure that families or their campaign groups across the UK can get access to small grants to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or assist them in engaging in other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives. Visit Facebook page.

The Memorial Family Fund has been established in remembrance of Mikey Powell and acknowledges the work and campaigning of the late Pauline Campbell.

Funds will be available for:

  • Promotional materials (banners, t-shirts, badges, business cards etc)
  • For help with stationary, postal and related items or equipment
  • Help towards travel costs to events, inquests or conferences
  • Assistance towards the costs of counseling or therapy services
  • Support with essential household provisions and bills
  • Short holidays and family respite breaks

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