Author: Tippa Naphtali

Tippa Naphtali

Kingsley Burrell police officers won’t be charged

Kingsley Burrellsource: The Voice Online
published: 1 July 2014

Four police officers at the centre of a probe into the death of father-of-two Kingsley Burrell will not be prosecuted.

Burrell, a 29-year-old trainee security guard, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, four days after being arrested by police on March 27, 2011.

His family said he dialled 999 for help because he felt he was being intimidated by a group of men while out walking with his five-year-old son. However, officers detained him under the Mental Health Act. He was later admitted to the Mary Seacole Mental Health Unit before being transferred to the Queen Elizabeth.

It took more than four months to suspend the officers involved, sparking outrage from Burrell’s family.

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Tippa Naphtali

Police admit: “We failed Lloyd Butler”

WM Police HQ
West Midlands Police HQ

source: Birmingham Mail 
published: 24 June 2014

Lloyd Butler was failed by police officers, the West Midlands force admitted. Responding to the inquest verdict and the IPCC report, assistant chief constable Gary Cann admitted those involved in his care “fell below the required standards”.

He said: “The jury at Birmingham Coroner’s Court has found officers failed to carry out an adequate risk assessment when arresting Mr Butler, placing him in custody instead of taking him to hospital.

“They also found that, once in custody, proper checks were not adequately carried out and visits were not maintained on schedule.

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Tippa Naphtali

Inquest Jury watched moment Birmingham dad collapsed in cell as officers laughed and joked outside

Jan Butler, mother of Lloyd Butler - pic by Linda Chapman
Jan Butler, mother of Lloyd Butler – pic by Linda Chapman

source: Birmingham Mail 
published: 18 June 2014

A jury watched the horrific moment a Birmingham dad collapsed face down in his police cell and went into cardiac arrest – after ‘distracted’ officers had been laughing and joking outside. CCTV showed officers browsing the force Facebook page and chatting about the Blues before Lloyd Butler, 39, staggered around his cell and later hit his head on the wall.

The dad-of-two was supposed to be on “constant watch” but PC Dean Woodcock, giving evidence, admitted officers had failed to check on his condition every 30 minutes, and later every 15 minutes. He confessed there had been “distractions” from colleagues.

Mr Butler, from Tile Cross, was taken to Stechford police station on August 4, 2010, after reportedly becoming aggressive towards his family when he returned from drinking with friends and appeared drunk.

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