Other Custody Deaths

Tippa Naphtali

Four arrested on Kingsley manslaughter charges

Kingsley Burrellby: Birmingham Mail  
published: 23 March 2013

Four police officers have been arrested on suspicion of the manslaughter of Birmingham dad Kingsley Burrell, who died in custody two years ago. 

The West Midlands officers were also being quizzed by investigators from the Independent Police Complaints Commission on suspicion of gross negligence and misconduct in a public office.

The four were due to be interviewed by the IPCC last month, but allegedly refused to co-operate and left an arranged meeting. The officers were arrested yesterday in the West Mercia force area and were last night being interviewed by investigators from the police watchdog.

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4WardEverUK

Custody deaths in England & Wales 2012

Deaths in police custody 2002-2012all credits: INQUEST 
published: March 2013

As of 31 December 2012 there were 186 deaths is prison, of which 60 were self-inflicted.

The year was defined by three spikes in self-inflicted deaths: January saw the highest number, followed by July. And despite a decline through the Autumn, the number of self-inflicted deaths rose sharply in December. This is a common pattern as the festive period can be a challenging and difficult time for vulnerable people. January was notable too for the self-inflicted deaths of two children in prison custody – Jake Hardy, 17, and 15 year old Alex Kelly.

There were a total of 23 deaths in police custody or as the result of a road incident or shooting. Nine were custody deaths, one was a police shooting and 13 were caused by police pursuit or a road traffic incident.

Source: INQUEST casework and monitoring.

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Larry Fedja

Police keep jobs after Lloyd Butler’s death

Lloyd Butleroriginally by: Birmingham Mail  
published: 25 January 2013

Two police officers filmed making insulting remarks about a man who later died in custody will keep their jobs despite being found guilty of misconduct.

Lloyd Butler, from Tile Cross, died aged 39 at Stechford police station in August, 2010 after being arrested after his family called 999 due to concerns about his behaviour while drunk. An independent hearing into officer’s conduct on that night found Sergeant Mark Albutt guilty of gross misconduct for failing in his duty of care.

Yet he will only face a written warning for “unacceptable” actions that “fell far below the force’s expectations” Pc Dean Woodcock will undergo further training after being found guilty of misconduct.

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