Larry Fedja

INQUEST launch groundbreaking mental health report

police & mental healthall credits: INQUEST
published: 11 February 2015

On Wednesday 11 February 2015, in parliament, INQUEST launched a ground breaking evidence based report Deaths in Mental Health Detention: An investigation framework fit for purpose? 

The report is based on INQUEST’s work with families of those who have died in mental health settings and related policy work. It identifies three key themes:

  1. The number of deaths and issues relating to their reporting and monitoring
  2. The lack of an independent system of pre-inquest investigation as compared to other deaths in detention.
  3. The lack of a robust mechanism for ensuring post-death accountability and learning

It documents concerns about the lack of a properly independent investigation system unlike deaths in prison and police custody which are independently investigated pre-inquest and the consistent failure by most Trusts to ensure the meaningful involvement of families in investigations.

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Larry Fedja

INQUEST supports legal challenge to the guidance on Inquest funding

INQUEST UPDATE: Verdict expected soon!source: INQUEST
published: 5 February 2015

At a hearing for permission for Judicial Review on 2nd October 2014, Joanna Letts was granted permission to pursue her challenge that the Lord Chancellor’s Guidance on Inquest funding is flawed and unlawful. 

The full hearing [took place] on 5th February.  The Equality and Human Rights Commission has been granted permission to Intervene in the case due to its importance.

The Facts

Joanna Letts, is a single mother, with four young children and she lives in Lambeth. Her brother, Christopher Letts was aged 29 when on 19.8.2013 he threw himself under a train at Tooting Bec station whilst mentally unwell.

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4WardEverUK

From Ferguson to Birmingham: UK Solidarity Tour

Ferguson to Birminghamsource: 4WardEver Campaign
published: 16 Dec 2014

Campaign group, 4WardEver UK, is supporting and assisting in organising a series of national events to demonstrate unity and solidarity of campaigns fighting against the injustice of police custody deaths in Britain and the United States.

Defend the Right to Protest supported by 4WardEver UK, BirminghamStrong Justice 4 All, BEMA, Campaign 4 Justice for Kingsley Burrell; with the generous support of The Drum Arts Centre presents ‘From Ferguson to Birmingham‘.

The Reverend Osagyefo Sekou – centrally involved in protests in Ferguson, Missouri, to demand justice for Michael Brown – will be visiting the UK in January for a solidarity tour.

He will speak alongside Tippa Naphtali, Kedisha Brown-Burrell, Maxie Hayles, Rev Bryan Scott, Jan Butler, The Webster family and others who have suffered injustice at the hands of the state and are fighting to end the culture of impunity that protects the police.

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