Death following arrest: Sean Rigg

[CH1]

Inquest are doing a lot to help the family of Sean Rigg. Where are the local politicians? Why are they not publicly supporting the family of Sean Rigg?

Marcia Rigg interviewed on this on Radio 4 (23 minutes in) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b044j94q

Regarding politicians - the MPs responsible are Chuka and Tessa.
Personally I think Kate Hoey would have at least said something, had it been a Vauxhall issue.

Local politicians: who would now be responsible? Was Hopkins (now Jobs & Growth). There is no defined portfolio apparently containing policing and community issues as far as I can see.
A bit worrying really.

 

[butchersapron]

INQUEST suggesting he's going to be stopped from resigning.

 

[MrSki]

Resignation withdrawn by Met.

 

[shygirl]

Resignation withdrawn by Met.

Fantastic result!

 

[MrSki]

Inquest press release

 

[DaveCinzano]

The family of a man who died in police custody have won their battle to stop an officer involved in the case resigning ahead of an official investigation.

Sean Rigg's relatives were outraged when the Metropolitan police accepted the PC's resignation before a new inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission could formally place him under investigation.

Rigg, 40, died in 2008 after being restrained by police. The jury at his inquest condemned his treatment, saying the level of force was "unsuitable".

Now the Met has reversed its decision, hours before the Rigg family were due to go to the high court to ask a judge to injunct the police to prevent the officer from resigning. The Met announced on Friday that the officer, PC Andrew Birks, had been suspended and the acceptance of his resignation rescinded.

The decision to reverse the original decision, the Met said, was influenced by several factors including the imminent legal action by Rigg's family, and "the need for public confidence". The Met's climbdown came three hours before the Rigg family's attempt to gain an injunction was listed to be heard before a judge and the acceptance of his resignation came before the officer could be served with a formal notice that he was under investigation...

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/30/sean-rigg-death-met-officer-resignation-rejected

 

[MrSki]

Channel 4 news clip

 

[Tolpuddle]

Bit of a bump here, but spot the similarities

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crim...-in-street-outside-vauxhall-club-9551600.html

But I wonder how similar the outcomes will be?

 

[butchersapron]

Birks' challenge now being heard in high court

The family of a man who died in police custody have won their battle to stop an officer involved in the case resigning ahead of an official investigation.

Sean Rigg's relatives were outraged when the Metropolitan police accepted the PC's resignation before a new inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission could formally place him under investigation.

Rigg, 40, died in 2008 after being restrained by police. The jury at his inquest condemned his treatment, saying the level of force was "unsuitable".

Now the Met has reversed its decision, hours before the Rigg family were due to go to the high court to ask a judge to injunct the police to prevent the officer from resigning. The Met announced on Friday that the officer, PC Andrew Birks, had been suspended and the acceptance of his resignation rescinded.

The decision to reverse the original decision, the Met said, was influenced by several factors including the imminent legal action by Rigg's family, and "the need for public confidence". The Met's climbdown came three hours before the Rigg family's attempt to gain an injunction was listed to be heard before a judge and the acceptance of his resignation came before the officer could be served with a formal notice that he was under investigation...

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/30/sean-rigg-death-met-officer-resignation-rejected

Met refused request by Andrew Birks to retire because it would mean he would not face inquiry over 2008 death of Sean Rigg

A Metropolitan police officer facing investigation over the death of a man in custody says he wants to leave the force to become a minister in the Church of England, the high court has heard.

PC Andrew Birks was stopped from retiring from the force in June and is under investigation over the death of Sean Rigg, who died on the floor of a police station in 2008.

Birks is challenging the decision by the Met to refuse his request to retire, saying it breaches his human rights. If accepted it would have meant he would not have faced the investigation.

 

[CH1]

Birks' challenge now being heard in high court
Met refused request by Andrew Birks to retire because it would mean he would not face inquiry over 2008 death of Sean Rigg

According to the BBC Birks "is due to be ordained on 28 September."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29239371

This seems to take the church back into 18th century world of Rev John Newton, who after working on a slave ship repented, becoming famous for writing the hymn "Amazing Grace"

I would have expected the church to ask for a delay pending the outcome of the inquiries - not to rush ahead ordaining someone who might be found to have been criminally negligent or worse.

But then I'm not a bishop.

 

[SpamMisery]

A criminally negligent or worse copper is probably only a mid-ranking wrongdoer by the Church's standards (if that)

 

[ViolentPanda]

Birks' challenge now being heard in high court




Met refused request by Andrew Birks to retire because it would mean he would not face inquiry over 2008 death of Sean Rigg

Jesus goat-felching Christ. It's "benefit of clergy" for the modern age - he's playing the "pity me, I'll become a priest" card!

 

[MrSki]

High court has blocked Birks JR on his attempt to quit the Met to become a priest.

ETA

 

[MrSki]

Inquest press release here.

 

[DaveCinzano]

No charges against sergeant and constable for lies, due to “insufficient evidence”:

...insufficient evidence to prove that the answers given were not mistakes and there is insufficient evidence to show that the custody sergeant had an intention to pervert the course of justice. With regards to perjury at the inquest, 4 years after Mr Rigg’s death, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence that any statement made by the custody sergeant at the inquest was not his genuine belief and was a falsehood made wilfully...

...insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the police constable intended to pervert the course of justice...

...insufficient evidence that the officers conspired together to commit any offence...​

http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2014/10/char...erjury-allegations-in-the-sean-rigg-inve.html

 

[Pickman's model]

one law for them etc

 

[el-ahrairah]

protecting their own as usual.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Police officer in Sean Rigg case to face perjury charge over inquest evidence

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...jury-charge-inquest-evidence?CMP=share_btn_tw

 

[ViolentPanda]

Police officer in Sean Rigg case to face perjury charge over inquest evidence

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...jury-charge-inquest-evidence?CMP=share_btn_tw

.
Maximum sentence 2 yrs, and he'll likely get a suspended sentence if convicted. Where the fuck is Frank Castle when you need him?

 

[Winot]

CourtNewsUK is reporting Sergeant Paul White cleared.

 

[Pickman's model]

CourtNewsUK is reporting Sergeant Paul White cleared.

No surprise there then

 

[GarveyLives]

Police Sergeant Found 'Not Guilty' of Perjury Following The Death of Sean Rigg in 2008 (click for more)

 

[GarveyLives]

 

[Gramsci]

Police Sergeant Found 'Not Guilty' of Perjury Following The Death of Sean Rigg in 2008 (click for more)

So its accurate to say the Police Sergeant made up a load of bollox to cover the police from any responsibility for Seans death.

And that he got off on a technicality.

One might conclude that this is not down to one officer lying ( a rotten apple in the barrel argument)but its that the police institutionally themselves who cover there arses.

Sean was someone with mental health issues. His death should never have happened.

Thanks for putting the link up. An informative read.

The family have been pursuing this with no help from local politicians.

Its been down to help from the legal profession. Like Doughty Chambers who do a lot of good work for people. Says something about politics in this country when its elements of the legal profession who stick up for the underdog.

 

[CH1]

The family have been pursuing this with no help from local politicians.

Former councillor Anna Tapsell should be given some credit. She was very diligent in presenting the facts in the context of policing and mental health in Lambeth. I was at this keeting for example, where Anna Tapsell's presentation was a valuable summary of the events leading up to Sean's death, and the many situational problems - in Sean's hostel as well as the critical policing issues.

I am a great admirer of Anna Tapsell. Anna was a Labour councillor from 1986 until she was de-selected for radicalism in the early Blair years.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

Police Sergeant Found 'Not Guilty' of Perjury Following The Death of Sean Rigg in 2008 (click for more)

Fucking disgrace

So depressing.

No justice, no peace.

 

[Gramsci]

Former councillor Anna Tapsell should be given some credit. She was very diligent in presenting the facts in the context of policing and mental health in Lambeth. I was at this keeting for example, where Anna Tapsell's presentation was a valuable summary of the events leading up to Sean's death, and the many situational problems - in Sean's hostel as well as the critical policing issues.

I am a great admirer of Anna Tapsell. Anna was a Labour councillor from 1986 until she was de-selected for radicalism in the early Blair years.
View attachment 95521

I am sure her diligent presenting of the facts did not do her any favours with the Blairite mob.

 

[CH1]

I am sure her diligent presenting of the facts did not do her any favours with the Blairite mob.

I would imagine she fell foul of them over stock transfers etc. Actually Cllr Davie - Thornton Ward - also took on board the dreadful chain of events leading to Sean Rigg's death, referring to the case in a MOPAC borough consultation meeting.

The problem with all things to do with health and mental health is rationing of resources.
1. Sean was in outsourced "supported accommodation" run along American lines. When he became distressed and potentially violent the staff didn't know what to do - locked the office and rang 999 (which wasn't answered).
2. Sean was picked up stripped and apparently raving by a passing police van. They presumably thought he was drunk, or affected by drugs - mental health protection being their last consideration.

Already your have several issues:
1. Is a profit making American-style drug rehab hostel appropriate for someone with long-term schizophrenia?
2. Why, when the Police were the last resort for staff unable to deal with a resident did they not come out at the request of the hostel?
3. Have police been adequately trained when casually picking up distracted people of the street.
4. Presumably max force is always a risk - to mentally ill people or people with zonked out on drink and/or drugs.

We know all this - and what seems to be an issue is getting individuals who have contributed to a death to take responsibility.

Plus the system is failing people with mental illness. I can remember a bitterly contested case of a patient over-dosed by psychiatrists in Tooting Bec hospital in the 1980s.

Anna Tapsell did do a good job of documenting everything that went wrong in Sean Rigg's case. But her political crimes were more to do with resisting privatisation is council housing and council services.

 

[GarveyLives]

 

[Pickman's model]

what time's it on?