According to the UFFC's assessment, despite some cosmetical efforts by the authorities, most of the central problems have deliberately been left untackled:
'Yet the annual tally of deaths in custody continues as before, and the same obstacles are encountered by newly bereaved families: lack of pre-inquest disclosure; multiple post-mortems; unsubstantiated and derogatory comments about the deceased to the media by public officials; the clear conflict of interests raised by police officers investigating other police officers; years od delay before an inquest takes place; and the battle of the families to obtain some, if any, legal aid to assist their representation at any subsequent hearings.' (p. 1-2)

Be it police stations, detention centres, prisons or secure psychiatric facilities, if a someone in custody dies a violent death, those responsible for their well-being have little interest to expose the facts:
'All too often reputation management is the primary focus after a death in custody, usually achieved through the denigration of the deceased.' (p. 2)

The 'I'PCC is merely part of the collusion:
'The illusion of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)'s 'independence' has not lasted long. With the consistency of the old Police Complaints Authority (PCA), the IPCC has failed the UFFC members who looked for its redress. We raised a number od concerns during the consultation period leading up to the creation of the IPCC. [...] Finally, we warned that a lack of transparency and openness in the proposed workings of the IPCC would provide cover for acquiescence to police officers to such an extent that it would be the police who controlled any serious investigation of a complaint. All this has happened.' (p. 2)

Also the CPS willingly does his part so that the killings can continue unhindered because the perpetrators can count on factual immunity:
'If there is ever to be accountability for death in custody then there must be criminal charges against officials who have abused their authority, position and trust - including private contractors who for example look after or transport prisoners or detainees. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has failed virtually in every case of a custody death brought to its attention to press for criminal charges. Instead, the CPS chooses not to allow a public examination odf the evidence and in numerous cases such evidence exists in abundance. Even when an inquest jury returns a verdict of unlawful killing, the CPS consistently decide they are unable to act.' (p. 2)

Summary:
'Our experience is that variuos public bodies have been unable or unwilling to learn or implement anything that produces some tangible meaningful actions that prevent a death in custody or assist families and enforce accountability when a death does occur.' (p. 3)

Conclusion:
'We believe a permanent standing commission on deaths in custody with real effective powers to unify the fragmentation that currently exists would be a positive step. Families with a direct interest would need to have an effective and meaning role within such a body [...].' (p. 3)

PigBrother's 2 cents:
As long as the pressure on the responsible decision makers doesn't increase considerably, there's little chance of any development towards these noble goals. This would include the media and MPs finally doing their homework and reporting and adressing the numerous cases of deaths in custody appropriately, but also more people showing up on the annual protests and other remembrance rallies than less than half the number of people that get killed in custody every year ...


Next rallies:

- Ricky Bishop Annual Rememberance and Rally, Sat 24th November 2007, 13:30 outside Public Library Brixton (more details soon)

- 10th Annual Deaths in Custody Protest, Sat 27th October, 12:30 Trafalgar Square