Campaign group launches petition on deaths in immigration and police custody

United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC), a campaign group made up of the family members and friends of people who have died in custody, have launched an e-petition calling for an independent inquiry into all suspicous deaths of people held in police, mental health  and immigration custody in the UK.

The campaign points out that the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody report published in 2011 states: in total, there were 5,998 deaths recorded for the 11 years from 2000 to 2010. This is an average of 545 deaths per year. Despite the fact there have been 11 unlawful killing verdicts since 1990 there has never been a successful prosecution.

Amongst the demands of UFFC are the replacement of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to ensure a truly independent body. That deaths in psychiatric detention must be subject to a system of properly funded investigation that is completely independent of the Health Service and that officers and officials should never be allowed to collude over their evidence and statements of fact.

To support the petition follow this link: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26276

To download a guidance pack on how you can support the petition campaign, go to this link: http://www.box.com/s/pddfuuygv5bcf76d0vs8