Church leaders speak out against deaths in custody

Prominent church leaders from the community have spoken out against the disturbing spate of black deaths in custody in the latest edition of Black Mental Health UK’s The Solution magazine.

Their comments come ahead of a public meeting on black deaths in custody at the London School of Economics Student Union (LSESU) tonight from 6.30 – 9pm organised by Black Mental Health UK and the LSESU.

Archdeacon Daniel Kajumba, chair of the Church of England's Committee for Minority Ethnic Concerns (CMEAC) spoke to The Solution magazine in an exclusive interview, saying,

"Church leaders by virtue of our positions must speak out otherwise the situation will get worse and not just black church leaders but also church leaders from the white community need to raise their voice and be heard. We acknowledge the need to transform structures but there has been so much rhetoric, we need more action."

The recent high profile cases of Mark Duggan, Kingsley Burrell-Brown, Smiley Culture and Jacob Michael have made this issue of deaths in custody one of widespread concern within the community. Church leaders are increasingly adding their voice to the growing numbers of community campaigners who have voiced alarm at figures which show that people from the UK's African Caribbean Communities make up a staggering 20% of people who die in police custody , even though this group are only 2% of the national population.

Bishop Llewellyn Grayham, Church of God of Prophesy said,

"Something is going on in the system and it is very suspicious that no one is ever borough to book for these cases. We are really calling on the government to intervene now."

The first time someone is charged and convicted there will be a change as it will send out a message that something that this is not acceptable' Figures from Inquest show that in January-August 2011 there have been 16 custody/contact deaths and 2 fatal shootings. There have also been two deaths involving Tasers and two by CS/PAVA spray.

Of this, eight of these have been the deaths of people from Black and minority ethnic communities

There are also concerns at the trends among mental health service users. Figures published by the government's Independent Advisory Panel on deaths in custody show that 61% of deaths in custody are of people who have been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Pastor Desmond Hall, chair of Christians Together said,

"We as a society must do is put a stop to all the preventable deaths we have seen and ensure that there is transparency and full accountability in every case where such tragedies have occurred."

The damaging impact that deaths in custody has not only on the wider community but also on the children that have been left behind is also highlighted in this issue. In a feature entitled 'Deaths in Custody: The untold stories of those left behind', children who have lost parents in both police custody and mental health care speak out on how it has affected their lives.

Archdeacon Daniel Kajumba added,

"There is deep concern of the legacy that deaths in custody have on the community: Ibrahim Sey, Mikey Powell and Kingsley Burrell-Brown left behind very young families when they lost their lives in police custody."

The public meeting on the issue of black deaths in custody will be held at the London School of Economics Students Union (LSE SU), The Quad, East Building, London, School of Economics Students Union London WC2A 2AE. From 6.30 - 9pm on Wednesday 26 October 2011.