Concerns over Mark Duggan inquiry following resignations

The resignation of two members from the community panel set up to oversee the IPCC’s inquiry into the shooting of Mark Duggan is worrying.

Community activists Stafford Scott and John Noblemunn both stepped down from their roles with the IPCC, saying they had lost faith in the organisation’s ability to govern the inquiry into the death of Duggan.

The 29-year-old was shot dead by police in Tottenham in early August, which prompted anger in the community. A lack of communication from the police to liaise with the community is said to have triggered the unrest and rioting which followed first in Tottenham before spreading across London and other parts of England.

There had already been a lack of faith in the IPCC after it emerged that they had inadvertently led the media to believe Duggan had shot at police. Both Scott and Noblemunn are influential members of their community and their opinion that the investigation is flawed and full of errors is hardly likely to instill confidence for both Duggan’s family and the residents of Tottenham.

Scott has worked tirelessly to engage the community in north London with the police. Writing in the Guardian on Monday he said,

“I engage with the police for one purpose: to improve the policing provided by the Met to the black community. I am no supporter of riots; a night of "payback" might seem like a good idea at the time, but it brings no long-term benefit to those who participate or to the area, which inevitably gets destroyed and further stigmatised.”

He added,

“The IPCC has broken its own guidelines by giving out erroneous information to journalists regarding the "shoot-out" involving Duggan and police that didn't actually happen. And its investigation is flawed and in all probability tainted – so much so that we can never have faith in its final report.”

Duggan's brother Shaun Hall is deeply concerned about the resignations of Scott and Noblemunn.

"I think the community and London as a whole has lost a good link through Stafford Scott. He was a good liaison for the police if they had used him in a proper manner."

Regarding the investigation into his brother's death, Hall said,

"We want the IPCC to do the correct job. If they're not the people for the job then we ask that they were replaced and someone with the stature and ability can take over that investigation and come to the right conclusion."

The IPCC wants the public to be patient and reserve judgement until the investigation is over.

Rachel Cerfontyne, IPCC commissioner, has said,

"As the commissioner I have every confidence that this investigation is thorough, robust and independent."

Ijeoma Mbubaegbu