News

Michael Powell

The family of a man who died in police custody have blasted the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for failing to recommend the disciplining of the police officers involved in his death.

Spokesperson for the family, Tippa Naphtali, said: “The family rejects the IPCC’s decision and will pursue whatever legal channels that remain open to them."

In a statement issued on March 30, the IPCC, “confirmed that none of the West Midlands police officers acquitted of criminal offences following the death of Michael Powell, 38, in police custody on 7th September 2003 are to face disciplinary charges."

The family have been waiting three-and-a-half-years to get to this decision.

Powell died in police custody in Handsworth, Birmingham after being arrested outside his mother’s house. He reportedly suffered from bouts of depression and was experiencing one of those episodes on the night he died.

On August 2, 2006 after the 10 West Midlands police officers were cleared of blame for Mikey’s death, his family said in a statement: “This is yet another instance where a fit young man has come into contact with the police, been restrained, taken into custody and within a matter of hours is pronounced dead."

There has not been a single successful prosecution of serving police officers since the death of David Oluwale in 1969.

Published: 11 April 2007
Issue: 1264

site comments powered by Disqus