Black Mental Health UK: your news, policy and research resource on mental health and African Caribbean communities. We aim to reduce the inequalities in the treatment and care of people from African Caribbean communities and inform these communities on how to influence the strategic development, policy design and implementation of services.

Spate of black deaths in custody

Organised by Black Mental Health UK in association with the London School of Economics Students Union, this event comes in the wake of a spate of incidents there young black men have lost their lives at the hands of the police.

This meeting is free to attend but requires registration by emailing

events@blackmentalhealth.org.uk or Zephaniah.Samuels@gmail.com

 with Public Meeting in the header.  Organisers are requesting delegate to register online with Black Mental Health UK and then bring the printed confirmation to this event.

This public meeting marks the first steps to establish what action the community to ensure that this issue becomes a matter of priority for the present Government.

'All the data shows that black men and people who use mental health services are the most likely to lose their lives while in custody. The recent tradegies we have seen makes it clear that this problem will not go away by itself. This public meeting aims to put this issue back on the political agenda in order to ensure that other vulnerable people do not continue to lose their lives in tragic circumstances, which could easily avoided,' Matilda MacAttram, director of Black Mental Health UK said.

'16 custody deaths in 2011 alone'

The disturbing case of Mark Duggan, whose shooting by police marks men in August this year, triggered the most serious scenes of civil unrest that have been seen across the country in a generation. Within weeks of Duggan's shooting three other men lost their lives in police custody in situations which could have been avoided.

With the deaths of Reggae icon Smiley Culture, Kingsley Burrell-Brown and Demetre Fraser still at the forefront of the community's consciousness, the issue of deaths in custody has now become one of national concern for black Britain.

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 ethnic minority communities.

Disproportunate numbers of black men die in police custody

Data from a report by the Equalities in Human 

Rights Commission report Entitled 'How Fair is Britain?' shows that there has been a disturbing increase in the numbers of black men who have lost their lives in police custody in recent years, there are fears that unless a national focus is given to this issue the numbers will continue to grow.

BMH UK have also voiced concern over data published by the Ministerial Advisory Panel of Deaths in Custody which shows that in the last 12 months alone, 60% of people who have lost their lives, while in the care of the state are mental health service users.

'Sadly my brother was part of that ratio of using mental health services and also being a black man.

I live and breathe it and feel that the issue of black deaths in custody needs to be highlighted there is over whelming evidence over the higher numbers of black deaths and yet the families are stifled from gaining justice.

We have been struggling for decades with this issue, it not just black people in the 70's who have had to deal with this.

We are now seeing our children affected by this, it is too much for the community to bear and it be left unsaid. We have to unite together to put a stop to this by telling our story and highlighting this issue,' Marcia Rigg from the Sean Rigg Justice and Change campaign said.

Online registration required

Speakers include:

Matilda MacAttram - director of Black Mental Health UK

Helen Shaw - co-director, INQUEST

Samantha Rigg–David, Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign

Marcia Rigg - Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign

Steve Pope – editor to The Voice Newspaper

Lee Jasper – Race Equality Campaigner

Ken Ferro – co-director of the film Injustice

Frederick Clarke – director Mighty Men of Valour

Olu Alake - president of 100 Black Men of London

This event is free to attend but requires registration by clicking here.

Or by emailing events@blackmentalhealth.org.uk

Please register online with Black Mental Health UK to enable you to book for this event.

We ask that you print off your registration confirmation form and bring it with you on the day.

This public meeting on black deaths in custody is from 6.30 – 9.00pm on Wednesday 26th October 2011, at The Quad, East Building, London School of Economics Student Union, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE.