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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/16/stop-officer-retiring-sister-sean-rigg-died-met-police-custody
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Stop officer retiring, says sister of man who died in Met custody | Stop officer retiring, says sister of man who died in Met custody |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Relative of Sean Rigg says sergeant must not quit before facing disciplinary action | Relative of Sean Rigg says sergeant must not quit before facing disciplinary action |
Kevin Rawlinson and | Kevin Rawlinson and |
Vikram Dodd | Vikram Dodd |
Fri 16 Feb 2018 12.42 GMT | Fri 16 Feb 2018 12.42 GMT |
Last modified on Fri 16 Feb 2018 15.29 GMT | |
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A relative of Sean Rigg, who died while in police custody in 2008, has demanded Scotland Yard move to stop one of the officers responsible for his care retiring before disciplinary action can be brought. | A relative of Sean Rigg, who died while in police custody in 2008, has demanded Scotland Yard move to stop one of the officers responsible for his care retiring before disciplinary action can be brought. |
Marcia Rigg accused the Metropolitan police of failing in its duty to the public on Friday and said that, if the force did not act swiftly, the police watchdog or the courts should force its hand. | Marcia Rigg accused the Metropolitan police of failing in its duty to the public on Friday and said that, if the force did not act swiftly, the police watchdog or the courts should force its hand. |
“I am appalled that the Metropolitan police service have been sitting on their hands instead of making this important decision and keeping us informed,” Marcia Rigg said. | “I am appalled that the Metropolitan police service have been sitting on their hands instead of making this important decision and keeping us informed,” Marcia Rigg said. |
She spoke as her lawyer revealed that the custody sergeant on duty on the night her brother died – one of two officers against whom the Met is understood to be due to begin gross misconduct proceedings – had informed the force of his intention to retire next Tuesday. | She spoke as her lawyer revealed that the custody sergeant on duty on the night her brother died – one of two officers against whom the Met is understood to be due to begin gross misconduct proceedings – had informed the force of his intention to retire next Tuesday. |
The Guardian understands that Sgt Paul White is accused of lying to Rigg’s inquest, as well as to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigators. Another officer, PC Mark Harratt, is understood to face the same allegation, as well as a further one of bringing the Met into disrepute by altering his evidence. | The Guardian understands that Sgt Paul White is accused of lying to Rigg’s inquest, as well as to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigators. Another officer, PC Mark Harratt, is understood to face the same allegation, as well as a further one of bringing the Met into disrepute by altering his evidence. |
Marcia Rigg’s lawyer, Daniel Machover, said White’s retirement would “prevent him from facing disciplinary charges” and, despite that, the Met had “failed in [its] duty to act speedily and decisively on this information”. It also failed to inform Sean Rigg’s family or lawyers, who only found out via the IOPC, he said. | Marcia Rigg’s lawyer, Daniel Machover, said White’s retirement would “prevent him from facing disciplinary charges” and, despite that, the Met had “failed in [its] duty to act speedily and decisively on this information”. It also failed to inform Sean Rigg’s family or lawyers, who only found out via the IOPC, he said. |
“After the long process Sean’s family have been through trying to ensure accountability, this delay on making a decision about Paul White’s planned retirement is unacceptable and a breach of public trust.” | “After the long process Sean’s family have been through trying to ensure accountability, this delay on making a decision about Paul White’s planned retirement is unacceptable and a breach of public trust.” |
Should the force fail to prevent White from retiring, Marcia Rigg intends to seek an urgent order from the high court that would do so. She will also seek permission to apply for a judicial review of the Met’s actions. | Should the force fail to prevent White from retiring, Marcia Rigg intends to seek an urgent order from the high court that would do so. She will also seek permission to apply for a judicial review of the Met’s actions. |
The force has “failed in their duty to us and the public”, she said on Friday. “I demand a decision today and, if the decision is to allow him to retire, the new IOPC must have the courage of its own convictions and ask the high court to step in and require the Met police by urgent order of the court to block Paul White’s planned retirement so the disciplinary process can take its course.” | The force has “failed in their duty to us and the public”, she said on Friday. “I demand a decision today and, if the decision is to allow him to retire, the new IOPC must have the courage of its own convictions and ask the high court to step in and require the Met police by urgent order of the court to block Paul White’s planned retirement so the disciplinary process can take its course.” |
White told investigators and the coroner he checked on Sean Rigg in the back of a police van at Brixton police station shortly before the 40-year-old died on 21 August 2008. | White told investigators and the coroner he checked on Sean Rigg in the back of a police van at Brixton police station shortly before the 40-year-old died on 21 August 2008. |
White was found not guilty of a criminal charge of perjury in relation to the same evidence in 2016. This week, the watchdog ordered Scotland Yard to bring gross misconduct proceedings, which would require a lower burden of proof than a criminal charge. | White was found not guilty of a criminal charge of perjury in relation to the same evidence in 2016. This week, the watchdog ordered Scotland Yard to bring gross misconduct proceedings, which would require a lower burden of proof than a criminal charge. |
White told the police watchdog in 2009 he checked on Rigg in the van and repeated the claim at the inquest at Southwark coroner’s court in 2012. | White told the police watchdog in 2009 he checked on Rigg in the van and repeated the claim at the inquest at Southwark coroner’s court in 2012. |
White agreed that could not have been true when shown CCTV that contradicted him. He said he had made a mistake and was completely shellshocked. “I just apologised because I knew I was wrong,” he told the Southwark crown court during his perjury trial. | White agreed that could not have been true when shown CCTV that contradicted him. He said he had made a mistake and was completely shellshocked. “I just apologised because I knew I was wrong,” he told the Southwark crown court during his perjury trial. |
A change in the rules has allowed forces to pursue officers for misconduct even after they retire but it only applies to cases that arose after 2012, meaning White’s retirement would prevent the force bringing proceedings against him. | A change in the rules has allowed forces to pursue officers for misconduct even after they retire but it only applies to cases that arose after 2012, meaning White’s retirement would prevent the force bringing proceedings against him. |
The IOPC declined to formally confirm whether or not any proceedings were to be brought. A Met police spokeswoman said: “It would be inappropriate to confirm the retirement plans of any officer ahead of their actual retirement. A sergeant investigated by the IOPC in connection with the death of Sean Rigg remains a serving officer at this stage. He is currently on restricted duties.” | The IOPC declined to formally confirm whether or not any proceedings were to be brought. A Met police spokeswoman said: “It would be inappropriate to confirm the retirement plans of any officer ahead of their actual retirement. A sergeant investigated by the IOPC in connection with the death of Sean Rigg remains a serving officer at this stage. He is currently on restricted duties.” |
Deborah Coles, director of criminal justice charity Inquest, urged the IOPC and the Met to stop the officer from retiring. “After the highly critical Angiolini review on deaths in custody, we cannot allow officers to continue to evade potential sanctions,” she said. | |
Metropolitan police | Metropolitan police |
Deaths in custody | Deaths in custody |
Police | Police |
London | London |
news | news |
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