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Sheku Bayoh death: Review call as campaign launched | Sheku Bayoh death: Review call as campaign launched |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The family of a man who died in police custody has backed calls for a Scottish government review of all such deaths. | The family of a man who died in police custody has backed calls for a Scottish government review of all such deaths. |
Sheku Bayoh, 31, died after being detained following an incident in Kirkcaldy in Fife on 3 May. | Sheku Bayoh, 31, died after being detained following an incident in Kirkcaldy in Fife on 3 May. |
His death is being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc). | His death is being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc). |
Speaking at the launch of the "Justice for Sheku Bayoh' campaign in Glasgow, his family said there were still many unanswered questions over his death. | Speaking at the launch of the "Justice for Sheku Bayoh' campaign in Glasgow, his family said there were still many unanswered questions over his death. |
The campaign got underway at an event organised by the Scotland Against Criminalising Communities' organisation which was also attended by other people who have lost loved ones through deaths in police custody elsewhere in the UK. | The campaign got underway at an event organised by the Scotland Against Criminalising Communities' organisation which was also attended by other people who have lost loved ones through deaths in police custody elsewhere in the UK. |
The call for a Scotland-wide probe into deaths in custody came after the UK government announced an independent review of the issue in England and Wales. | The call for a Scotland-wide probe into deaths in custody came after the UK government announced an independent review of the issue in England and Wales. |
Lessons learned | |
Aamer Anwar, solicitor for the Bayoh family, said: "The family wants the truth because they know that without the truth they are never going to get justice. | |
"The Home Secretary announced, some two days ago, that there would be an independent review in England and Wales into deaths in custody. | |
"Sheku Bayoh's family are saying they are not willing to wait 10 years for Scotland to catch up. | |
"It is essential that no family has to go through again what the Bayoh family has gone through and it's imperative that lessons are learned as soon as possible." | |
Mr Bayoh's sister, Kadi Johnson, has previously claimed that police officers' use of "excess force" was to blame for his death. | |
Speaking at the campaign launch, she said: "At the moment were are grieving but it's difficult when you don't know the truth surrounding his death - that still hurts. | |
"We want to know the truth and that could help us move on a bit." | |
A spokesman for the Scottish government spokeswoman said responsibility for the investigation of deaths in custody in Scotland was a matter for the Pirc. | A spokesman for the Scottish government spokeswoman said responsibility for the investigation of deaths in custody in Scotland was a matter for the Pirc. |
She added: "The Pirc is currently conducting an independent investigation, it is important we all await the findings of this robust and thorough investigation. We cannot comment on individual cases or ongoing investigations by the Pirc." | She added: "The Pirc is currently conducting an independent investigation, it is important we all await the findings of this robust and thorough investigation. We cannot comment on individual cases or ongoing investigations by the Pirc." |
"The Scottish government believes that the investigative powers the PIRC has are sufficient, and the PIRC has not indicated they require any additional powers in order to undertake their role effectively." | "The Scottish government believes that the investigative powers the PIRC has are sufficient, and the PIRC has not indicated they require any additional powers in order to undertake their role effectively." |
The Scottish government also said a review of police custody arrangements in August 2014 found they had "improved significantly". | The Scottish government also said a review of police custody arrangements in August 2014 found they had "improved significantly". |
Previous criticisms of the police by Mr Anwar, have been dismissed as "completely inaccurate and misleading" by the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers. | |
The federation has said that police were responding to reports of a man armed with a knife at the time, with a female officer suffering "significant" injuries during a struggle. | The federation has said that police were responding to reports of a man armed with a knife at the time, with a female officer suffering "significant" injuries during a struggle. |
A Police Scotland spokesman previously said: "We await the conclusion of the investigation and Police Scotland remain committed to co-operating fully with the Pirc's inquiries." | A Police Scotland spokesman previously said: "We await the conclusion of the investigation and Police Scotland remain committed to co-operating fully with the Pirc's inquiries." |