The belated recognition that the current system is failing bereaved families following deaths in police custody is a starting point, but words alone are not enough (May’s pledge to families seeking answers over police custody deaths, 20 April). A robust and rigorous investigation and inquest process is of profound importance to the families of those who die in the care and custody of the state.
It also serves an important public interest in ascertaining what went wrong and identifying recommendations to prevent future deaths.
Delay, inequality of funding, failure to act on recommendations and the lack of accountability where poor practice, misconduct or criminality is found all seriously undermine confidence in the current system.
A new government must address these fundamental flaws and instigate systemic reforms to prevent more families being failed by this broken and unjust system.
Deborah Coles
Helen Shaw
Co-directors, Inquest
