The United Nations has raised serious concern over the deaths of a “disproportionate number” of black and minority ethnic people in police custody in Britain.
“The deaths reinforce the experiences of structural racism, over-policing and criminalisation of people of African descent and other minorities in the UK,” a panel of human rights experts said.
They accused authorities of failing to properly and investigate police officers involved in the deaths, leaving a lack of accountability and the “denial of adequate remedies reparation for the families of the victims”.
The UN’s analysis of Metropolitan Police data found that black and ethnic minority people, in particular young African and Caribbean men, were twice as likely to die after the use of force by police officers and insufficient medical treatment.
The panel said police disproportionately use tasers against black suspects, including those with mental health problems, with ethnic minorities three times more likely to be shocked than white people.
The group reviewed deaths in a range of circumstances involving the use of force, including shootings, CS spray, batons, tasers, and physical restraint resulting in suffocation.
“People of African descent with psychosocial disabilities and those experiencing severe mental or emotional distress reportedly face multiple forms of discrimination and are particularly affected by excessive use of force,” said the experts.
“We have raised our concerns with the government of the United Kingdom.”
It pointed to an independent review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody, completed by Dame Elish Angiolini last year, which found there has never been a successful prosecution of a police officer for manslaughter, even when coroners handed down unlawful killing verdicts.
“This points to the lack of accountability and the impunity with which law enforcement and state agencies operate,” the experts said.
The UN said the government formally responded to its concerns last month and recognised that further improvements were needed to healthcare in police custody, inquests and legal aid and support to families.
It called for deaths in police custody to be independently reviewed and for authorities to hold police to account, combat racial discrimination, ban the use of disproportionate and excessive use of force and restraint and to ensure adequate remedies and reparations for families.
The report came before the UN’s special rapporteur on racism starts a two-week visit to the UK on Monday, at the government’s invitation.
