United families launch 100,000 No:10 petition

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) have launched an ambitious petition appeal that calls for an independent judicial inquiry into all suspicious deaths in custody.

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) is a coalition of families and friends of those that have died in the custody of police and prison officers as well as those who died in psychiatric and immigration detention. It also has members and supporters from campaign groups and advocacy organisations from across the UK.

The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody report published in 2011 states: in total, there were 5,998 deaths recorded for the 11 years from 2000 to 2010. This is an average of 545 deaths per year. Despite the fact there have been 11 unlawful killing verdicts since 1990 there has never been a successful prosecution.

US civil rights veteran, Rev Jesse Jackson supports the inquiry campaign.

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Campaign representatives have said; “Our joint efforts have yielded some results. However, these have not addressed the lack of justice in outstanding cases.

“We believe that equitable dispensation justice in the UK must be done and be seen to be done if the general public are to enjoy high levels of trust and confidence in the fair administration of justice.

Disabled man tasered by police

Shocket Aslam

Shocket Aslam was stopped by the police after leaving a petrol station on the M6 without paying for £20 worth of petrol.

During this, despite being disabled and being in a wheelchair he was attacked by a number of officers with batons/koshes and tasered and was subsequently denied medical treatment when he was held at a police station to Stafford. He had gone to Manchester from High Wycombe with a friend to pick up a car.

On the 31st of December 2011 Shocket Aslam was driving on the M6 motorway in Staffordshire when 3-5 police vehicles together with a helicopter apprehended him after he had left a petrol station without paying. As soon as he saw the police coming he stopped his vehicle on the hard shoulder and as officers approached aggressively and asked him to put his hands up and get out of the car he confirmed that he was disabled.

Two officers had tasers aimed at him in the driver side and on the passenger side as well, and a police officer on his side smashed the window and repeatedly hit with him a kosh.

Justice for Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah – Sunday 3rd July 2011 Vigil

We take strength from our unity

“We’re here and we’re not going to go away…”  

Never having previously attended an event of such feeling and significance in my life, I was lost for what to expect from the third anniversary marking the death of Habib Ullah. The vigil was like a tree of emotion; a single trunk of a strong mutual passion which supported the separate branches of individual experiences, on the common ground of justice.

See the gallery here >

On Sunday the third of July, we arrived at 4pm to a crowd of support; about 20 people stood outside the High Wycombe Police Station ready for hours of peaceful protest. A large proportion of the supporters had travelled from afar; for example London and Birmingham. It is unfortunate however that a case of such importance in High Wycombe was attended by so few local citizens. Neither was it attended by local politicians and councillors; Saqib Deshmukh, a spokesman for the Ullah family, said “Their absence speaks volumes”.

Third anniversary vigil for Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah

Habib Ullah & Family

Habib Update: June 2011

Taking place on Sunday 3rd July 2011 4-7pm @ High Wycombe Police station.

3rd Year Leaflet 1 | 3rd Year Leaflet 2 | Habib Leaflet 2011

On Sunday July 3rd 2011 we will be holding the 3rd Anniversary vigil for Habib outside High Wycombe Police station between 4 and 7pm. It’s incredible to think that three years on the investigation into his death in a car park in the town has still not been completed. Recently his family have met the CPS and we are now aware that the police officers have been interviewed under criminal caution and the solicitor present will also be interviewed.

Please join us on the 3rd of July to express your support and solidarity with the family and the campaign. A flyer and a new information leaflet will be out shortly