Monday 9 July 2012

Official poster/flyer for 2nd March 4 Justice 4 Kingsley Burrell

Planning meetings for 2nd March 4 Justice 4 Kingsley Burrell

Planning meetings for 2nd March 4 Justice 4 Kingsley Burrell to be held at: Handsworth Park, Community Play centre on   
Saturday 21st July    6-8pm
Saturday 28th July    6-8pm
Saturday 4th August  6-8pm
Saturday 11th August 6-8pm

Please attend if you can and volunteer your time to help
co-ordinate the March on 18th August.

www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley

Twitter: @March4Justice


Saturday 7 July 2012

Second March For Justice - Kingsley's body still not released over a year since he died

The second march for justice will be on August 18th in Birmingham.

Meet at Summerfield Park, Icknield Port Road B16 OBT at 12 noon, marching to Centenary square, Broad Street B1 2EA.

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley
Twitter: Follow @March4Justice
 ________________________________________________________________________________

Update: Body of Birmingham dad Kingsley Burrell not released one year on
Originally published at Birmingham Mail

Distraught sister Kadisha and Kingsley Burrell who has not been buried a year after his death
Distraught sister Kedisha and Kingsley Burrell who has not been buried a year after his death

ANGRY relatives of Kingsley Burrell who mysteriously died after being detained by police a year ago are still waiting for his body to be released for his funeral.

Kingsley Burrell, 29, dialled 999 after being threatened by a group of men while with his young son in Icknield Port Road, Birmingham, on March 27 last year.

But when officers turned up they detained the trainee security guard under the Mental Health Act – despite his family saying he had no history of mental illness.
Kadisha and Kinsgley's daughter Travita
 Within hours Mr Burrell was sectioned and taken to a mental health unit in the city, where his family claim he had mysterious physical injuries and was not allowed to speak to them.

Three days later, police were called to the Mary Seacole mental institute in Winson Green after an “incident” involving the dad-of-two and he was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he died on March 31.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission immediately launched an inquiry and has now asked Dorset Police to begin a further investigation into the death.

Last night Mr Burrell’s sister, Kadisha Brown-Burrell said the family still had no idea how he had died – and could still be months away from having a funeral.

She said: “How can they keep a body for a year? It’s been more than a year now and they are dragging their heels.

‘‘We are still grieving and need closure but have been told the Dorset Police investigation will take at least take another six months.

“We’re angry and frustrated and don’t know what is happening.

‘‘It’s been painstakingly difficult, frustrating, and emotionally overwhelming for the family to begin to come to terms with his death. Especially, not being able to lay his body to rest, not knowing the sequence of events that led up to his death and how he died.’’


Mr Burrell was dad to five-year-old son Kayden – who was with him when he was detained by police – and 10-year-old daughter Travita.

Student Miss Brown-Burrell regularly visits her brother’s body, which is being held at the mortuary at Sandwell Hospital.

She added: “I personally don’t have much confidence in the IPCC investigation and we have not been kept informed.

“The family has now attended eight or nine pre-inquest hearings, yet still nobody can tell us what or who killed Kingsley.

‘‘It’s not fair on his children, especially his little boy who can’t stop thinking and talking about what happened that day.”

A spokesman for the IPCC said investigators have interviewed four West Midlands police officers under criminal caution and a further 10 officers as witnesses.

He added: “In total, more than 100 witness statements have been obtained from police officers, medical professionals, ambulance staff and members of the public.

‘‘Footage from CCTV cameras at four locations has been recovered and reviewed and hundreds of documents have been seized as part of the independent investigation.

“Earlier this year, after liaison with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Dorset Police were requested by the IPCC to begin an investigation into the actions of non-police personnel who had contact with Mr Burrell and they continue to undertake enquiries.

“The IPCC has provided regular updates at HM Coroner’s pre-inquest hearings and to the family and interested parties.’’

Friday 20 January 2012

Justice for Kingsley Burrell supports the UFFC No. 10 Petition re: deaths in custody

Deaths in police, prison, mental health & immigration detention






The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) calls for an independent judicial inquiry into all suspicious deaths in custody.
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.

Our joint efforts have yielded some results. The police self-investigation of deaths was replaced by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman now investigates deaths in prison and immigration detention. The Attorney General was forced to undergo a review of the role of the Crown Prosecution Service, and corporate manslaughter laws are now extended to custody deaths.

However, these reforms 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.

The poor quality and speed of independent investigations conducted by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and an Inquest process that is seriously under resourced, subject to delay and limited in remit and is not fit for purpose. Both critically fail to protect or support the rights of victims or their families.


Our Demands:

1.  Replacement of the IPCC to ensure open robust transparent and thorough investigations from the very outset of police deaths in custody - with a removal of all ex-police officers for it to be a truly independent body.

2.  The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman should be placed on a statutory footing.

3.  Deaths in psychiatric detention and / or of those detained under the Mental Health Act must be subject to a system of properly funded investigation that is completely independent of the Health Service.

4.  Officers and officials directly involved in custody deaths are suspended until investigations are completed.

5.  Immediate interviewing of officers and all officials concerned with the death.

6.  Officers and officials should never be allowed to collude over their evidence and statements of fact.

7.  Full and prompt disclosure of information to the families affected.

8.  Prosecutions should automatically follow ‘unlawful killing’ verdicts at Inquests and officers responsible for those deaths should face criminal charges, even if retired.

9.  Implementation of police body cameras and cameras in all police vehicles in the interests of both the officers and the public.

10. There should be an automatic right to non means tested legal aid for families. There is a lack of funds for family legal representation at Inquests whilst officers and NHS staff get full legal representation from the public purse – this is unbalanced.

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




For those wishing to lobby their local MP: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Carnival Action Plan for Summer: collecting signatures and raising awareness


While you are out and about at carnivals and festivals over the summer, please spare some time to support the campaigns for justice.
We need you to collect signatures for the Petition for legislative reform regarding deaths in custody, and to give out fliers to raise awareness.
Some people are already arranging to meet up so they can do this in teams, we will keep you updated on meeting times and places  - if you want to arrange a team in your own area just go onto one of these Campaign FaceBook pages and post your info and admin will repost for you.
If you would like us to post information regarding an event that may be suitable in your own area, please post on the FaceBook pages as well.


Campaign for Justice for Kingsley Burrell: https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley

Campaign for Justice for Demetre Fraser aka T.Dot https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Demetre







Carnival Dates: LETS WORK IN UNITY AND HAVE A BLESSED AND PRODUCTIVE SUMMER!

ONE LOVE. NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!




Derby Carnival:  16th and 17th July 2011.  Sat 1pm - 6 pm Sunday till 9.30pm. Tel: 01332 371529
http://www.myspace.com/derbycaribbeancarnival

The Hobbit's Annual Reggae Beach Party:Saturday 23rd July, 12:00pm - Sunday at 3:00am £2 entrance by wristband only - available in advance and subject to availability on the door. 18+ only. Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220826851275206


Coventry Caribbean Festival: Saturday 30th July 2011 at the War Memorial Park, Kenilworth Road, Coventry, CV3 6PT  Tel: 07506 754027 http://coventrycaribbeanfestival.community.officelive.com/default.aspx


Riverside Festival
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=14480
Nottingham Riverside Festival: Friday 5 - Sunday 7 August on the Victoria Embankment
To be part of the JUSTICE CREW for Nottingham Riverside Festival please contact Talia at taliabennett@rocketmail.com or Lorraine at https://www.facebook.com/LyricalLadyB


Cardiff Mas Carnival:  Saturday August 6th 2011. Tel: 029 2038 2094 https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150923394971447&pending


Leicester Caribbean Carnival: 6th August 2011 . 12:30pm - 8pm Tel: 0116 273 6649
To be part of the JUSTICE CREW for Leicester please contact: Paulette Ennerver at https://www.facebook.com/profi​le.php?id=1090689302 Email: paulette60@btinternet.com or Rozz Brookes: https://www.facebook.com/rozz.brookes 
email rozzbrookes69@hotmail.co.U​K 
Tel:  07966438646

 

BRIXTON SPLASH:  Sunday, August 7 · 12:00pm - 7:00pmTo be a part of the campaign JUSTICE CREW at Brixton Splash please contact:
Anjella https://www.facebook.com/A​anjella

Suenaila https://www.facebook.com/p​rofile.php?id=100001126245​375
Michael https://www.facebook.com/michael.shelt
Event page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=187806797931801


Birmingham Carnival: Sunday August 7th 2011.  1pm Handsworth Park Tel: 0121 303 3008.



Margate Carnival / Soul Weekend 2011:  Saturday 6th August - Sunday 7th August http://margatecarnival.co.uk/  https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214031388617714#!/event.php?eid=214031388617714



Hackney One Carnival: Sunday 7th of August 2011 http://www.hackney.gov.uk/onecarnival.htm

Nottingham Caribbean Carnival:  13th and 14th August 2011. Forest Recreation Ground (Goose Fair Site) from 12 noon to 10pm on both days.
Manchester Carnival  Saturday 13th - Sunday 14 August 2011.
Tel: 079 8540 0384
http://www.manchestercarnival.co.uk/
Stoke on Trent Carnival: 14th August 2011 at Hanley Park. 

Notting Hill Carnival: Sunday 28th August to Monday 29th August  
http://www.thenottinghillcarnival.com/
 https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/Notting.Hill.Carnival.London

Leeds West Indian Carnival:   Monday 29th August 2011 at 12.00 noon http://www.leedscarnival.co.uk/

C4J4SC fundraiser/awareness event, now scheduled for 3rd September; Live music from Jon Pecos (watch video below), Young Deacon, Kwayme & more. 


Contact Talia by email: taliabennett@rocketmail.com 

Event page:
 https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=258436387504768







Flyer for distribution: Campaigns for Justice for Kingsley, Demetre and Smiley - raising awareness and fighting for change.

Print off flyer at this link  and distribute this Summer at carnivals, festivals, concerts, parties, dances - anywhere and everywhere! Thank you for your support.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/59851489/Flyer-for-distribution-Campaigns-for-Justice-for-Kingsley-Demetre-and-Smiley-raising-awareness-and-fighting-for-change


CAMPAIGNING IN UNITY:  fighting for justice & legislative reform regarding deaths in custody.


In the last ten years over 400 people have died in police custody, yet hardly any police officers are brought to account by the British Judicial system.  Now is the time to say NO MORE – WE DEMAND JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. In the last 10 year over 400 people have died from in police custody that's one a week.kingsley KINGSLEY BURRELL 29 years of age died in extremely suspicious circumstances in Birmingham. It is reported that Kingsley called the police after he tried to talk to a group of young people who were intimidating him and his 5 year old son. He was arrested and detained under the mental Health Act and days later he was in intensive care and subsequently died. www.facebook.com/justice4kingsley  Twitter: @March4Justice                                                        Email:  mhayles@btconnect.com  or lee-jasper@live.com
DEMETRE FRASER AKA T.DOT 21 years of age from London died after being visited by the West Midlands Police force on the 31st May 2011. The official version of events is that he committed suicide by jumping off an 11th floor balcony. That is heavily disputed and undermined by the fact that neighbours heard a violent struggle and evidence of such on the 11th and 8th floors. www.facebook.com/Justice4Demetre  Email: lee-jasper@live.com
SMILEY CULTURE AKA DAVID EMANUEL  died in police custody at his own home. Smiley was observed well and happy a short time before the time that police claim that, while in the kitchen, making a cup of tea, unsupervised, Smiley took a knife and stabbed himself in the heart! www.facebook.com/Campaign4Justice4SmileyCulture
Email:   justice4smiley@hotmail.co.uk  Twitter: @Justice4SmileyC
OVER 400 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN POLICE CUSTODY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. WE NEED YOU TO STAND WITH US TO MAKE A CHANGE.
Many, many others have lost their lives in police custody – we say NO MORE. We need to work in unity and we need you standing beside us. Please sign the online petition for legislative reform which will be handed to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street when completed.  ACT NOW! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopdeathsinpolicecustody/

 


Wednesday 6 July 2011

My March For Justice: by Linda Hughes

Smiley Warriors supporting The March for Kingsley Burrell.


MARCH FOR JUSTICE FOR KINGSLEY BURRELL 2ND. JULY 2011
BIRMINGHAM -ENGLAND U.K

Our alarm awoke us at 5.30a.m.  It was a beautiful day, sun was shining, birds were singing..... A perfect start to our day which promised to be very ‘different’ from our family’s usual Saturday!
Today we were going to travel 250 miles to the city of Birmingham. Not for a Trade Show or a Music Festival or a Carnival but to March for Justice, for Kingsley Burrell and all other families who have lost loved ones whilst they were in Police Custody or Care.
We set off at 6.30a.m & stopped for breakfast en-route, arriving around 11.30a.m in Birmingham. We parked up and caught a taxi to Abbey Road.
When we arrived at Abbey Road were shocked to see the amount of Police in attendance..... There were Police Bikes, Police Cars, and Police Riot Vans, even a Police Helicopter hovering above us and many Police Officers on foot. Their large and obvious presence was somewhat intimidating. However, I am happy to say lots of people were sitting in the sunshine very relaxed chatting to one another.

We were meeting up with a lady called Louise, her son and her friends who had travelled from London and Bournemouth to support the Burrell Family on their March. I had ‘chatted’ to Louise on Facebook on a few occasions but until today I had never met her. I liked her immediately and felt she was a kindred spirit! 
We met up with other people we ‘knew’ through the Smiley Culture Campaign on Facebook. We talked to Merlin Emmanuel who is the nephew of Smiley Culture. Merlin is an amazing ambassador for Campaign for Justice for Smiley Culture. He is the embodiment of Truth and Justice. He has an obvious passion for a noble cause which he clearly believes in.
At 1 p.m we started to assemble and then we were off!! ...
 Whistles blowing.... our flags and banners waving..... Kingsley’s beautiful face looking at us from so many placards held high in people’s hands... hundreds of voices chanting loud and clear....
What do we want?  ‘JUSTICE!’
When do we want it?  ‘NOW!’


It felt SO GOOD to be part of this amazing march for justice!!


Mile after mile we marched ...it was a very warm summer’s day but thankfully there was some cloud cover.
We paused at the Mary Seacole House. Two minutes silence was held. A lady stood in front of me, silently weeping, tears streaming down her face. I offered her a tissue but all I really wanted to do was pull her into my arms and hold her. Her pain and her anger were immense.
We set off again, walking through main busy streets..... We stopped the traffic, people who were shopping stopped and stared, some came out of their shops to take a look at us.




We called out to people ‘Join us! Join us! And when some did, the marchers would give them a rousing cheer!
We passed an amazing Temple where Sikhs offered us juice.... which was a beautiful gesture of solidarity.
After almost three hours of marching we approached the West Midlands Police Head Quarters.


As we turned towards the Police HQ, the mood of the Police seemed to become more agitated. I saw Police Officers getting hold of peoples arms and not allowing them to walk where they wanted to. It is my opinion they wanted the Marchers to react to their rough handling. We were dignified and would not give the Police any satisfaction. WE looked out for one another and WE moved each other along.

Once we were outside the Police HQ, we stood in front of the Police Officers who were stood in front of us. Many had their arms folded; all had a defiant expression upon their face with not a flicker of compassion from any of them.
Emotions ran high for approximately 5-10 minutes. People booed the Police. People shouted angrily ‘MURDERERS’   ‘JUSTICE’
At no point did any member of the West Midlands Police Force try to address the crowd with their concerns. Surely due to level of support and passion at this March the Police had a duty to engage with the community that they serve and are accountable to?

Merlin Emanuel

We were encouraged to move away from the Police line and gather around the sound system to listen to family members give heartrending accounts of how their beloved family member had died. Each account had one unmistakeable connection with the other; these families are STILL waiting for JUSTICE.

It is a crime against humanity. My heart goes out to each and every one of them. Until they get justice, my family and I will continue to Campaign and March.
Finally we said our goodbyes.... to the lovely Louise and her fantastic son Lil Ras, Julie, Darren, Merlin & Lee....so many great people who are all committed to making a real change.
It had been an amazing day! I was so proud of every single one of us who marched!
But why was there no coverage of the day’s events on any live T.V Station?
The Human Race United, marching peacefully together for Justice does not make the news. However had there been any trouble, then it would have been emblazoned across every tabloid and shown on the hour every hour on all T.V Stations. How utterly disgraceful is that?
It is up to us to spread the word, talk to people, encourage our children to protest about the vile cruel injustice people have to endure.
We believe passionately in this Campaign and we will continue to March for Justice until those in power listen to us. If you read this and have never been on a March before, then I urge you to join us on the next one. There really is Strength in Unity!
It has been said before but it is so true....
United We Stand. Divided, We Fall.
Until the next March For Justice..... No Justice – No Peace
One Love family!  



 Linda Hughes