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UK: Another black death in custody

01 November 1995

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) are to investigate the death of a 25-year old black man, Wayne Douglas, who was found dead in his cell at Brixton police station on December 5. Douglas was arrested by police who claimed that he had been involved in a robbery in Brixton, south London. Eye witness reports indicate that Douglas, who was armed with a knife, was surrounded by 15 policemen who were screaming at him to "put it down, put it down." Douglas threw the knife to the ground and was then allegedly attacked by a number of officers using the recently introduced long-handled baton. The police treatment of Douglas was described as "beyond belief" by one of several people who witnessed the incident. According to a PCA press release (5.12.95.) "he was found not breathing" in his cell an hour later. Police sources initially indicated that Douglas died of a heart attack. The Institute of Race Relations have deplored the killing pointing out that "Five young black men have died in custody in the last two months alone." They continue: "In both 1994 and 1995 at least eleven black people are known to have died in custody. Since 1991 a total of 42 black people have died there (compared with a known total of 75 for the years 1969-1990)." In May this year another black man, Brian Douglas, died less than 300 yards from the latest killing, after being beaten about the head by police equipped with long handled batons. This second death, within such a short space of time and in the same location, has caused genuine concern within the black community in south London. Institute of Race Relations press release 6.12.95; Police Complaints Authority press release 5.12.95; South London Press 8.12.95.