An IPCC study reported in the Guardian finds failure in care of vulnerable prisoners – and says juries are unwilling to convict police officers
A total of 333 people have died in or following police custody over the past 11 years, but no officer has ever been successfully prosecuted, according to a watchdog’s report.
Prosecutions were recommended against 13 officers based on “relatively strong evidence of misconduct or neglect”, but none resulted in a guilty verdict.
Calling for further research, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said juries were unwilling to convict police officers.
Len Jackson, IPCC interim chair, said: “It is clear to us there is some real difficulty in this area.”
The IPCC had a responsibility to investigate and present a file to the CPS “if we feel there are any matters potentially of a criminal nature”, he said. But then it was up to the criminal justice system.
“We have a jury system that is as good as anything in the world, but it is clear that juries quite often find it difficult to convict police officers.”
About The Guardian