Family members say it’s “no surprise” that a damning report has revealed black people are seven times more likely to die after being restrained by police.
In a report called I Can’t Breathe: Race, Death and British Policing, campaign group Inquest said the British system for investigating deaths after police contact fails black families and ignores racism as a potential factor.
No officer has ever been found to have acted in a racist or discriminatory way following the death of a black person after police contact, the report concludes.
But justice campaigners, Marcia Rigg and Mohannad Bashir - whose siblings Mouyaed Bashir and Sean Rigg died after being restrained by police while suffering mental health episodes - say the report is “confirmation” of what black people have “always felt”.
After requesting a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year on October 28, 2022, the pair - who are part of the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) - say they have not heard a reply “or even a tweet” in response.
Now, following the distressing report, they are calling on the Government and the Home Office to admit racism is a factor in such cases and and to "make officers accountable".
Hundreds of people previously marched on Downing Street in support of bereaved families whose relatives have died in police custody where they handed in a letter to the Prime Minister.
This included dozens of families such as that of Chris Kaba, who was shot dead while sitting in his car by armed officers, as well as the siblings and father of Oladeji Omishore who was Tasered on a bridge, plunged into the River Thames and died.
Both deaths are currently being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Speaking to the Mirror, Marcia who runs UFFC said: “I feel so passionate about it. And this year it's going to be 15 years since Sean [Rigg] died and nothing has changed. Even though the issue has been raised so many times.
“They should now open their eyes and be honest, because they are aware of it.
“The issues are that now the world is watching, including the United States and they are shocked and surprised that these deaths are happening like this.
“The world is watching, including the United Nations. There's so many [deaths]. Why won't they admit it? They won't even address it and look at the other cases.
"They need to admit it. It has to go to the Home Office. The people that can make the difference and make the change. They should be looking at it but this is just nothing new. It's just another report.
“United Families or Friends Campaign wrote to the Prime Minister in October and we wanted to address these issues.
“We have not heard anything and now following this report, it has strengthened the families concerns.”
During a tour of the UK, United Nations experts warned that racism in the UK is systemic and eroding the rights of black people.
Mohannad further echoed Marcia’s feelings stating that the person “running the country” should be “held accountable” and that “facts and figures don’t lie.”
Mohannad said: “The person in charge of running the country should be accountable for reading all this information and should make some sort of decisions.
“Or maybe start asking questions about what's happening when all these issues are on the rise.
“We’ve not heard a single thing, word or a tweet, not even passing down a message from the Prime Minister down to local MPs which is sad but not surprising at the same time.
“Facts and figures don't lie. All this interesting information that's been provided is quite sad and shocking at the same time. But, you can't deny it can't run away from the truth.
“This is the reflection of the reality of the life that we're living in at the moment, the world that we live in.
Marcia says that the report from Inquest is only “confirmation” of what she and the Black community “always felt.”
She said: “Seeing it in black and white is only confirmation of what myself and other families have always felt, and the black community.
“We always knew that we were always deemed as big black and dangerous and particularly when we're in a mental health crisis. Over the decades there's been numerous and so this report is long overdue, but but its timing is really great when there's a big focus on issues of police failures
“I want people to know that people are also dying at the hands of police officers.”
The report also revealed that no officer has ever been found to have acted in a racist or discriminatory way following the death of a black person.
Marcia says she found this shocking despite figures showing that black people are seven times more likely to die than white people after being restrained by the police.
She said: “What I found shocking that I wasn't fully aware of is that there has never been any accountability ever in the UK regarding the issue of race. It's just extraordinary and no surprise to us that black men are dying disproportionately.”
Marcia says that although it is right the the Government speaks on issues of misogyny in policing following the death of Sarah Everard by a serving officer, they have not done the same when it comes to police brutality in the black community.
She said: “[We need] a meeting with the Prime Minister, the people that have the ultimate accountability because the police work for them. Why aren't aren't the government Insisting that officers are made accountable.
“Now they are saying it because of misogyny but remember Sarah Everard was white, and they're doing the right thing. But why didn't they do it for us?”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We expect police to take a zero-tolerance approach to racism within their workplace.
“Nobody should experience force because of their race - any use of force by police must be lawful, proportionate and necessary.
“The government has launched a targeted review of police dismissals to ensure that bureaucracy and unnecessary process will not prevail over ethics and common sense.
“Part 2 of the Angiolini Inquiry will also examine policing culture to ensure improvements are made where necessary."
The Mirror has contacted the Prime Minister's office for comment.
