Plea to stamp out police brutality

Date: 14/03/02

By Martin Banks

URGENT action is needed to stamp out the 'appalling' level of alleged police brutality in the European Union, said speakers at a conference in Brussels.

In the past 30 years there have been 1,000 deaths in police custody in the UK. And a recent poll in the Belgian city of Ghent revealed that one in ten policemen there admitted using force to extract a confession from a suspect.

Delegates at the event in the European Parliament also heard evidence of alleged police brutality from concerned citizens of other EU member states.

One Frenchman, who did not wish to be named, said he was recently subjected to an unprovoked 'vicious' police attack in Lille.

British Green MEP Jean Lambert, one of the participants at the conference, said the problem was particularly acute in the UK.

'This is a question of fundamental human rights. These figures are appalling and the record of the UK, in particular, on the issue leaves a lot to be desired.

'The fact that there have now been over 1,000 deaths in police custody over the last three decades - without a single conviction - is causing concern across the community.'

British film-maker Ken Fero showed his documentary about deaths in police custody, Injustice, which is banned in the UK.

He said: 'We urge all MEPs to listen to the views of the families of victims and recognise these cases for what they are: basic abuses of human rights.'

Urgent action is needed to stamp out the 'appalling' level of alleged police brutality in the European Union, said speakers at a recent conference in Brussels.