Mikey’s Case
Public Protest - Nov 2003
The Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice was established by the family of Michael Lloyd Powell (known as Mikey), a cousin of the renowned poet and writer, Benjamin Zephaniah, following his death whilst in Police custody.
Mikey was 38 years old and a father of three young children.
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Mikey was fit but had suffered several short episodes of mental illness from which he had recovered.
One of these episodes occurred on 7th September 2003. Police had previously dealt appropriately with one and were called again this time.
This is what happened. Officers drove a police car at Mikey, hitting him, beat him with a baton, CS gassed him, restrained him and, knowing he was injured, drove him to a police station not a hospital.
The community was outraged and angry that this could happen so suddenly to a law abiding citizen. This was reflected in a packed public meeting held in September 2003, and a march to Thornhill Road police station in November 2003. Over 500 people attended the protest and hundreds more lined the route.
Mikey’s family and friends established a campaign in his name to express concern with the high rate of custody deaths in the United Kingdom. The Powell family demands that openness; transparency and police cooperation should be at the very heart of investigations into deaths in custody, and the Government must act on its own principles of ‘equality for all’ in ensuring that this is the case. The family of Mikey Powell, like families before us, never dreamt such tragedy could come so suddenly.
Following a 3-month Crown trial against 10 West Midlands police officers in 2006, all were subsequently acquitted. The verdict was met with dismay by the family and their supporters.
Related Links: The IPCC | The CPS
It has taken 6 years for Mikey’s case to reach a full public inquest.
Every time I think about Mikey and what has happened I get so wound up to the point where I have to take slow deep breaths. I am hoping and praying that the outcome of this inquest will give some justice to Mikey and all family members.
Mikey and many others that have died in police custody, have died tragically and unecessarily. These incidences are something that we as a community; civilization have to shout about and be heard.
It’s frightening to think that so many people can die at the hands of the very people who are there to protect us and law seems to want to close it’s eyes on the matter; but their eyes have to open up eventually and maybe this will be the case, when something like this affects one of those higher up in our democratic society.
Still my prayers and love are with all family members and in justice to protect people from those in authority that mean us no good.
I attended a conference held in Liverpool a number of years ago where police deaths in custody was discussed amongst a packed audience. I can remember the emotion of the day, how angry I was feeling and at one point, I know I left the room as it was too painful to hear about all of the deaths that had ocurred in custody and nothing being done about them. I can’t imagine what Mikey’s family and friends must be going through, particularly as the police men involved were acquitted. Hopefully the enquiry will identify what lessons can be learned or even identify what went wrong but most importantly, it will hopefully give a voice to his family after such a long time.