Christopher Alder's Sister Calls For Robust Approach To Custody Deaths
It's as a new report looking into the treatment of vulnerable people in police custody is published later.
The sister of a former Hull paratrooper who died in police custody 17 years ago says lessons still haven't been learned.
Janet Alder's 37-year-old brother, Christopher Alder, died face down, unconcious and in a pool of blood while being held at a police station in the city back in 1998.
A jury decided that Mr Alder was unlawfully killed and police were accused of racism over his death. Five police officers stood trial for manslaughter, along with misconduct charges, however they were later cleared.
It's as a new report looking into the treatment of vulnerable people in custody, including those from black and ethnic minorities, is published later.
Janet told Viking FM it's appaling that people are still dying in this way:
"The government at the last minute admitted that they failed to do a proper investigation and that Christopher's death was through racism. Not if it wads the case that lessons had been learned then why are so many people still dying in similar states to Christopher's?
"How is it that all of a sudden when they come in and die in police custody that they are considered as vulnerable. Somebody really needs to be asking the question, what is happening to these vulnerable people while they are in the hands of the police?
"Police don't just collapse and die because they're in police custody, a lot of these people have been walking about on the streets quite readily. We have got to ask the question that why is it when people get in the hands of the police, they're dying in these positions?
"This is not something that anybody should expect. The police station is supposed to be a place of safety, the police are there to look after the public and what we have got ask ourselves is why is there no accountability when people die these horrific deaths."