Rashan Charles, a 20 year old black man, died following restraint by Metropolitan Police officers in Hackney, East London in the early hours of Saturday 22 July 2017. Concerning CCTV footage of the restraint was widely circulated, and his death has since received significant public attention and concern. Rashan was a father to a young daughter and has been described as caring and generous by his family.
The inquest into his death will open on Monday 4 June 2018. In November 2017 the officers involved were granted anonymity for these proceedings. The names of officers will therefore not be revealed, and their faces will not be visible to the public gallery. The officer who initially restrained Rashan will be referred to as BX47, and another officer involved as BX48. Anonymity was also given to two witnesses.
Rashan’s death came just weeks after 25-year-old Edson da Costa who died following restraint by police officers in Newham, East London. Edson and Rashan’s are two of five deaths of young black men involving restraint in England in 2017.
Deborah Coles, Director of INQUEST said: “The images of Rashan Charles’ restraint were deeply disturbing, and his death has rightly sparked significant family and community concern. This inquest must robustly explore all the circumstances leading to the use of force and whether the restraint was lawful and proportionate. There are legitimate concerns about over policing and the disproportionate number of deaths following the use of restraint against young black men.”
Rashan's inquest will be held at St Pancras Coroner's Court, before HM Coroner for Inner North London, Ms Mary Hassell, beginning at 10am Monday 4 June, scheduled for 12 days.
The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members, solicitor Kim Vernal of Imran Khan and Partners and by barrister Jude Bunting, Doughty Street Chambers.
The interested parties represented at the inquest are Rashan’s family, the Metropolitan police who will be represented by barrister John Beggs QC and Officers BX47 & BX48 who will be represented by Neil Saunders QC.
* INQUEST https://www.inquest.org.uk/
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