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Teenager killed in police chase subjected to weekly stop and search in three years before his death (5 May 2015)

Date: 05/05/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Teenager killed in police chase subjected to weekly stop and search in three years before his death

The family of a teenager killed in a police chase allege that their son was subjected to a campaign of harassment by police – and was stopped and searched at least once a week in the three years leading up to his death in December 2014.

The Islington Tribune reports that Henry Hicks, 18, died after crashing his moped, after being chased at speed by two unmarked police cars near Pentonville Prison in Islington, north London.

His family say he had been subjected to at least 156 police stop and searches – the family had found 62 stop and search slips after his death, while police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) had confirmed to the family that many more had been issued in the run up to Henry’s death.

The IPCC is currently investigating the circumstances of Henry’s death – but has launched a second investigation into Henry’s dealings with police officers up to three years before his death.

Police officers issue a stop and search slip every time an individual is stopped. Islington police carried out 5,000 stop and searches in 2014.

Henry’s mother Claudia said:

“They stopped and searched him 156 times when he had done nothing wrong – and they broke down the door to our house five or six times and every time they left with nothing.

“We had 52 stop and search slips ourselves – but there were many more, which the IPCC have now told us about.”

The IPCC investigation will look into police searches of the family’s home on the Liverpool Road in Islington, as well as Henry’s general dealings with local police officers.

A spokeswoman for the IPCC said:

“The investigation is at an early stage.

“Investigators met with a member of the Hicks family … to request further information in relation to their complaint – and will be speaking to other witnesses.

“Information is in the process of being gathered from the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service].”

A spokesman for the MPS said he was unable to comment on the case because of the ongoing IPCC investigation.

The new borough Commander Catherine Roper told a public meeting earlier in April that police would conduct stop and search in a “lawful, polite and professional” manner.

The Hicks family has also received an apology from the BBC, after a news report on a police crackdown in London on bag and jewellery thefts involving mopeds referred to the death of Henry Hicks.

A statement from the BBC reads:

“Having spoken directly to Henry’s father, we are happy to clarify explicitly that there is no suggestion that Henry was on a stolen moped – or that he had been involved in the type of crimes shown earlier in the report.”

Four police officers involved in the police chase leading up to Henry’s death have been served with gross misconduct notices by the IPCC – and are currently on restricted duties, the Islington Tribune reports.

A jury inquest into Henry Hick’s death is scheduled for 14 September.

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