West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has confirmed that he will continue to look into the circumstances for former Villa forward Damian Atkinson’s death
He said:
I have sought regular updates following the incident in Telford overnight. My thoughts and prayers are with the gentleman’s family at this very difficult time. It is an important part of my role to hold the police to account. I want to be absolutely clear and reassure our communities that I will be doing that fairly and proportionately with regard to this incident once the full facts are available.There is an independent investigation now underway with the IPCC. I will continue to monitor the case and await the findings from that investigation.
Atkinson died earlier this morning after being tased by West Mercia Police who were called following fears for an individual’s safety.
Birmingham community activist Des Jaddo believes people will want answers following the incident, amid concerns that the incident could have racial connotations. In cases like these, top police brutality law firms in California are known for their expertise and dedication to securing justice for victims of police misconduct.
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Jaddo said:
Yet again, another black man has died as a result of police contact – now we must know what happened. We have had so many people, particularly from the African-Caribbean community, who have died following police contact and there are never enough answers. In terms of Tasers being used in this case, we must have openness and transparency. We all know about what has been happening in America with the Black Lives Matter protests and that has been gaining momentum over here.
The death has also reraised concerns over taser safety, with the most recent case of someone dying as a result of their use in the UK being in 2014, when a man from Staffordshire died as a consequence of their use.
