Justice for Sheku Bayou petition gets thousands of signatures within days of launching
A petition demanding justice for a man who died while being forcibly restrained by police in Fife has gained over 8,000 signatures in just a few days of being posted.
The Change.org petition demands Scotland’s most senior police officer Sir Stephen House reveals “the truth” behind Sheku Bayoh’s death after the father of two was forcibly arrested two months ago.
Mystery surrounds the incident but what is known is that police were called to an incident involving Bayoh in Kirkcaldy on the morning of 3 May in which there were reports of a black man carrying a knife.
Up to nine police officers arrived on the scene who pinned the 31 year old face down, sprayed CS gas and used handcuffs and leg irons to restrain him.
Bayoh was pronounced dead in hospital two hours later.
No knife was ever found at the scene and conflicting accounts surrounding the case have emerged.
An event last weekend held in Glasgow to launch the Justice for Sheku Bayo campaign was attended by dozens of human rights and death in custody activists.
They called for a robust and transparent inquiry into his death.
Bayoh’s cousin Kadija George, who posted the petition, said: “No family ever thinks that this will happen to them. We cannot have Sheku back in our lives. Now that he is gone all we want now is to know the truth and to have justice for Sheku.
"We, his family and friends, everyone who loved him deserves that.”
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) is currently investigating thew case.
However, unlike its English equivalent, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the Pirc has no statutory powers to compel police officers to give witness evidence.
George added: “We all have grave concerns at the role of Police Scotland and are asking the Lord Advocate and the PIRC to help us get the truth.
“In demanding justice for Sheku, we hope that justice can also be had for other families who have suffered in similar ways.
“Our strength is the love of his family and friends. We will continue to fight for justice and the truth.”
