"Godrick Osei needed help. Our brother should not have died that day.”

The Independent Race Report Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE January 03, 2023 View online Happy New Year!   Welcome to the first Race Report newsletter for 2023.    While many families would've happily rang in the festive season and new year together, some relatives spent the period mourning the loss of their loved ones.   Godrick Osei, 35, is the name of a vulnerable Black man who died following contact with Devon and Cornwall Police officers in July 2022, The Independent can reveal.   The father of two was experiencing a psychotic episode while fleeing the flat he shared with a partner and broke into a local care home pleading for help, his family said. Godrick himself called the police while care home staff also rang 999, concerned for his wellbeing. He passed away following restraint within minutes of officers' arrival.   Up to seven officers involved in this case remain on active duty and are not subject to criminal or even conduct investigations. "This cannot be right," said INQUEST the charity.   Speaking to The Independent, younger sister Lewison said: "Godrick meant no harm to anyone – he was a big, gentle giant; a caring guy who was always trying to do things for others, for his kids. (...) That's the kind of man he was. He needed help. Our brother should not have died that day."   An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is ongoing. Windrush compensation scheme 'not fit for purpose' as refusals soar and offers plunge   The Windrush compensation scheme is "not fit for purpose", it has been claimed, as new figures show rejections for payouts have soared while offers have plunged.   Windrush activists and claimants argue the scheme's "fatal flaw" is that the department responsible for the scandal is also overseeing the payment system.   Cases that remain without redress include that of Windrush elder Dorothy Oswald-Williams, 89, whose grandson Joel Oswald is appealing a zero-sum award that she was offered in May after being told she wasn't a British citizen and forced to travel back to Jamaica. Read more here.   Barbados may seek slavery reparations from actor Benedict Cumberbatch's family The country of Barbados may seek slavery reparations from the family of award-winning actor Benedict Cumberbatch.    The actor has long discussed his family's links to the slave trade, previously discussing how his ancestral heritage led him to take roles in the films like 12 Years A Slave which focused on the matter.    David Comissiong, a top official on the island who is involved in the national commission for reparations, has confirmed that the department is in the early stages of trying to seek reparations from the Cumberbatch family.   'Black America's Attorney General' Ben Crump on 25 years of fighting racial injustice   For 25 years, 'Black America's attorney general' Ben Crump has been fighting against racial injustice.   Many know him as the lawyer who represented the family of George Floyd, who was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis in 2020. But his clientele includes the relatives of many other high-profile cases in the US, from Trayvon Martin to Breonna Taylor.   Speaking to The Independent in an exclusive interview, Mr Crump discusses the importance of his life's work, the struggle for racial equality in the UK, suing hair companies for allegedly dispensing cancerous products to Black women and more.   Silly Games singer Janet Kay leads New Year Honours from world of music   Janet Kay, known as the Queen of Lovers Rock, features among the names on the palace's New Years Honours list.   The 64-year-old actress and singer, whose full name is Janet Kay Bogle, stormed the charts with the 1970s hit Silly Games, and has been made an MBE for services to music. Other people on the honours list include actor David Harewood, Pastor Clive Foster and sports star Chris Kamara.   Ms Kay was born in London to Jamaican parents and is a descendant of the Jamaican National Hero Paul Bogle - who was killed by Jamaica's colonial government in the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion. During the unrest, protestors took a stand against injustices affecting Black citizens across the island. Feel free to contact me via email with your feedback or suggestions for future newsletters.   Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our welcome offer when you join today. A chorus of UK voices, including Patrick Vernon and Lenny Henry - are calling for Windrush 75 celebrations to be bigger than ever, a "Diamond Jubilee for modern, diverse Britain". Cocoa Girl and Cocoa Boy Magazine, the UK's leading Black children's titles, have launched a partnership with Pokémon, profiling Black staffers therein, to show children the vast amount of tech jobs available to them. "You can't be what you can't see," said founder Serlina Boyd. Ten students from Harris Academy, Peckham, in South London became the first to take part in the 'Riding A Dream' Academy's Regional Week, held at Epsom Downs Racecourse, home to the world-famous Derby. A British university, Imperial College London, has issued new guidance urging students to have 'hard conversations' with friends and family over 'white privilege'. Essential reading How we mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush could unite Britain 'Goodbye to the King': How newspapers across the world reacted to Pele's death Man sought by police investigating defecation in cricketer Azeem Rafiq's garden Musician Jo Mersa Marley, grandson of Bob Marley, found dead We noticed that you might not be registered By registering, you will enjoy limited access to Independent Premium articles, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists REGISTER FOR FREE OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by the UK team Join now Climate News Every Friday, 12pm (UK time) Written by Louise Boyle Join now If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email.   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Race Report email. Add us to your safe list of senders . If you do not want to receive The Independent's Race Report email, please unsubscribe. If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.