The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has notified the family of Sean Rigg that Sergeant Paul White will now be suspended.
The case has been reported by the Guardian.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on 8 July that criminal proceedings were being brought against Sergeant White for perjury, in the wake of the investigation into the evidence given by the officer at the inquest into the death of Sean Rigg in 2012. Sean Rigg died in August 2008 whilst in custody at Brixton Police Station.
Following the CPS’s decision in early July, Sergeant White was not immediately suspended from the MPS. Marcia Rigg-Samuel, Sean Rigg’s sister, therefore called upon the Commissioner to suspend Sergeant White immediately, pending the outcome of the trial.
Following the news of Sergeant White’s suspension, Marcia Rigg-Samuel has stated:
“My family welcome the appropriate step taken by the Commissioner to suspend PS Paul White in the public interest, pending the outcome of the trial; it is now important for that trial to take place as speedily as possible.”
Leslie Thomas QC and Tom Stoate, who represented the family of Sean Rigg at the 2012 inquest into his death, are members of the Garden Court Chambers Inquest Team.
