As a response to the killing of George Floyd in the United States, UFFC saw unprecedented donations from the public towards its work, and is now poised to consult families nationally, reaffirm its membership, announce its next annual general meeting and strategic plan. Further updates to follow in 2021.
The UFFC looks forward to 2021 when it is hoped they will once again take their protest to the heart of government in central London. Keep informed here >
A number of significant developments preceded this years event:
(not listed in order of date)
The National Memorial Family Fund
The National Memorial Family Fund delivered its very first grant funding round in September 2020 and awarded over £8,000 to 19 families from across the UK affected by state deaths. Grants were for campaign resources, respite, counselling, publications and small business start-up support costs. The second grant round is to be announced shortly.
Ultraviolence: the new film about deaths in police custody
Two decades ago the police tried to silence Ken Fero’s fearless documentary Injustice. Twenty years later, his follow-up is filled with even more pain and outrage. Ultraviolence was launched at the BFI Film Festival in October 2020. Producers Migrant Media said; “The silence over the police killings of Black people is now broken. Since 1969, over two thousand people have died at the hands of the police in the UK. Shootings, chokeholds, batons, gassing, suffocation, restraint and brutal beatings are some of the methods used.”
1Extra Talks (BBC UK Sounds)
This programme was aired shortly before the 2020 memorial. Reece Parkinson and Shahlaa Tahira explore how we might change the police in the UK. Features several families, campaign and reform groups speaking about the controversy of police killings and custody deaths.
Families ‘appalled’ as new law grants officers anonymity
Families of people who have died in police custody have expressed serious concerns about a new policy which gives anonymity to the officers involved. Campaign groups and relatives say it will now be even harder to hold police accountable under the ramped up policy, which came into force in July 2020. Read the article here >