Christopher Alder died in custody in Hull Police station on April 1 1998. He was conveyed there for a breach of the peace, but on arrival was found to be unconscious. Police officers, who claim he appeared to be 'asleep', allegedly dragged him from the van with his hands handcuffed behind his back, and placed him face down on the station floor, where he died. A video film recorded the last 11 minutes of his life. He lay on the floor of the police station making rasping noises indicative of respiratory distress. These eventually cease.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) announced in October 1999 the names of five police officers to be charged in relation to the death of Christopher Alder in Hull police station. The five officers from West Yorkshire Police are PS Dunn, PC Barr, PC Dawson, PC Blackley, and PC Ellerington. They have all been charged with 'misconduct in public office'.
The Crown Prosecution Service took 15 months to come to its decision, whilst the officers were suspended on full pay. Janet Alder, the sister of the deceased, and the National Civil Rights Movement, supporting her campaign, welcomed the prosecution but are deeply dismayed by the long delay. Janet said: 'The Lawrence Inquiry was meant to change everything, but I have had to fight every inch of the way. I won't give up till the whole truth is out in the open - until then, Christopher cannot be buried with the dignity he deserves.'
"The police dragged him out and in the process his trousers and his boxer-shorts ended up down his legs. They dragged him into the police station, put him on the floor.
There is video evidence of this where Christopher is left there gasping for breath every ten to twelve seconds. The police do nothing about this.
They are seen walking about getting on with their everyday business. One police officer even says that he is play-acting, that he has been awkward all night. Every ten to twelve seconds Christopher is gasping for breath. They are walking about, doing their business and subsequently Christopher dies after 10 minutes.
It was too weeks later that the police in Burnley actually came to my house and told me that Christopher had died in police custody. Police custody could mean 'stood next to a policeman'.
I felt totally isolated having no family there, did not know who to turn to. Over the weekend I just collected my thoughts as to what I was going to do. I decided to go to Hull to meet with my other brother and go to the police station and find out what was going on.
The first policeman I talked to was sat chewing gum back in his chair and hands behind his head and he said to me 'your brother went to a nightclub, had a fight and due to the fight he died in police custody.'"
Christpher Alder's sister, Janet's testimony given at the NCRM launch meeting, March 1999.
