If police face charges for forcing people to die on the street, why not the DWP?
Two police staff could face manslaughter charges after a homeless man died [Image: PA].
Not in this case – perhaps.
But if police officers are brought to court to account for their part in the death of Pericles Malagardis, why not Jobcentre advisors working for the Department for Work and Pensions?
This Writer knows of at least one occasion in which a benefit claimant froze to death after being sanctioned by the DWP.
Their excuse: “We were only following orders” (as used at Nuremberg).
It isn’t good enough.
If this case does go to trial, it will be time for pressure to bring DWP staff to book as well.
Prosecutors will decide whether two Metropolitan Police Service employees should be charged over the death of a homeless man, the police watchdog has said.
Pericles Malagardis, 63, was found unresponsive outside Uxbridge police station in west London on March 5 last year, hours after being ejected from the reception.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider if charges of gross negligence manslaughter should be brought against two members of Metropolitan Police Service staff.
Mr Malagardis, who had been sleeping rough at Heathrow Airport, visited the police station on March 4, 2016, to collect his dog, which had been put in kennels while he went to hospital.
The Greek national was asked to leave at 12.40am the next day and removed by staff, but stayed outside.
He was found unresponsive at around 5.30am and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6.45am.
The IPCC said its investigation had centred on the decision to remove the man and the level of care provided by staff in the hours after and when he was found unresponsive.
(Source: Homeless man died ‘after police kicked him out of station on winter night’)
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DID THEY PUT DOWN HIS DOG AS WELL ?
Long over due
This beggars belief and they must be coated with the same Teflon as the Tories.
Certainly feels that there is a common thread with these similar cases where the person in need was not dealt with in a humane manner. Whilst not actually escorted outside to die immediately outside the DWP premises many claimants are basically left to their own devices without any support once they have been supposedly dealt with….many of the vulnerable ending up dying as a result of the officials neglet.
What a tragic story of this man that simply waited for his companion. Criminal action off DWP workers will arise in the future, and as said, following orders will not wash. No doubt many ‘innocent’ DWP employees will be dragged before the courts, if I were them, I would get these ‘orders’ to punish claimants in writing from the hierarchy to prove it was not a personal act.
This callous, evil cruelty stems right from the top.
When I attended my tribunal they told me that the DWP had informed them that I hadn’t sent in my ESA application or medical records. I handed them copies of 20 years worth of records, my application (Copied) proof of postage and hard copy proof that they’d received it. They asked if I had any comments. I asked ‘Why was I in a tribunal for ESA if I hadn’t applied’ I was awarded my benefits but will no doubt have to prove again and again that I’m unable to work – Tribunal is a court of law the DWP patently lied by I have no redress whatsoever!
As i read all the comments it is plainly clear that if he had died elsewhere the police would no doubt or possibly be looking at it as murder so as some have said it was due to his treatment of the DWP so what have the police done about it or have they been given the runaround like everyone else????