Dying for a Biscuit; The Tragic Story of James Best

During the riots that broke out in August 2011 a man named James Best walked past an already looted bakery in Croydon, went in and took a gingerbread man. His actions were probably illegal but, given other events happening that day, seem somewhat small fry. This, however, was not the view taken by Croydon magistrates court. They remanded him in custody to await sentence as part of the ‘fast track justice’ that kicked in after the riots subsided and the fires were put out. Once held in prison he died of a heart attack believed to have been brought on by over exercising.

Best was ill, both mentally and physically. He suffered from Crohn’s disease, arthritis and asthma. He had also recently been sectioned under the Mental Health Act as it was felt he was a danger to himself. He was a vulnerable man who made a daft decision, but one that no decent thinking human being could think was dangerous, or even morally objectionable. He was not cared for as someone with his health concerns should have been. He was overlooked at a time when prisons and police stations were full to bursting with people who had committed only minor offences. They were being kept there as an examples. The government could not address the resentment and sense of disenfranchisement that was at the heart of the riots, but they could try and look hard and order lots of people locked up.

An inquest into James Best’s death had now been called.

During the riots everyone panicked. For those caught in it I can only imagine the terror. I do count myself lucky that there were no riots in the city I was living in at the time. However, no amount of fear, no amount of uncertainty can excuse the death of a vulnerable man in the care of the state. During that restless August cases were rushed through and sentences handed down quickly. The government was adamant that they would show the disobedient population who was boss. As a result a man died. No one cared that he was ill, they just wanted to illustrate what happens when you get caught up in a publicity stunt such as the handling of the rioters.

Had Best stolen a gingerbread man during any other week of the year it is unlikely he would even have been taken to court, especially in light of his health issues. This is a truly tragic example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. No explanation about how busy the police were at that time will suffice. If they were that busy they should have been focussing on those individuals who were actually posing a danger to people, not just those who felt a bit peckish. I don’t want to think of the British justice system as one that would not give an individual a proper, fair consideration, in any circumstance.

How can the system that let James Best die pass judgment on the rest of us? He should not have been in that prison, and even if he should have, he should not have been treated as he was. This is the worst outcome of the riots, the disregard for the freedoms, rights and lives of individuals. This is a system trying to prove a point as to how righteous it is by coming down too hard on people who haven’t done anything wrong. A man died for no good reason and that has destroyed their moral authority and undermined the entire justice system.