Paul Barrington Worrell

Paul Barrington Worrell, 21, was a promising young Black boxer from Plumstead, south-east London, who is remembered as a special person in his community.

On 12 January 1982, Paul took his own life in Brixton Prison.

Paul was never convicted of the offence he was charged with. After being on remand for months, he was detained under the Mental Health Act, and returned to Brixton Prison to await hospital treatment. Known to be at risk of suicide, his death was the product of dysfunctional prison healthcare, abhorrent conditions and systemic racism.

An inquest into his death left many questions unanswered when it returned an open verdict.

Shortly after his death, the Paul Worrell Campaign came together. One of their key concerns was the growing number of Black people who were dying under suspicious circumstances whilst in the 'care' of the state. By 1984, eight more prisoners had died in Brixton Prison.

Despite an unsuccessful civil case again the prison for neglect, the campaign forced a policy change whereby the Home Office finally accepted that prisoners were entitled to the same standard of medical care as that available under the NHS in the community.