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The Court of Appeal has recently cleared the names of two men who were wrongly convicted in the 1970s based on allegations made by a corrupt police officer. Errol Campbell, who passed away in 2004, was imprisoned for 18 months for theft and conspiracy to steal, while Ronald De Souza, part of the Stockwell Six group, was detained for six months for attempted robbery. Both men were convicted due to evidence provided by Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell, who was responsible for racist miscarriages of justice. So far, all 13 cases referred have been overturned.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission conducted numerous inquiries into Ridgewell’s misconduct, revealing that he falsified evidence leading to convictions that persisted even after his death in prison in 1982. Ridgewell unfairly targeted primarily young, black men, falsely accusing them of theft and robbery offenses. Assistant Chief Constable of BTP, Charlie Doyle, expressed his disgust with Ridgewell’s actions.
Errol Campbell Jr, the son of Errol Campbell, expressed relief that his father’s innocence has finally been confirmed almost 50 years later. Campbell Jr criticized the British Transport Police for allowing Ridgewell to continue his corrupt practices. He also called for a change in the law to automatically review cases overseen by police officers later found guilty of crimes to prevent further miscarriages of justice. Moreover, he urged BTP to disclose those who supported Ridgewell, suggesting there may have been more victims of miscarriages of justice.
The Court of Appeal also reviewed the case of Ronald De Souza, who had carried the burden of his wrongful conviction throughout his adult life. Lord Justice Holroyde expressed regret that the court could not rectify all the suffering De Souza endured over the past half-century. BTP’s Ass Ch Con Charlie Doyle conveyed the organization’s sincere regret for the impact of Ridgewell’s criminal actions. He emphasized that the BTP of today does not align with the corrupt practices of the past, as they actively investigate all officers linked to Ridgewell in order to pursue justice
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