Evictions and vulnerable people — a coroner's court case in point

In his address to London Housing Marchers at Hyde Park Corner on Saturday 18 June 2016, Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty made use of the word 'vulnerable' four times — twice in connection with the word 'people', once in connection with the word 'humanity', and once in connection with the word 'circumstances'.

The encore below of a Kilburn Unemployed blog post from August 2015. Nygell Firminger of South Kilburn's circumstances included: 

1. sanction by Kilburn Jobcentre
2. exorbitant interest rates charged by legalised loan sharks for 'high risk lenders
3. resultant rent arrears even while his benefits had been restored
4. eviction by Genesis Housing Association despite his attempted negotiations with them toward resolving his rent arrears
5. bailiffs not allowing him time to pick up his medication before they booted him out and
6. a 'group interview' at Kilburn Jcp

Nygell broke back into the flat that he had been evicted from and committed suicide the day before the 'group interview' at Kilburn Jcp.

His suicide occurred in the first week of April 2012, the same week that the Welfare Reform Act 2016 was passed by Parliament — heralding burgeoning benefit sanctions. The initial coroner's hearing into his case took place in November 2012 but had to be adjourned to 10 July 2013 when the following 'Rule 43' was passed by the North London Coroner.

North London Coroner: vulnerable person took his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted by Genesis HA

North London Coroner's Court Letterhead

Page 1 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

I am required under the terms of Rule 43 of the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 2008 to report to:
Claire Murdock,
Chief Executive,
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust,
Stephenson House
75 Hampstead Road
London NW1 2PL

---

And following the inquest touching the death of Nigel* Firminger heard before Coroner Andrew Walker at The Coroners Court sitting at Barnet on the 10th day of July 2013** and having heard evidence the Coroner had found that (b) the evidence gives rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of other deaths will occur, or will continue to exist in the future and

(c) In the Coroner's opinion, action should be taken to prevent the occurence or continuation of such circumstances, or to eliminate or reduce the risk of death created by such circumstances,

the coroner may report the circumstances to a person who the coroner believes may have power to take such action.

The Circumstances

On the second of April 2012, Nigel Patrick Firminger was found at his former home having taken his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted and the effect that the eviction had on his mental health.

Mr Firminger was suffering from a mental health issues that were not known by the organisation providing his accommodation or the court dealing with the eviction.

It is against this background that H M Coroner begs to report that:

Consideration to be given to:-

A form that may be filled in by the staff conducting an assessment that the patient can take away with them that identifies that the person is to be considered vulnerable that can be passed to other agencies such as those providing accommodation.

Your attention is drawn to the following provisions:

Response to report under rule 43

---

Page 2 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

43A, —(1) A person to whom a coroner sends a report under rule 43(1) must give the coroner a written response to the report containing—

(a) details of any action that has been taken or which it is proposed will be taken whether in response to the report or otherwise; or

(b) an explanation as to why no action is proposed

within the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the report is sent.

Extension of time

43B. A coroner may extend the period of 56 days mentioned in rule 43A(1) (even if an application for extension is made after the time for compliance has expired).

---

Signed this the 25th day of July 2013
(Coroner's signature and stamp)
by Coroner Adrew Walker

---

Notes

* The coroner's spelling of Nygell's forename as 'Nigel' is as presented on the Rule 43 document, and differs from the 'Nygell' spelling given on the cremation service programme from September 2012.
** This was an adjourned hearing. The original November 2012 hearing was adjourned because, following KUWG's presentation of a leaflet outlining the circumstances leading to Nygell's death and the fact that Nygell's relatives were unable to attend on that occasion, the Coroner had declared that "new evidence" had come to light.

Freudian slips, pauper funerals and 'fit for work' tests

On 23 November 2012, the Telegraph reported:

The Tory peer [Lord Freud], a former banker and descendent of Sigmund Freud, who is helping to push through a radical overhaul of the welfare state, insisted he understood the reality of living on benefits, arguing "you don't have to be the corpse to go to a funeral."(1)

At that time, there had already been several deaths of disability benefit claimants who had been found 'fit for work', including Nygell Firminger of South Kilburn who had committed suicide in the week that the Welfare Reform Bill 2012 was passed by Parliament.(2) In July 2013, the North London Coroner ruled that Nygell's suicide had been brought on by the stress induced by homelessness;(3) and since then suicides related to the 'fit for work tests' that the Freud Report of 2008 brought in have mushroomed, as has the campaign against such corporate homicides.(4)

Is it not time that someone challenged Baron Freud to eat his words, including his 2008 incorrect assertion that Incapacity Benefit tests were conducted by the claimant's own GP? Regarding that 'basic error', Kate Green, the then CEO of Child Poverty Action Group remarked: 

"Ministers will surely be alarmed that the man charged with major reform of the welfare system and family security rights gets basic facts wrong about benefits that he could find out in a second with a Google."His suitability must be under question for the task Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell has set him."Claimants were assessed by independent doctors - rather than their own GP - after 28 weeks, she added.(5)

Maybe someone should remind the Welfare Reform Minister of his unfortunate metaphor, that might be called a Freudian slip? Atos has been replaced by Maximus as testing company for Employment and Support Allowance claims, and at greater expense to the Government and thereby the taxpayer, yet someone might challenge Lord Freud with some of the last words of 'fit for work' test victim Larry Newman:

His widow, Sylvia Newman, recalls that one of the last things he said to her, as doctors put him on a ventilator, was: "It's a good job I'm fit for work." He was trying to make her laugh, she says, but it was also a reflection of how upset he had been by the conclusion of the medical test.
"He was so hurt by it. It made him so upset that they thought he was lying, and he wasn't," she says. "I think it added to him just giving up."(6)

It could be argued perhaps, that investment banker David Freud only believes in rewarding the risks taken regarding the reputations of already notorious global corporations in becoming even more 'toxic' as brands.

Notes

(1) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9698985/Lord-Freuds-welfare-lifestyle-comments-show-nasty-party-is-back-say-Labour.html

(2) http://kilburnunemployed.blogspot.co.uk/2016_03_01_archive.html

and http://kilburnunemployed.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/supporting-and-commemorating-sanctions.html

(3) http://kilburnunemployed.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/north-london-coroner-said-vulnerable-person-took-his-own-life-as-a-direct-consequence-of-his-being-evicted-by-genesis-ha.html

(4) http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2016/04/14/preventable-harm-is-government-policy/

(5) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7223687.stm Two million 'wrongly get benefit'

(6) http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/jul/24/atos-case-study-larry-newman

Lone/single jobseekers become first lambs to slaughter by Universal Credit

I am reminded of that Pastor Niemoller poem, ‘First they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew.’

“…. The first claimants to Universal Credit are single jobseekers….”
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/universal-credit-roll-out-progresses

And as for claims that the most vulnerable would be protected, the London Underground tannoy’s regular announcements about ‘incidents’ that can be translated as what tube drivers refer sardonically to ‘one under’ would fuel a huge backlog in coroners’ courts.
The way that Nygell Firminger of South Kilburn committed suicide did not involve a tube train, but was benefits sanctions and subsequent eviction-related. It also occurred within the week that the Welfare Reform Bill 2012 was passed.

“Those who give the order seldom see the mess it makes.” They also seem to have vested interests in blocking evidence for informed debate. Yet as for whether it is a case of ‘conspiracy’ or ‘cock up’, it seems to me given the 2004/2005 systemic meltdown in the benefits system, that ‘conspiracy’ and ‘cock up’ debate matters are like the ‘chicken and the egg’ debate.

Community Care mag November 2006 article: Jobcentre Plus: Poor service continues
I suppose that the fundamental answer is that they care less for economically vulnerable people than they imply!

See the emerging 'shared intelligence' on Kate Belgrave's blog for more details.

No Benefit Sanctions Day 2016 Report

David Clapson remembered at No Sanctions Day 2016

Demonstrators tell DWP, "Cuts kill."
Location: DWP Caxton House HQ on
No Sanctions Day 2016

There was a day of actions against benefit sanctions on 9^th March 2016. Benefit sanctions are when our benefits are stopped for a period of anything from 4 weeks to 3 years if we fail to comply with DWP requests. However, being late for an appointment that you never got told about, can land you with a sanction. Hundreds of thousands of people are sanctioned each year. The Government saves millions of pounds off the welfare bill with this policy.

Being sanctioned has led directly to despair and suicides. There are 95 cases that the DWP is aware of. In April 2012, former KUWG member Nygell Firminger committed suicide as a direct consequence of homelessness that was brought on by rent arrears resulting from a benefits sanction. The 95 people were remembered at the protest. today (9 March 2016).

Tapestry of names of vulnerable people who died in sanctions-related-deaths

David Clapson was someone who was also sanctioned. Without money, he could not chill the medication that he needed to treat the type 1 diabetes that he lived with. He died within a week of being sanctioned.

His sister, Gill Thompson, has led a campaign to have an inquest or inquiry into his death. The Government has refused that request. She handed in a petition to the DWP asking them to have an inquest or inquiry into her brother’s death – as per photo below. Footage of his sister speaking to the crowd has been uploaded to youtube. She is also campaigning for the government to implement the recommendations of a review of sanctions. She is now crowd funding a campaign to challenge that refusal. To support her campaign go to: www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/david-clapson

A DWP official hears from demonstrators.
Location: DWP HQ, Caxton House on No Sanctions Day

North London Coroner: vulnerable person took his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted by Genesis HA

North London Coroner's Court Letterhead

Page 1 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

I am required under the terms of Rule 43 of the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 2008 to report to:
Claire Murdock,
Chief Executive,
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust,
Stephenson House
75 Hampstead Road
London NW1 2PL

---

And following the inquest touching the death of Nigel* Firminger heard before Coroner Andrew Walker at The Coroners Court sitting at Barnet on the 10th day of July 2013** and having heard evidence the Coroner had found that (b) the evidence gives rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of other deaths will occur, or will continue to exist in the future and

(c) In the Coroner's opinion, action should be taken to prevent the occurence or continuation of such circumstances, or to eliminate or reduce the risk of death created by such circumstances,

the coroner may report the circumstances to a person who the coroner believes may have power to take such action.

The Circumstances

On the second of April 2012, Nigel Patrick Firminger was found at his former home having taken his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted and the effect that the eviction had on his mental health.

Mr Firminger was suffering from a mental health issues that were not known by the organisation providing his accommodation or the court dealing with the eviction.

It is against this background that H M Coroner begs to report that:

Consideration to be given to:-

A form that may be filled in by the staff conducting an assessment that the patient can take away with them that identifies that the person is to be considered vulnerable that can be passed to other agencies such as those providing accommodation.

Your attention is drawn to the following provisions:

Response to report under rule 43

---

Page 2 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

43A, —(1) A person to whom a coroner sends a report under rule 43(1) must give the coroner a written response to the report containing—

(a) details of any action that has been taken or which it is proposed will be taken whether in response to the report or otherwise; or

(b) an explanation as to why no action is proposed

within the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the report is sent.

Extension of time

43B. A coroner may extend the period of 56 days mentioned in rule 43A(1) (even if an application for extension is made after the time for compliance has expired).

---

Signed this the 25th day of July 2013
(Coroner's signature and stamp)
by Coroner Adrew Walker

---

Notes

* The coroner's spelling of Nygell's forename as 'Nigel' is as presented on the Rule 43 document, and differs from the 'Nygell' spelling given on the cremation service programme from September 2012.
** This was an adjourned hearing. The original November 2012 hearing was adjourned because, following KUWG's presentation of a leaflet outlining the circumstances leading to Nygell's death and the fact that Nygell's relatives were unable to attend on that occasion, the Coroner had declared that "new evidence" had come to light.

Mon 17 Aug @ 2pm: KUWG demonstration against Genesis Housing Association cleansing itself of home building for plebs

Mon 17 Aug, 2pm at

Genesis Housing Association’s HQ:

64 Pratt Street London NW1 0DL (tube: Camden Town)
Postcode map

Social Landord? What a fraud!

Our protest is in response to Genesis Housing Association’s decision to drop social housing: http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2015/aug/07/housing-asssociation-no-longer-build-homes-poor-genesis

Please join us! Or blog, tweet or just spread the word.

We consider this ‘The Genesis of UK Oligarchy’

After all, Genesis’ housing stock was funded by tax payers which this private company was meant to manage. But now, Genesis HA has decided to:

• No longer build any social (read: public) housing
• Only build private homes for sale, to rent at full market rates or for shared ownership
• consider selling or raising rents on their existing social housing stock, once the property become vacant (read: once existing tenants get evicted and/or dispersed*),

Genesis Housing Assn screws the public purse and us

How many eviction suicides already?

How many vacant possession suicides already?

Osborne's pals sponge off our public purse

Statement by Ivy from Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group (KUWG) with placard designs and a little editing by Dude Swheatie of Kwug

Note

* as evidenced when KUWG member Nygell Firminger committed suicide right after his eviction from Genesis, who then sold his flat for a reported £375K after North London Coroner ruled that Nygell had committed suicide due to the stress induced by eviction.

Tulip replies to challenge

The following content was sent by Hampstead & Kilburn Labour Parliamentary candidate Tulip Siddiq to the blogmeister's gmail inbox.

Thanks for your email. I have now read the blog [piece A challenge to Tulip Siddiq: stand up for claimants, not just the camera!].

A few points - 

When Boris Johnson walked past my office, I asked Boris Johnson what he was going to do about the No 13 Bus which he is planning to scrap. He refused to answer. It's a very important bus for elderly residents in this constituency and therefore, I felt the need to raise it. The CNJ reported that I asked that question in their coverage. 

Secondly, did you invite me to the protest on 7th April? Apologies if I missed it but I can't see an email about it. I would have attended if I had known about it. 

Thirdly, please can you let me know the name of the person who dropped into my office? I can look into their case. 

Lastly, there are plenty of Labour posters and garden stakes up in Brent. There's also a big poster in the window of the Good Ship on Kilburn High Road. And of course, that's the Brent side of Kilburn High Road. 

I'm happy to help constituents but of course, my power is somewhat limited as a candidate. If I am elected on 7th May, I will be in a stronger position to help people in the constituency.

Best wishes  

--

Tulip Siddiq

Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn
The Labour Party

Email contacts are signed up for an e-newsletter, with the usual unsubscribe/reply features.

Whoever you choose, don't forget to vote on Thursday 7th May.

Supporting and commemorating sanctions fodder

Text by Dude Swheatie of Kwug. Photos by Kwug members and Peter Murry of Brent Green Party.

On Wednesday 7 April 2015 KUWG members were joined outside Kilburn Jobcentre by members of Brent Green Party in supporting the recently JSA sanctioned Elisabet and commemorating the sanctions-and-eviction-related suicide of former Kilburn Jobcentre customer Nygell Firminger. We were also joined by local police after jobcentre managers complained that we were disturbing both staff and customers by being too loud in our protest.

KUWG and Brent Green Party members affirm that sanctions lower the claimant count ...

and sanctions fodder face huge deficits!

'Police, camera, action' Kwug style!

"But aren't you concerned, Mr Policeman, that the jobcentre are robbing us?"

Commemorating a 'welfare reform' related suicide

Nygell Firminger: Worker & Jobseeker killed himself at 32a Cambridge Ave, 3 April 2012

By typical coincidence, the police arrival came just as we were packing up to move down the road to symbolically install a memorial placque outside the 32a Cambridge Ave flat where Nygell Firminger had committed suicide on 3 April 2012 had died the day before a 'group session' at Kilburn Jobcentre.

Continue reading....

KUWG Diary April 2015

From Argotina, Ivy, and CJ

Updates including hustings dates and Mary Laver's 9 April birthday celebration for Iain Duncan Smith uploaded Tuesday 7 April.

4^th April WaveOfActionUK ANTI FASCIST Protest - Celebrating A Year Of Action! 13.00, Trafalgar Square. Starts with a 100 guitar event, and coincides with world Pillow Fight day also in Trafalgar Square at 3pm. This is happening the same day as German neo Nazi group Pegida to target London on the 4th April Easter weekend and we will join any counter march at 4 http://edlnews.co.uk/…/german-neo-nazi-group-pegida-to-tar…/

Latest news on this: http://edlnews.co.uk/2015/03/25/all-london-anti-fascist-bloc-announce-anti-pegida-demo-on-the-4th-april/

7^th April – Nygell Ferminger commemoration, at Kilburn Jobcentre, Cambridge Ave, NW6 5AH (map location) 9.45 - 10.30 am, then to 32a Cambridge Ave (where he used to live)

just to confirm this Tuesday 7th April is Nigel Firminger remembrance with still protesting about Elisabet who has had JSA stopped and has been confirmed that her Housing Benefit has stopped and her rent due to be paid to private landlord won't be paid this Monday!!

Tue 7^th April 6pm, Unite Campaign meeting, at Union Regional Office, 33 - 37 Moreland St EC1 V8BB (against sanctions, Maximus Work Capability Assessments & other welfare attacks).
 

Tue 7^th April 7.30pm – Sweets Way Resists: Public meeting, 76 Oakleigh Road North, N20 9EZ (Northern line: Totteridge & Whetstone) http://occupylondon.org.uk/sweets-way-campaigners-plan-weekend-of-fun-and-resistance-in-new-occupation/

.

Thu 9 April: Independent Living Fund campaigner Mary Laver celebrates 61st birthday of  'quietly determined man' Iain Duncan Smith. See Mary Laver's Birthday Bash for IDS, April 9th House of Commons to Chingford — DPAC.

Thu 9 April 7.30pm for 8pm start - Hustings for Hampstead & Kilburn parliamentary seat: Queen's Park Area Residents Association (QPARA) - St Anne's Church, 125 Salusbury Rd, NW6 6RG. Further details at QPRARA website. 

Fri 10 April 8pm - Hampstead & Kilburn Hustings: St Andrew's church hustings, Finchley Road, NW3 7DY - 8pm. Location map 
Mon 13 April 7.30pm - Hustings: Brent Stop the War hustings - Pakistan Community Centre,  Station Parade NW2 4PU. Location map
  
Wed 15 April at 6 pm March for the Homeless  Whitehall SW1

Wed 15 April 7pm - Hustings: Hampstead & Kilburn constituency. West Hampstead Synagogue at Dennington Park Lane NW6 1AX. Location map

Wed 15 April 7 - 9pm, Hustings: Brent Central Constituency, Tavistock Community Centre (back of Harlesden Methodist Church), Harlesden High Street, NW10 4NB. Location map

Fri 17 April 8pm - Hustings for Brent Central constituency: Church of the Transfiguration, 1 Wrentham Avenue, NW10 3HT. Location map  

Sun 19 April - Hampstead & Kilburn Hustings: Brondesbury Park Synagogue, 143/145 Brondesbury Park, London, NW2 5JL. Location map
Tue 21 April 7pm - Hampstead & Kilburn Hustings: Camden Federation of Private Tenants - Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA. Location map

Wed 22 April 8pm - Hampstead & Kilburn Hustings: Ham & High hustings at JW3, Finchley Road, NW3 6ET. Location map

Saturday 25^th April - 2^nd May – Week of Action Against Workfare and Sanctions

1^st May, 10am-11am: KUWG at Kilburn Jcp, Cambridge Ave, NW6 5AH (map location)   as part of Week of Action against Workfare,and to allow people to get to mayday march which normally assembles noon.

30^th May Boycott Workfare National welfare action gathering, London Welsh Centre, Grays Inn Rd 10.30Aam to 5.30pm. Register your interest at : info@boycottworkfare.org

 
20^th June 12. noon 'End Austerity Now' national demo at the Bank of England organised by the Peoples Assembly Against Austerity

30th June: Abolition of Independent Living Fund set to come in. Conservative plans are for already cuts-ridden councils to take over, creating ever-greater 'divide and rule' tensions in the name of 'protecting the most vulnerable': i.e. setting up breadcrumb battles as to who is the most vulnerable. What will KUWG do about the matter? Here — with more details of what ILF has helped the most severely disabled do already — is what Save ILF campaigner Mary Laver is already aiming to do for 9 April 2015 — the 61st birthday of Iain Duncan Smith whose DWP decided to scrap the ILF: Mary Laver's Birthday Bash for IDS, April 9th House of Commons to Chingford — DPAC.

Dates for your diary

From Argotina Schmurgle

Sunday 29^th March This Sunday: Annual Tony Benn memorial 7pm Seven Dials Club 42 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LA, Tickets (expensive) available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/annual-tony-benn-memorial-tickets-15632992702

Monday 30^th March Sweets Way vs Annington Properties Ltd! Barnet County Court, St Marys Court, Regents Park Rd, London N3 1BQ

31^st March – action at Kilburn Jobcenter 10.30 – 11.30

4^th April WaveOfActionUK ANTI FASCIST Protest - Celebrating A Year Of Action! 13.00, Trafalgar Square. Starts with a 100 guitar event, and coincides with world Pillow Fight day also in Trafalgar Square at 3pm. This is happening the same day as German neo Nazi group Pegida to target London on the 4th April Easter weekend and we will join any counter march at 4 http://edlnews.co.uk/…/german-neo-nazi-group-pegida-to-tar…/

Sunday 5 April at 18:00 London: March for the Homeless 15-4-15 Whitehall SW1

Tuesday 7^th April – Nygell Ferminger commemoration, 32a Cambridge Ave, 9.45 – 10.30

7^th April action at Kilburn Jobcetre

25^th April - 2^nd May – Week of Action against Sanctions

1^st May protest against sanctions and workfare?

Saturday 30^th May Boycott Workfare National welfare action gathering, London Welsh Centre, Grays Inn Rd 10.30Aam to 5.30pm. Register your interest at : info@boycottworkfare.org

20^th June 12. noon 'End Austerity Now' national demo at the Bank of England organised by the Peoples Assembley

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group and friends commemorate Nygell Firminger

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group and friends commemorate Nygell Firminger

Outside Kilburn Jobcentre, two years on from the day he was due to attend a 'group session' but had killed himself the day before "as a direct result of the stress brought on by eviction"

Nygell used to sign on here 1

Nygell used to sign on here 2

Nygell used to sign on here 3

How does Genesis Housing do 'cost/benefits' analyses?

Outside 32a Cambridge Avenue, where Nygell lived, was evicted from, and died

Whatever happened to the previous occupant?

Residence sold over Nygell's dead body

Nygell, KUWG commemorates your passing

Hello in there, hello!