Coroner issues Dubai warning at inquest of Brit who died in police station
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Brits need to be warned about the dangers of travelling to Dubai after a man died after being beaten and starved, a coroner has said.
Lee Brown, 39, tragically passed away from "neglect" inside the notorious Bur Dubai police station in April 2011.
The builder, painter and decorator, died in brutal conditions and was left without substantial food and water in solitary confinement.
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Lee, from Dagenham, east London, was stripped of the right to access vital medical care and was dumped, beaten and bruised, an inquest heard.
He had been staying at the Burj Al Arab hotel during a stop-off visit on his way to see his girlfriend in Indonesia when he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a maid.
An inquest jury sitting at Walthamstow Coroner's Court earlier this month ruled that Mr Brown died from neglect, reports The Mirror.
Area Coroner for East London Nadia Persaud has written a report to the Foreign Office raising "concerns" about the issues raised during the inquest.
In her report, published yesterday, she raised fears more Brits could die in Dubai because "insufficient" travel advice does not have enough information about being arrested there and the possible consequences.
The inquest heard the number of new cases of Britons reporting torture or mistreatment in Dubai to the Foreign Office had surged from 3% of the global total to 13% in just four years.
In her ruling, she said: "The inquest heard evidence that there is no emergency access protocol to ensure that consular officers can reach detained British nationals in the event of a reported emergency.
"The inquest heard concerns in relation to the current Foreign Office travel advice.
"There was considered to be insufficient information relating to the possible consequences of detention in Dubai (and the possible circumstances of such detention).
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"A concern was raised at the inquest in relation to the procedures in place to gain consular access to detained British nationals who may be suffering from a mental health crisis.
"Such British nationals may not be able to provide the necessary consent for consular services.
"In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action."
After the verdict, Mr Brown's mother, Doris, said: "I am incredibly relieved that the Inquest has finally uncovered the precise circumstances in which my son lost his life.
"He died in the most awful of circumstances being allowed to be beaten by other prisoners and, most shockingly, those who were supposed to look after him."
A spokesperson for the UAE's UK embassy said: "In line with international standards, the UAE has stringent laws, regulations and procedures in place to ensure the physical and psychological wellbeing of detainees in its prisons.
"All inmates receive medical care as required. UAE state-level officials, the Public Prosecution, and diplomatic missions regularly visit correctional institutions to verify and maintain the high standards of living conditions and treatment.
"In the case of Mr Lee Brown the Jury’s verdict did not determine a cause of his death, nor any unlawful killing.
"To the extent the Jury speculated about factors for his death, the UAE completely rejects this speculation.
"The UAE notes also there were serious irregularities in the inquest process and treatment of evidence."
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