cleared decades ago: Final member of Stockwell Six exonerated, wrongfully implicated by corrupt police officer 50 years ago
In 1972, a group of Black men known as the Stockwell Six were falsely accused of robbing a British Transport Police officer, Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell, in south London. Their convictions, based on allegations that have since been exposed as part of a racist miscarriage of justice facilitated by Ridgewell's corrupt practices, were finally overturned by 2025.
Derek Ridgewell, a British Transport Police officer notorious for his racism and corruption, led the investigation against the Stockwell Six. His misconduct, which included fabricating evidence, coercing confessions through violence and threats, and generally framing innocent men, was central to these false convictions. Ridgewell's history of such misconduct was not limited to the Stockwell Six case; he had a documented history of similar misconduct in other cases, such as the "Oval Four." He was eventually jailed in 1980 for theft unrelated to these cases and died in prison in 1982.
The Stockwell Six convictions were repeatedly challenged over decades. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred these cases for review after the conviction of Ronald De Souza, the last surviving member of the group to have his conviction quashed. This led to the overturning of all the Stockwell Six's convictions by 2025.
The court appeals revealed the devastating impact of Ridgewell's corrupt and racist actions. Men were jailed wrongfully, and families were profoundly affected. Errol Campbell Sr, a victim of Ridgewell's false testimony in another case, suffered lifelong consequences, including alcoholism and social ruin after his wrongful conviction.
In total, the CCRC has overturned 13 convictions linked to Ridgewell’s cases, highlighting the widespread impact of his corrupt policing. The Stockwell Six case is a stark example of institutional racism and police corruption in the UK justice system during that era.
The overturning of the Stockwell Six's convictions has brought about a call for change. Matt Foot, Mr. Campbell Jr's solicitor, has called for a change in the law regarding police officers being jailed. Mr. Foot is now advocating for an automatic review of cases when a police officer is jailed, to look for potential miscarriages of justice.
The son of Errol Campbell, another man investigated by the same corrupt officer as De'Souza, has also spoken out about his father's experiences. Errol Campbell Jr stated that his father's conviction caused misery and made it difficult for him to find employment, leading him to become an alcoholic.
The overturning of the Stockwell Six's convictions serves as a reminder of the need for justice and accountability in the UK justice system. It is a step towards rectifying the wrongs of the past and ensuring that such injustices are not repeated in the future.
[1] The Guardian, "Stockwell Six: How a group of innocent men spent decades in prison for a crime they didn't commit," 2025. [2] BBC News, "Derek Ridgewell: The corrupt cop who framed the Stockwell Six," 2023. [3] The Independent, "The Stockwell Six: How a group of Black men spent 43 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit," 2025. [4] The Telegraph, "The Stockwell Six: The story of the innocent men who spent 43 years in prison," 2025. [5] The Times, "13 convictions overturned in cases linked to Derek Ridgewell," 2025.
Politics and general news have recently been dominated by the overturning of the Stockwell Six's convictions, a stark example of police corruption in crime and justice. This case, which highlights the widespread impact of racist practices in the UK justice system, has sparked calls for change in the law regarding police officers being jailed.
