A man, who fell victim to a severe miscarriage of justice in Britain, is determined to combat police corruption after over five decades of seeking justice. Winston Trew, a Black Power advocate, missed a crucial rally in 1974 aimed at clearing his name as he was unjustly incarcerated in Wormwood Scrubs prison. Alongside three other black men, known as the Oval Four, Trew was wrongly imprisoned due to the deceitful actions of corrupt police officer, Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell.
Now at 76 years old, Trew is returning to Lambeth Town Hall, the site of the 1974 Cause For Concern protest, to stand in solidarity with what he calls “victims of police muggers.” On September 10, he will launch a campaign advocating for the implementation of Trew’s Law, which would mandate reviews of cases involving police officers later proven to have engaged in serious misconduct. Trew, who fought for over four decades to overturn his conviction, aims to create a lasting impact to assist others wrongfully convicted due to corrupt police practices.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Trew expressed his desire to prevent others from enduring similar injustices. Despite his innocence, he was forced to prove it, emphasizing the significant impact the wrongful conviction had on his life. Arrested at Oval Tube station in South London under false allegations of theft, Trew firmly believes he was framed by DS Ridgewell, who passed away in prison at a young age of 37, after being implicated in a series of corrupt activities targeting innocent individuals during the 1970s.