THE sister of a man who died in police custody has welcomed a decision to prosecute five police officers in connection with his death.

Janet Alder vowed her 18-month campaign for the full facts into the death of her brother Christopher Alder, 38, at Hull's central police station will go on.

"Christopher cannot be buried with the dignity he deserves until the truth comes out," said Janet, 37, a mother-of-two from the Manchester Road area of Burnley.

"My campaign's not been for nothing. I've been doing this for Christopher and to prevent other families having to go through what I have.

"We have to get some good out of such a tragic incident."

Janet said she could not have gone on with her campaign, which was sparked by Christopher's death in the police station charge room in April 1998, if it had not been for support from Burnley people and other groups.

"We were determined to keep on fighting," she explained. "It didn't matter if we had had to wait ten years, it would have gone on.

"At least now we're going to get these officers in court and all the facts will come out and we will see how well British justice works." Janet learnt the news that the officers would be charged from the Crown Prosecution Service in Manchester on Friday shortly before Humberside Police issued a statement on the matter. "At first I was deflated because I didn't really know what they were saying," she admitted. "Then my solicitor explained it was a very serious charge."

Her solicitor, Ruth Bundey, added: "We intend to remain vigilant and fully involved in all levels of the forthcoming prosecution."

A month after Christopher's death five officers were suspended pending an investigation ordered by the Police Complaints Authority.

Humberside Police said: "A decision has been made by the Crown Prosecution Service that the five suspended officers will be charged shortly with an offence of misconduct in a public office, which is a Common Law offence, as a result of the investigation into Mr Alder's death.

"It is inappropriate for Humberside Police to make any further comment about this matter." Mr Alder, a former paratrooper of Dagger Lane, Hull, was arrested for breach of the peace at Hull Royal Infirmary where he was being treated for injuries he received in an earlier incident outside a club.

He died a short time later at the city's Queens Gardens police station.

A post mortem examination failed to establish a cause of death. An inquest has not yet been held and his body is still being held in a mortuary.

Since then Janet has been battling for a full inquiry into the matter.

Her campaign included handing a 450-name petition to Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw.

She was backed by Neville Lawrence, the father of murdered London teenager Stephen Lawrence, and the National Civil Rights Movement. A group, Justice for Christopher Alder Campaign, was also set up.

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