Paul Stephenson

Just in July, two plain clothed officers carried out a search in that hot bed of terrorism, Woolwich, SE London and managed to find the behaviour of a six year old girl, her neighbour a girl aged eleven and that girls father, who were walking to a bus stop, as sufficiently dubious that they were stopped and searched using Section 44.

The IPCC are managing the investigation of  the complaint, the Metropolitan police are not yet convinced this event really happened at all, despite the fact that the man was asked to stand in front of a CCTV camera to have his photograph taken and one of the officers also took his photograph, as well as seizing mobile phone, USB and CD from the man. The complaint also surrounds the property which the man has no idea when it will be returned and was provided with no information about who to contact to do so.

The girls were questioned and searched under the same powers.

The Metropolitan Police are a dangerous out of control death squad. Their propensity to murdering innocent people is widely known. Allegations and investigations are being undertaken of police officers in the Met torturing suspects and they continue to abuse their powers.

This is a police force which must be broken up completely. After decades of so called reform and PR speak, they continue to operate outside the law. The history of the corruption of the flying squad in the ’60s, endemic racism in the ’70s and ’80s. Murder in the ’90s and ’00s is the legacy of the Metropolitan Police.

Julie Spence - Cambridgeshire Chief Police Constable

The sickening fact is that in Cambridgeshire rape calls are treated as such low priority the police can’t be bothered to deal with them as a priority and have been criticised on more than oneoccasion for their lamentable attitude towards rape.

A 999 call, according to the Chief Constable Julie Spence: will be responded to an answer 999 calls within ten seconds, deploying to emergencies immediately giving an estimated time of arrival, getting to you safely, and as quickly as possible. In urban areas, we will aim to get to you within 15 minutes and in rural areas within 20 minutes.

Except the truth is somewhat different:

At 16:49 a young woman called police and provided full details of a serious sexual assault. No-one bothered to attend.

At 17.19 she called again to inform the police she had just seen her attacker. Once again no-one bothered to attend.

At 18:30 she talked to a PCSO, who told her to go home.

At 03:53 – 11 hours later Cambridgeshire police decided to follow up.

Not just a one off.

At c 20:00 a 999 call was made by nurses in hospital accommodation with concerns about four men who had broken in to the building and were threatening rape and violence. Cambridgeshire police just decided to do nothing.

The men continued to shout abuse so a second 999 call was made, but the police really were not interested.

After three further calls were made by the father of one of the nurses the police decided to turn up just after 00:00. The reason for the delay being, they were a ’secondary emergency’.

Cambridgeshire Police force continue to treat rape as a low priority crime, in 2007 they managed just over a 3% conviction rate.

After the Judge made his comments on the first instance Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hopkins, said the judge’s comments had been noted.

In September 2008 the force was criticised by Judge Nicholas Coleman for releasing Zeno Havirneau on bail after he was arrested for raping a woman in her own home.

It is long past time that Chief Constable Julie Spence was fired. She is responsible for a police force which treats rape as a minor issue and it isn’t acceptable.

Cambridgeshire Police force are your police, not hers.

Cambridgeshire police force region

Cambridgeshire constabulary covers an area of over 3 500 square kilometres with a polulation of 700 000.

There are 1 400 police officers and 200 PCSOs.

If you live in the Cambridge police force area and would like to contribute to the site please contact: tim @ yourpoliceforce.com

In 1998 there were 18 complaints to the fore-runner of the IPCC, the PCA about the use of CS spray by Essex Police officers. Nationally in 1998 44% of complaints related to the spray not being used in self defence and the key issue was that sprays were being used at a distance of less than three feet. The Essex Police Chief Constable in 1999, David Stevens said in July of that year that the use of the spray was a ‘…worthwhile addition…’ to avoid having to use batons.

Despite the intervening 11 years of training and use, Essex Police still don’t seem to have quite got the hang of close range.

The following video was taken by someone, of a news report shown on BBC News in the Eastern region and is not of great quality. The added annotations are not of particular help to the unfolding scene either. However the version originally broadcast does at least avoid the cuts made by the BBC on the version now showing on the BBC website.

The incident is under investigation by the IPCC and three police officers have been placed on restricted duties until the investigation is completed.

Essex police force region

Essex Police force operate out of five divisions out of which are 15 districts:

Each district has a District Commander who is responsible for policing in that district, including their respective Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

If you are in the Essex police force region and would like to contribute to this site please email tim @ yourpoliceforce.com

Ross Brawn admitted speeding at 100mph on the A30. Immediate driving ban of course.

Except Ross Brawn happens to be the head of BrawnGP a Formula 1 racing team.

He couldn’t even be bothered to turn up in court, try it one day on a speeding offence and see what happens.

He pleaded guilty, due to the fact that he was late for an appointment.

The magistrates at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court were all in awe. They heard how he already had 3 points on his licence and being aware of how what a busy man he was, decided not on an automatic ban, but on some points on his licence… 9 points so he had an automatic ban, no of course not. 6 points and a fine.

On the A30 there is no limit

Corruption doesn’t just extend to the Police, the Judiciary are just as bad.

If you have other stories of Judicial favouritism, please let me know with an email to tim @ yourpoliceforce.com

The statutory guidance document  is a key for the IPCC, setting standards for how the complaint system should operate in the police service.

To understand better how the complaints system operates and provide your voice towards new guidelines, it is worth taking the time to read the consultation documents and responding. IPCC Consultation link

As with all bureaucratic structures, the ability to respond with actual issues, as opposed to perceived solutions is limited. The IPCC need to know the concerns people have about the current system and how it can be improved.

It is unlikely the Police will bother to take much notice of these guidelines, relying on the General Public not understanding the law and believing the police subversion of legislation.

Section 43 is much abused, as the Police under this section can only stop and search someone they reasonably suspect to be a terrorist under this power. Someone can only be

stopped and searched if the police suspect they are a terrorist. Taking photographs in itself is however being used by the police as a reason to suspect someone is a terrorist.

The definition of a terrorist is clarified in section 40 of the Act.

The Home Office in their circular dated 18th August 2009 highlight:

Important: Section 43 does not prohibit the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place and members of the public and the press should not be prevented from doing so in exercise of the powers conferred by section 43.

Under the same section, the Police are not permitted to delete images or destroy film.

Section 44 of the Act, which permits an ‘authorisation of searches’ to be placed on an area. This effectively means a specified area is deemed to be under threat of terrorist activity and this authorisation must be invoked by an assistant police constable or equivalent rank in other police forces or more senior officer.

(3) An authorisation under subsection (1) or (2) may be given only if the person giving it considers it expedient for the prevention of acts of terrorism.

Section 44 is being misapplied, particularly in relation to demonstrations and marches. Although even individuals taking photographs in a High Street have been subject to stop and search.

Again the Home Office have provided highlighted guidance on Section 44:

Section 44 does not prohibit the taking of photographs, film or digital images in an authorised area and members of the public and the press should not be prevented from doing so in exercise of the powers conferred by section 44.

adding

If a police officer already reasonably suspects the person to be a terrorist they should use section 43.

Section 58A is also identified by the Home Office as another section being abused.

Section 58 Collection of information

(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.

(2) In this section “record” includes a photographic or electronic record.

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for his action or possession.

Once again the Home Office produce highlighted guidelines:

Important: Legitimate journalistic activity (such as covering a demonstration for a newspaper) is likely to constitute such an excuse. Similarly an innocent tourist or other sight-seer taking a photograph of a police officer is likely to have a reasonable excuse.

I have doubts that the Police will take a blind bit of notice and any infractions should be continually highlighted, referred to the IPCC and exposed as widely as possible.

Section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 is another weapon of abuse by the Police. The guidelines on Section 76 are much the same as the 2000 Terrorism Act.

The 2008 Act is discussed at the tail end of this article

Derbyshire police force region

Policing an area of a region of over 1,000 square miles, with a population approaching 1 million.

Encompasses the rural areas of the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales, as well as old mining communities, modern towns and business centres.

2 065 regular officers, supported by 475 Special Constables, 104 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and 1 370 police staff.

If you are in the Derbyshire Region and would like to contribute to this site please contact: tim @ yourpoliceforce.com

On Friday 24th July 2009 Matthew Washington, a former Detective Constable who was in the Anti-Terrorist Branch has been found guilty of misfeance in public office. During the course of a year, he spent the best part of £20 000 on the Corporate Amex card, including about £600 while at Euro Disney and £82.96 in Harmony an adult shop in Soho. (What is it about public money and porn?)

He has paid back £12 500 and is due for sentencing on 3rd September 2009.

A one off, would be something tolerable, but unfortunately the IPCC are undertaking a significant investigation in to misuse of Credit Cards by Police Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service. There have been a total of 50 referals made to the IPCC and Auditors continue with their checks on the expenditure on 3 500 cards in use since 2006.

The investigations are being managed by IPCC Senior Investigator, Simon Cousins, and overseen by IPCC Commissioner Deborah Glass.

Former Sergeant John Gallagher, received an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty. He admitted misusing £9,622 on the card but has since repaid it in full. In addition to the suspended sentence, he was ordered to undergo treatment for alcoholism.

Former Sergeant Richard De Cadenet received ten months in prison after pleading guilty to spending over £70,000 on his police-issued credit card.

Detective Constable Christopher Fernley, was charged with three counts of false accounting and is awaiting trial.

Another Officer, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions, was charged with misconduct in public office and is due to appear before Southwark Crown Court on 21 August 2009.

Fourteen officers have received written warnings.

Twenty-five cases additional cases are currently being investigated.

Martin Baker, Chief Constable of Dorset has completed an investigation into the possible misuse of corporate credit cards by one senior MPS officer. The Metropolitan Police Authority has announced that the authority’s professional standards cases sub-committee was satisfied that no action was required.

An investigation into the second senior MPS officer is on-going.

The amounts involved in the cases which are still being investigated range to a maximum of about £15000.