Posts Tagged ‘IPCC’
IPCC Upholds CLEAR Appeal Against Avon and Somerset Police.
In January, a cocky, self-publicising cop from Bath published a typically ignorant piece of anti-cannabis scaremongering in his local paper.
PC Adge Secker wrote, amongst other nonsense, that “on average” cannabis plants are worth £1000 each, that “kids as young as 10 get hooked” and that it “…causes psychotic episodes so terrible that people throw themselves off buildings”.
CLEAR submitted a formal complaint to the Professional Standards department of Avon and Somerset Police. We described the article as “full of exaggeration, falsehood and distortion” and said “it is wholly wrong and unprofessional for any police officer to engage in this political debate and amounts to misconduct”.
Avon and Somerset Police rejected our complaint, described it as “fanciful” and refused to record it or investigate it any further. Another article was published in the same local newspaper headlined “Bath police officer’s views on cannabis backed by Avon and Somerset Police”. The editor of the Bath Chronicle, Alex Brown, had already taken sides and supported this police misconduct writing that “any suggestion that he shouldn’t have an opinion and shouldn’t speak out is ridiculous”. But the fact is that police officers are prohibited from engaging in politics for very good reason.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has now upheld our appeal. Avon and Somerset Police must now record and investigate the complaint.
The IPCC’s decision states “a reasonable person could share your general view that the officer has used his position to publish inaccurate information and enter into a political debate”.
It doesn’t mean we have won but it does mean we have forced this police force to take us seriously. Now PC Secker’s misconduct in telling porkies to support his political opinion will have to be investigated. The rules of evidence will apply and we have a very strong case.
Most important of all, making complaints like this deters other police officers from engaging in such propaganda exercises. CLEAR followers will recall that in 2013 we ran a series of similar complaints against Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. In the end our complaints weren’t upheld but Sir Bernard has never since voiced his jaundiced opinions or pushed his anti-cannabis agenda. That is the result we wanted.
Another Police Execution. Another Shameful Day For The Banana Republic Of Britain.
The British police have descended into almost universal distrust. No one except the most naive of pensioners now believes in the myth of the British bobby.
The disgraceful record of deaths in police custody and the absolute lack of action on it by the police, the IPCC or the government tells its own story. Mark Duggan’s murder, whatever sort of lowlife he was, is yet more proof, if any was needed, that the police are out of control and our courts and regulatory system are incapable of restraining them
Britain is a shadow of the great nation it once was. Chris Grayling, our so-called justice minster is systematically removing access to justice from everyone except the rich. There is no longer any trust in the law, let alone its institutions and least of all those, like Grayling and Hogan-Howe, who are in charge.
The banana republic of Britain is here.
Thug Smellie Gets Away With It
Another miserable day for British justice. Another scandalous triumph for police brutality. Another incompetent, unforgiveable failure by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. “Independent” my ****. Weak, corrupt and pointless more like!
Sergeant Delroy Smellie, who should be languishing in jail for several years, in segregation for his own safety, has got away with his brutal assault on Nicola Fisher at the G20 protest. See the full story here.
This is a licence for British police officers to use violence and brutality whenever they wish, even when they are being filmed. Whatever the evidence they will get away with it.
It took the Metropolitan Police 30 years to admit they murdered Blair Peach. Somehow, in the face of the crystal clear facts they have been able to get Smellie off the hook. This failure of the Courts and the IPCC to call him to account can only be corrupt. There can be no other explanation.
What about the assault on Ian Tomlinson? He died after another Metropolitan Police thug assaulted him at the G20 protest. More than a year later we are still waiting for the officer concerned to be charged. What hope is there for justice for him?