10 December 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Yarl’s Wood detains too many pregnant women, prisons inspector says

originally by: The Guardian
published: 7th Dec 2011

The detention of “too many” pregnant women at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre has been heavily criticised by the chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick. Hardwick particularly highlighted the case of one pregnant detainee who had endured a four-day journey from Belfast to Yarl’s Wood in Bedfordshire via Scotland and Manchester airport, where she had collapsed.

The privately-run centre was the scene of a major riot and fire in 2002 and is now the main detention centre for women facing deportation from Britain. At the time of the inspection in July, it held 229 women and 27 male partners. Children have not been held there since December 2010.

7 December 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

MPs finally stand up for Gary McKinnon as extradition law reform motion voted through

originally by: Mail Online
published: 6th December 2011

The campaign to change Britain’s unfair extradition laws scored a stunning success at Westminster last night. A motion calling for ‘urgent reform’ to the US/UK treaty which is being used to try to wrestle Asperger’s sufferer Gary McKinnon to America was passed uncontested by MPs. No vote was called when it became clear the motion had overwhelming support after being backed by a string of heavyweight speakers from all parties.

It is a huge victory for those campaigners who urged Parliament to resist American pressure and ‘stand up for Britain’.

Tory MP Dominic Raab, who led the debate, said it was about defending ‘the price we place on the liberty of our citizens and the value we ascribe to that cornerstone of British justice – innocent until proven guilty.’

5 December 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Lynette White case: Police trial collapses

originally by: BBC News
published: 1st December 2011

South Wales Police says it has asked the police watchdog to investigate after the UK’s biggest case involving alleged police corruption collapsed. Eight former officers were cleared of perverting the course of justice at Swansea Crown Court after the wrongful conviction of three men for murder.

The judge ruled the officers and two other defendants, who were also found not guilty, could not get a fair trial. The case follows the murder of Cardiff prostitute Lynette White in 1988.

Files relating to complaints by an original defendant were said to be missing, and the director of public prosecutions said he was “extremely concerned”. The cost of the investigations and trials is thought to run into tens of millions. One estimate put it as high as £30m.