29 November 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Police taser man carrying toy gun

originally by: The Guardian
published: 24th November 2011

Metropolitan police officers fired a Taser nine times at a man sitting on a train in the belief he was carrying a weapon in his briefcase. The use of Tasers on a train comes as the commissioner of the Met police, Bernard Hogan-Howe, faces questions over his suggestion that more of his officers should be armed with the weapons.

Hogan-Howe said this week he wanted to see more Tasers in response cars and Scotland Yard has confirmed work is going on to review the availability of Tasers for its officers. Hogan-Howe was challenged about his statement about Tasers by members of the Metropolitan Police Authority on Thursday.

29 November 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Anger at Met Police tactics on demo

Police Line - by Stephen Gent 2011 — by Stephen Gent

all credits: Socialist Worker
published: 23rd November 2011

Campaigners challenged Metropolitan Police commissioner Bernard Hogan‑Howe last Thursday over “aggressive and degrading treatment” at a recent demonstration against deaths in custody. The activists from the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) demanded answers at a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

The UFFC’s annual march for justice took place last month. The 500-strong demonstration ended with a noisy, but peaceful protest on the road outside Downing Street.

23 November 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Government to apologise to Alder family over custody death

Press Release by: The Guardian
published: 22nd November 2011

The government will formally apologise through the European court of human rights (ECHR) to the family of Christopher Alder, a black ex-soldier who choked to death in handcuffs on the floor of a Hull police station 13 years ago. The “unilateral declaration” made by the United Kingdom to the court is a highly unusual admission of widespread failures in the investigation into the cause of the Falklands veteran’s death.

In its statement to the ECHR, the government will concede that it breached its obligations in regard to preserving life and ensuring that no one is subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment. The family is to receive €34,000 (£29,000) from the government in an ex gratia payment and to cover legal costs.