Corporate homicide law extended to prisons and police cells

originally by: The Guardian
published: 28th August 2011

Police forces, prisons and youth detention centres face prosecution for corporate homicide from this week if an individual dies in their custody.

In the 10 years between 1999 and 2009, 333 people died in or following police custody, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Ministry of Justice figures show that last year there were 58 self-inflicted deaths among prisoners in England and Wales.

Until now, the prison service, police forces and immigration units have not been subject to the new Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act, and there have been no successful prosecutions of police or prison officers, individually or at a senior management level, for institutional failures that have contributed to a death in custody.

Continue reading

Armed police stop and search girls aged nine and 15

Police armed & dangerousoriginally by: Birmingham Mail
published: 26th August 2011

Two young sisters aged nine and 15 were stopped by armed police hunting robbery suspects as the girls walked to a nearby school to collect exam results. 

The girls’ outraged mother today demanded an apology and accused the officers of ignoring tensions in the area following the recent disturbances.

The sisters were stopped and searched by police in Church Road, Aston, yesterday as they travelled to the elder girl’s school to collect her A* GCSE qualifications.

Continue reading

Man dies after taser arrest near Bolton

originally by: The Guardian
published: 24th August 2011

A man who stabbed himself in the abdomen has died after being Tasered by police officers. 

Philip Hulmes, 53, was hit with electric probes from the stun gun after barricading himself in his home in Over Hulton, near Bolton, on Tuesday night. It is thought a concerned relative called police to the house at 8.30pm.

Police were told that Hulmes, who was armed with a knife, had locked himself in, was making threats and had begun to stab himself.

Officers arrived and smashed a hole in the door. When they spotted his injuries they called for Taser-trained back up.

Continue reading