2 September 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Police involved in the fatal arrest of Smiley Culture will not face any charges

originally by: The Guardian
2nd September 2011

Police officers who carried out the raid in which the reggae star Smiley Culture allegedly stabbed himself to death are unlikely to face criminal charges, disciplinary action or be officially questioned, the Guardian has learned. The disclosure comes despite an admission by the Independent Police Complaints Commission that the operation at the singer’s home in Warlingham, Surrey, on 15 March was “not satisfactory” and that the actions of at least one officer have been criticised.

In a confidential letter to the singer’s family, Mike Franklin, commissioner of the IPCC, said: “The [IPCC] investigation has identified aspects of the operation which were not satisfactory, and criticisms have been made of some of the officer’s actions. However, these do not meet the threshold for misconduct under the police misconduct system.”

31 August 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

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.

26 August 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

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.