12 April 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Proceedings against West Midlands Police: Mikey Powell

all credits: Mikey Powell Campaign
10th April 2011

Long before the criminal trial and the Inquest, Mikey’s mother Claris and other family members issued claims against the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police because of Mikey’s death. Once the Inquest was finished the family served details of their claims on the Chief Constable – this is the next step towards a trial in the High Court. The details are based on the evidence at the Inquest.

The Chief Constable gave his defence on 25 June 2010 – he denies more or less everything.

Undaunted the family are pressing documents they believe they have not yet seen from the Chief Constable.

8 March 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

LAPD killing of autistic man was wrong, Police Commission rules

all credits: Los Angeles Times
5th March 2011

The civilian commission that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department has taken the rare step of rejecting a recommendation from the department’s chief, ruling that two police officers were wrong when they fatally shot an unarmed autistic man last year.

Police Chief Charlie Beck concluded after a lengthy internal investigation that the officers made serious tactical mistakes during the brief, late-night encounter, but ultimately were justified in using deadly force against Steven Eugene Washington, 27.

The shooting drew sharp criticism from Washington’s family, who said the man was autistic and fearful of strangers. Civil liberties groups questioned the shooting, suggesting that the officers may have overreacted because they had not observed Washington doing anything criminal.

“Police Commission overrules chief, says LAPD shooting was wrong”

8 January 201116 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Police killings and the law

originally by: International Socialism
4th January 2011

Many people, even those of us with little or no illusions in the police, felt a deep sense of shock and outrage when on 22 July 2010 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that there would be no prosecution of PC Simon Harwood, who was filmed striking Ian Tomlinson shortly before he died during the G20 protests in April 2009.

What made the announcement especially perverse was the date on which it was made, the fifth anniversary of the killing by the Metropolitan Police of Jean Charles de Menezes, a killing that also failed to result in any criminal prosecution of the police officers concerned.