Jamaica: Cops should have non-lethal weapons

Police Shieldoriginally by: Jamaica Gleaner
13th June 2011

About 40 years ago, a very influential mover and shaker of a political party felt that importing illegal firearms to go to war with the opposing side was justified. Then, as now, the acquisition and retention of power was supreme. Individuals, lives, families, communities and all eligible Jamaicans were depersonalised and simply reduced to ‘voters’ and ‘constituents’ (objects to be manipulated and tallied at election time).

The opposing side subsequently felt that importing illegal firearms to ‘defend’ itself was justified. The resultant armed conflicts snuffed out many lives on both sides.

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Scathing verdict from jury on conclusion of inquest into death of psychiatric patient

originally by: Bindmans
6th May2011

On 6 May 2011 the jury returned a decisive and highly critical verdict of the acts and omissions of Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust following the inquest into the circumstances of the death of Louise Noon. The jury’s verdict came after several hours of careful deliberation and three days of detailed evidence and legal submissions before HM Coroner for Norfolk, William J Armstrong sitting at Norwich City Football Club grounds.

Louise died by suicide in her room at Northgate Hospital on 23 July 2011 having quickly become very ill suffering from symptoms of bi-polar affective disorder. Louise hanged herself using a cord in her possession from a ligature point within her room, despite having made several similar suicide attempts in the days preceding, of which she alerted staff.

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Leicestershire’s police chief told to show lessons learned after woman’s death

Police Lantern UKoriginally by: This Is Leicestershire
5th March 2011

Leicestershire’s chief constable Simon Cole has been ordered to show lessons have been learned after a mentally-ill woman was bludgeoned to death despite calling police for help. Joanne Butler, 38, made four calls to police in 11 minutes the night before her body was discovered – three of them were 999 calls. No officers were ever sent to her Earl Shilton home.

Ms Butler, who had a history of mental health issues, was found dead after a fire at her flat in January 2006. She had been murdered by 13-year-old Ashlea Wilson and his father Sean. In January, the Mercury revealed the findings of an investigation into the police by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

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