23 October 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Give the police tasers, don’t be shocked by the result

by: David Mitchell | Comment is free
published: 21 October 2012

The police have been going through a rough patch recently. First they were implicated in the phone-hacking scandal – though they managed to escape most of the blame when we collectively came to the surprising conclusion that it was more serious for tabloid journalists to neglect the public interest than officers of the crown.

But while they deflected a lot of that responsibility, their attempts to deflect it over Hillsborough have been catastrophically counterproductive. And as senior officers have been caught dining with Murdochs or maligning the dead, officers on the ground have been getting shot and called plebs. Or not called plebs, depending on who you believe.

2 October 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Prison officers sentenced following death in custody

originally by: CPS
published: 27 September 2012

Married prison officers Shaun and Lisa Percy were today sentenced at Preston Crown Court following the death of a prisoner, Christopher Oldham, during the night of 21/22 April 2011 at HMP Preston. They each received 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, and were ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid work.

Neil Dalton, special crime lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service said:

“Shaun and Lisa Percy, who worked alongside each other as wardens at HMP Preston, had over 20 years’ experience in the Prison Service but wilfully neglected to carry out the duties required of them.

6 September 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Two police officers prosecuted over mentally ill man’s death

originally by: The Guardian
published: 6 September 2012

Two police officers are to be prosecuted for misconduct in public office after a 52-year-old man died while under police restraint.

PCs Maurice Leigh and Neil Bowdery are to appear in court in connection with the death of Colin Holt, who died from positional asphyxia at his home in Gillingham, Kent, on 30 August 2010. The summonses to Medway magistrates court on 8 October follow an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Holt’s death occurred after staff at Medway Maritime hospital called police to report that Holt, who had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, was missing.