9 April 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Metropolitan police ‘buried’ report in 2004 warning of race scandal

originally by: The Guardian
published: 6th April 2012

A secret Metropolitan police report warned police chiefs that they needed to take tougher action to stop officers discriminating against black people, and that a failure to do so would threaten a breakdown in community confidence.

The report, obtained by the Guardian, warned top officers that innocent African-Caribbean people were being stopped too often by officers, who wrongly “racially stereotyped” them as criminals.

The report was by Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor, who was then a Met commander. He says his bosses ignored the warnings made in 2004 and buried the report.

18 February 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Young footballer died from misadventure, jury rules

originally by: BBC News
published: 20th February 2012

An inquest jury has returned a verdict of death by misadventure in the case of a young footballer who died when a bag of cocaine split inside his body. Former Nottingham Forest academy player Reece Staples, 19, died after being arrested [by police] in June 2009.

The jury heard he had swallowed 19 packets of cocaine to smuggle them into the UK after returning from a holiday in Costa Rica. His father said he hoped others would be deterred from trying the same thing.

The inquest, at Nottingham’s Council House, heard Mr Staples had been arrested for criminal damage at his aunt and uncle’s house in the Old Basford area of Nottingham two days after arriving back in the UK.

1 February 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Musician found dead after fleeing police (inquest hears)

originally by: The Star
published: 1st February 2012

A musician was found dead in a Sheffield canal five days after fleeing a police search, his inquest heard. Wayne Hamilton, of Albert Road, Heeley, ran after officers stopped friend Lewis Trotman’s car on Shirland Lane, Attercliffe, Sheffield, in the early hours of June 10, 2010.

His body was found in the nearby Sheffield and Tinsley Canal five days later. Read 4WardEver UK case profile >

A Sheffield jury inquest yesterday heard Mr Trotman say police started to follow the bandmates as they returned to their Attercliffe recording studio after buying refreshments. Jurors heard the two officers who stopped them believed they could smell cannabis.