Justice
Death of Pauline Campbell
As I sifted through mail on my return from Cuba I read with deep sadness of the death of Pauline Campbell. I understand her body was found beside her beloved daughter Sarah's grave. Pauline had written to me while I was away to tell me of the inquest on Sheena Kotecha who died in the "care" of the prison services at the same time a s Sarah died in 2004.
----- Original Message -----
From: tyrrelljvle@xxx.com
To: paulinecampbell1@xxxxxxx.co.uk
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: * Criminal trial abandoned as CPS comes under fire *
Well done Pauline. Greetings from Cuba. I have come to a conference and this seems to be a world that sees things rather more humanely than what we're gatting at home a t the moment. Best wishes, John
To: John [in Cuba]: You certainly do get around, John. Many thanks for your message. I despair at the lack of humanity over here, and sometimes wonder if things will ever get any better. But people have to keep on trying. Regards, Pauline
In fact among the e-mail was the following entry on the latest climbdown by the Crown Prosecution Service when they dropped charges against her after protests against the deaths of women in custody. It was dated 11th May only a few days before her death. Pauline also linked up with the Mikey Powell campaign and commented on the outcome of the inquest into his death when once again there was no accountability.
Continue reading "Death of Pauline Campbell"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 3:42 PM May 18, 2008 | Comments (0)
Torture Israeli and U.S. style
"The Public Committee against Torture in Israel (PCATI) has revealed that the Israeli security service (Shin Bet) harms or threatens to harm the relatives of prisoners in order to extract confessions from the prisoners themselves. In some cases, the relatives are physically tortured. The accusations of torture are bad enough, but harming or threatening to harm uninvolved noncombatants for the political end of extracting a confession appears to fall under standard definitions of terrorism."
The information comes from Jewish Voice for Peace. It's just another example of information where you just can't possibly believe it can be as bad as it's described here. Not from anyone with the least pretension to regarding themselves as civilised. We appear to be witnessing regression in society! Here there appear to be no holds barred when people are actually prepared to go out and commit barbaric acts on civilians. In the name of Zionism? Hasn't that got something to do with "God"? What does this mean? We are told there is "one God" in this context embracing Judaism, Islam and Christian alike. This "one God" looks more and more like the opposite: "Mammon". As Jesus of Nazareth observed you can't serve both, but then look what happened to him.
Continue reading "Torture Israeli and U.S. style"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 7:19 PM April 20, 2008 | Comments (0)
Sheena Kotecha, 1982-2004. The verdict: "Left to die".
I am grateful to Pauline Campbell for updating me on the result of the inquiry into Sheena Kotecha's untimely, unnecessary and brutal death at the hands of the state. Privatised institutions employ staff at cut rates of pay and this is what we get. More.
In 2004 I wrote of my experience of meeting the family just as they learned of the beloved daughter's death the previous evening. Jamnadas Vadhia had been visiting her at Brockhill Prison where he took her fruit to perform Hindu rituals. It was the only way to get nutritious food to Sheena who had two stone.
At the time the Leicester Mercury had likened the story to Bonny and Clyde. Their reporting today looks a bit different. All it did at the time was to hide the reality in order to get a bit of sensational reporting. I hope they remember this disgrace.
Continue reading "Sheena Kotecha, 1982-2004. The verdict: "Left to die"."
Posted by John Tyrrell at 1:43 PM April 20, 2008 | Comments (0)
Modern Britain. The incarceration of Mothers and children
The date is 2008, place Britain. The Government Is New Labour. Mothers and children are incarcerated.The following is from NCADC
Mothers United in Yarl's Wood IRC / Listen To Our Cry
Seven mothers in the family unit in Yarl's Wood immigration prison have been on hunger strike since Thursday the 10th of April. The group includes two breastfeeding mothers.
A protest involving up to 15 families started last Thursday when a mother who was to be taken to the airport took sanctuary in the church in Yarl's Wood IRC with her baby and refused to leave, she was joined by up to 14 other mothers who refused to let the mother be removed from the church.
========================
Continue reading "Modern Britain. The incarceration of Mothers and children"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:18 AM April 19, 2008 | Comments (0)
International Conference on Penal Abolition
A high profile conference will take place in London in July at which Pauline Campbell has agreed to speak;
International Conference on Penal Abolition
New Speaker added to the agenda
We are pleased to announce the addition of campaigner and penal abolitionist, Pauline Campbell, to the ICOPA line up. Pauline became involved in the campaign for penal abolition following the death of her daughter Sarah, whilst 'in the care' of Styal Prison in 2003. She was just 18.
Pauline is one of the leading figues in England and Wales calling for the closure of women's prisons. She has, to date, organised 28 demonstrations, been arrested 15 times and been charged 5 times. She is currently awaiting criminal trial following a demonstration outside Styal Prison in February this year.
She said, "Where there is injustice, there will be protest. And long may the spirit of protest remain alive and well in our democratic society."
She joins BBC Journalist and ex-prisoner Raphael Rowe, and leading human rights lawyer, Imran Khan, to discuss 'Penal Abolition, the media and the public'.
Continue reading "International Conference on Penal Abolition"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:53 AM April 17, 2008 | Comments (0)
Another criminal trial - another waste of the court's time - and an even greater waste of public money
The prison system is indefensible, not least in the way that women prisoners are treated. It is acknowledged over and over that those in prison need medical help. Because it is indefensible the government and its agents get tough. They hate to hear the truth. So people like Pauline Cambell are beaten up and taken to trial. Why? Because her daughter died in an inhumane institution, and yes she's angry.
If people in our prisons are treated like garbage what do we expect the outcome to be? David Blunkett toured South Africa to tell us about using warehouses for prisons - and he's a member of New Labour!!! Meanwhile in Scandinavia small local prisons are the thing where families can remain in touch more easily, rather than the end of civilisation as we know it.
The following is from Pauline Campbell and now a few day's old:
Outcome of pre-trial review
Macclesfield Magistrates' Court, Hibel Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2AB
Wednesday 9 April 2008, 1130-1245 hrs
Defendant: Pauline Campbell
Summary
* Court has today announced a three-day criminal trial, to be held at Knutsford Crown Court, Wednesday 30 July 2008-Friday 1 August 2008.
* Application for legal aid has been refused, on the grounds of 'interests of justice'.
* The Crown intends to call 13 witnesses to give evidence against me, making a total of 18 witnesses in all.
* Unconditional bail was granted.
Background to case
1. Arrest and charge (obstructing the highway): 5 February 2008, at a prison-death demonstration outside Styal Prison, to protest against the death of the young mother Lisa Marley, who died on 23 January 2008 in the care of the jail. Thirty-two year old Ms Marley was on remand, and therefore legally innocent when she died.
2. Court hearing: 27 February 2008 - 'not guilty plea' entered [Macclesfield Magistrates' Court].
3. A pre-trial review was held on 19 March 2008, also in Macclesfield.
Today's hearing
* The hearing took place before a panel of lay magistrates: Mrs Saunders (chair); Dr Sharma (male); and Mr Fryer, and I was unrepresented in court today.
* Clerk of the Court ("Senior Legal Adviser") was Mrs Warren. She declined to answer my question about whether or not she was a qualified solicitor.
* CPS Prosecutor: Mr Jonathan McGahan (solicitor), based at the Crewe office.
* The court agreed to my request for the case to be transferred to another magistrates' court in Cheshire. The trial will be held in Knutsford; venue: Knutsford Crown Court, Sessions House, Toft Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0PB.
* At the start of today's hearing, my legal aid position was still unclear, and I told the court this would need to be resolved before a trial date was set, to enable me to check if my lawyers were available on the suggested trial date. I further explained that, if my legal aid application was refused, it would be even more important that I speak to lawyers before agreeing to a date, as I would be dependent on lawyers acting pro-bono.
* Hickman and Rose, Solicitors, London, made an application for legal aid on my behalf on 28 February 2008, and again on 7 April 2008. I insisted the "Senior Legal Adviser" make enquiries about my legal aid status. I was told my application had not met the criteria necessary to meet the 'interests of justice' test. Despite my earlier request, the court insisted on fixing a trial date.
* The 13 witnesses for the Crown include police officers; Styal Prison staff; GSL prison van staff; and a local authority highways representative. Had these written statements been acceptable to me, fewer witnesses could have attended court. However, I told the court that I was not prepared to accept some of the statements, as they included factual inaccuracies and some outrageous comments about me, which will need to be challenged in court by my lawyers.
* The court has instructed me that legal issues and case law to be argued must be served by 30 June 2008.
* The CPS has still not provided all the necessary statements; two GSL statements are outstanding.
* New information was again handed to me in court today, including a statement from a GSL prisoner escort officer: page one of the statement included a glaring error about my late daughter - that she "had committed suicide [sic] in Styal". I protested about this factual inaccuracy to the bench, and said the jury did not return a 'suicide' verdict at my daughter's inquest, and I did not want to be confronted with such insensitive and inaccurate statements again in court.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:04 AM April 16, 2008 | Comments (0)
An inhumane system, or "how to learn to love fish and chips"
A report headlined in the Independent (27/3/2008) states the obvious: that Britain's policy towards asylum seekers is "inhumane" and "oppressive". It states that it "falls seriously below the standards to be expected of a humane and civilised society".
The report talks about "a culture of disbelief" where the odds are stacked against genuine claimants at the outset, lumped in with those who may not have a right to stay.
The inhumanity referred to here doesn't begin and end with the asylum system. It has become embedded in many other areas of our existence. The prison system it is well known is a place where those who are unwell end up, a place where self-harm and suicide have become endemic.
The rot starts in schools, however, where young children are oppressed by an over-zealous system which "tests to destruction". Primary aged children end up with stress and depression. Not the sign of a healthy society.
Continue reading "An inhumane system, or "how to learn to love fish and chips""
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:07 AM March 27, 2008 | Comments (0)
Sorry
It has happened in Australia. "We are sorry" for the sufferings inflicted on the Aboriginee population. Ken Livingstone apologised for for slavery of African peoples on behalf of Londoners. Liverpool has set up a museum on behalf of the nation. A video of the Prime Minister's address shows large numbers of people of all backgrounds inside and outside parliament looking deeply moved. (Source Guardian 14/2/2008).
Jesse Jackson visited Birmingham on his travels and very politely said it would be much appreciated from Birmingham, UK. Nothing happened so I issued an apology as a former councillor and cabinet member of Birmingham City Council. I challenged the present leaders to make a stand. The reaction? Adrian Goldberg raised it on "The Stirrer". Since then the line has gone dead.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:29 AM February 13, 2008 | Comments (0)
Difficult to get it right when bigotry and intolerance abound
Yet another alarming story about British prisons is told in the Guardian (10/2/2008). The idea that Al Quaeda camps are all elsewhere like Pakistan has hit home, and the role of British prisons evident. Problem appears to be that staff are ill-equipped to cope and other prisoners are likely to reflect the intolerance to Muslims manifest in the population as a whole. This was illustrated by outbursts following even a mention of "Sharia".
Reading between the lines what is happening is even greater cause for concern. I recounted what happened to an Indian friend and colleague who was Sikh (and doesn't wear either turban or beard), when after 9/11 someone said "are you a Muslim?" Without waiting for an answer my friend was hit in the mouth losing his teeth as a result. No culprit was found. Prisoners and prison officers it seems are likely to take it out on anyone they might think looks to them like "a Muslim". In the U.S. Balbir Singh, a turbaned and bearded Sikh was the first to be murdered in the US after 9/11, because someone thought he resembled Bin Laden.
Continue reading "Difficult to get it right when bigotry and intolerance abound"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:55 AM February 10, 2008 | Comments (0)
Intolerence
The pronouncement of the Archbishop of Canterbury may or may not be words of wisdom, but the underlying sentiment was to try to regain a climate of tolerance. The outcry it produced confirms the depths of intolerance following the hysteria engendered by the neocons in the US supported by the New Labour government in Britain.
"We need to engender 'British values' " says Brown. What are we talking about exactly? Booze binges, gambling mania? Liam Byrne talked about fish and chips and roast beef (glad he didn't say "pork"). Reading further Brown spouts "fair play", "tolerance" and the like. Well I've always liked to think that way about myself and country. Learning about British colonial history it's difficult to sustain this cant for long. Intolerance and bigotry rule. Blair used to do the same, but for some reason I expected better of Brown. Why? Well I was in West Bromwich a while ago when he came to speak at a union office and he seemed quite passionate about child poverty. I'm afraid it's an illusion since he is one of New Labour's authors. More Thatcherite than Thatcher and its selfishness we see our children the unhappiest in the developed, record numbers in prison the majority of whom need treatment for their mental health. More and more are either killing or harming themselves.
A curious state of affairs exists with the government pressing people with disabilities into employment. At the same time Peter Hain announced that Remploy is to close its factories. Remploy specialises in giving employment to this group. Yes all firms should have policies and procedures in place for employing anyone on an equal basis. In practice many face discrimination when they meet ignorance and prejudice. Intolerance again. But then that can't be so. We're a tolerant bunch. Gordon has said so.
Blunkett is another New Labour figure who has been preaching what "Englishness" is supposed to mean. These are leaders of a diverse country who can't get it into their heads that their exclusivity gives a message which divides and deeply so. the whole thing is a myth anyway. There are so many examples of people who have given everything for Britain who came from anywhere else but Britain. They are invisible people, although fortunately there are attempts to reveal them. The search is intensely moving and satisfying so often. Birmingham archives have a site which has an extraordinarily rich seam of jewels.
Continue reading "Intolerence"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:11 PM February 9, 2008 | Comments (0)
Arrested and charged for protesting over the death of a young mother at Styal Prison
From Pauline Campbell
Prison-death demonstration - Tuesday 5 February 2008
to protest against the death of the young mother Lisa Marley, aged 32, who died on 23 January 2008 while on 'suicide watch' and on remand at Styal Prison, Cheshire
Summary
- the 28th demonstration to be held outside women's prisons in England since protests began in April 2004;
- Pauline Campbell arrested for the 15th time;
- charged in the early hours of Wednesday 6 February 2008, and bailed to appear in court on Wednesday 27 February 2008.
The protest
A small group of protesters held a peaceful demonstration outside Styal Prison, during the afternoon of Tuesday 5 February 2008, to protest against the tragic death of the young mother Lisa Marley, aged 32, who died in the care of HMP and YOI Styal on 23 January 2008.
Ms Marley was on remand at the time of her death. A person held on remand is legally innocent until proven guilty.
Protesters, from Shropshire, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester, included representatives from FRFI Manchester (Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!)
Lisa Marley is the first woman to die from apparently self-inflicted injuries in women's jails so far this year.
Governor (F grade) Carol Williams, and Principal Officer Mark Whitehead, emerged from the jail and spoke to Pauline Campbell at the prison gates, but said they were unable to comment on Lisa Marley's death. They expressed condolences over the death of Sarah Campbell, adding they were not at Styal in 2003 when Sarah died. Ms Williams took an envelope into the prison for Governor Steve Hall, enclosing a demonstration leaflet and two INQUEST leaflets, in the hope that the information is passed to the grieving family.
Lisa Marley is the sixth woman to die in the care of Styal Prison since Sarah Campbell's death in January 2003. Both Lisa and Sarah were on 'suicide watch' when they died.
Forty-one women have died in women's jails in England (including Lisa Marley) since Sarah's death on 18 January 2003.
The demonstration, attended by reporters and photographers, was covered by local radio stations.
Protesters handed out leaflets to visitors to the jail. Banners were displayed, and flowers laid in memory of Lisa and, at the end of the afternoon, a memorial placard was left at the prison entrance. (See below for details of arrest and charge.)
The arrest and charge (Incident No. 173, Cheshire Constabulary; 05.02.08)
At 1505 hrs, a GSL prison van MV04 KJJ was stopped by protesters as it attempted to enter the prison. Minutes later, another prison van MV04 KKG, was forced to stop behind the first vehicle.
Cheshire Constabulary officers from Wilmslow and Macclesfield arrived on the scene. It was explained to both the police and the prison van drivers that in view of the recent death at Styal, protesters considered the jail to be unsafe, and a request was made for the women to be taken to a place of safety.
At 1525 hrs Pauline Campbell was arrested for obstructing the highway, handcuffed, taken by police car to Wilmslow Police Station, then transferred to a GSL cellular van, locked in a cell with no seat belts, and taken to Middlewich police custody suite.
Detention was authorised at 1700 hrs.
On Wednesday 6 February 2008, at 0042 hrs, Pauline Campbell was charged: "On 05.02.08 at Wilmslow in the County of Cheshire, without lawful authority or excuse, wilfully obstructed the free passage along a highway, namely Styal Road, Styal, contrary to Section 137(1) of the Highways Act 1980."
The reply to the charge, logged in police records was: "Wilfully taking women into Styal Prison, when Lisa Marley only died there two weeks ago, is shameful."
Unconditional bail granted; court appearance: Macclesfield Magistrates' Court, Wednesday 27 February 2008, 0915 hrs.
Released from custody: Wednesday 6 February 2008, 0050 hrs.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:38 PM February 6, 2008 | Comments (0)
4WardEver. A site for Mikey Powell and others who have died in custody
From Tippa Naphtali
4WardEver
Stand Up For Your Rights
4WardEver UK was developed as an off-shoot of The Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice. The Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice was established by the family of Michael Lloyd Powell (known as Mikey), a cousin of the renowned poet and writer, Benjamin Zephaniah, following his death whilst in Police custody. Mikey was 38 years old and a father of three young children.
4WardEver exists to provide information and resources on families that have lost loved ones and suffered injustice, and supports the call for reform within police, penal and mental health institutions in the UK and internationally.
In a very short time after Mikey Powell’s death, his family met with other affected families who, like them, had no voice on the worldwide web; and what began as a basic website focussed on Mikey’s case gradually developed into something much more comprehensive. The site developed to have a broader focus than its original theme, and it was decided that a new site would branch off independently, and be called 4WardEver.
The website has now become a widely used reference and information resource for many families, their friends, supporters and campaign groups. 4WardEver also provides other online resources, is involved in the organisation and participation of events for justice, and direct support of families through a West Midlands based sister organisation, the Family Advisory Support Trust; and a free website development service for affected families and friends called The Family Web Pages Collective.
Why we feel passionately about custody deaths:
Between 1969 and 1999 over one thousand people died in police custody alone, not counting deaths in prison and psychiatric institutions. No one has ever been convicted for any of these deaths.
In October 2004 the then Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears commenting on a Police Complaints Authority (PCA) report noting a reduction in such deaths said, “There was an encouraging reduction in the number of deaths of people from minority ethnic communities from 22 in 2002/03 to 10 in 2003/04.
She went on to say; “The PCA report found that while there are grounds for concern about some aspects surrounding the general treatment of detainees, there is little evidence that this concern can be attributed to racist attitudes or behaviour.”
These words however, were of little comfort to the dozens of families who have lost relatives in these circumstances.
Continue reading "4WardEver. A site for Mikey Powell and others who have died in custody"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:27 PM January 31, 2008 | Comments (0)
The death of a woman prisoner. Yes, it's Styal again
Announcement from Pauline Campbell.
DEMONSTRATION TO PROTEST AGAINST THE DEATH OF ANOTHER WOMAN PRISONER
Lisa Marley, aged 32,
died on 23 January 2008, while in the care of Styal Prison, Cheshire
Demonstration will take place on Tuesday 5 February 2008
at 1.30 pm, for the duration of the afternoon,
outside HMP & YOI Styal, Styal Road, Styal, Nr Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4HR
Banners will be displayed, and flowers laid in memory of Lisa
All are welcome to attend, including reporters/photographers
NOTES
Lisa Marley is the first woman to die in prison in 2008.
Ms Marley, a mother, was being held on remand at Styal Prison when she died.
The demonstration will be led by Pauline Campbell, mother of Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, 18, who died in the so-called care of Styal Prison and Young Offender Institution (YOI) on 18 January 2003.
The protest on Tuesday 5 February 2008 will be the 28th demonstration to be held outside women's prisons in England since protests began in April 2004.
To date, Pauline Campbell has been arrested 14 times, and has stood criminal trial just once [26.09.07] when the judge threw the case out of court. More.
Figures refer to apparently self-inflicted deaths, England and Wales. (There are no women's prisons in Wales.)
Continue reading "The death of a woman prisoner. Yes, it's Styal again"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:37 AM January 30, 2008 | Comments (0)
Anti-Labour legislation
The following piece from the Socialist Labour Party made its point forcefully! I want to share it:
THE TRADE UNION FREEDOM BILL
– A LESSON FROM HISTORY
BY LYNTON BENNETT
In 1863, dockers from Liverpool and Manchester refused to unload bales of cotton produced by slave labour in the southern states of the USA. This resulted in a bitter strike which brought hardship to the dockers and the workers in the cotton towns of Lancashire.
The sacrifice of the British workers helped the northern states of the US in the civil war. A monument carrying an address by Abraham Lincoln was erected near Manchester town hall to commemorate the strike.
But what relevance has this chapter of British labour history got for today?
Well, 150 years later, under a Labour government, the strikers would be thrown in jail, their union’s funds seized and the southern slave states allowed to pursue compensation for restraint of trade!
This leads us to the need to repeal all anti-trade union laws and, as one step in that struggle, secure a safe passage into legislation of the Trade Union Freedom Bill.
Despite wide support across the labour movement, the Bill continues to be talked out by New Labour apparatchiks.
Our forefathers stood up to the employers and government of the day to help free slaves, we haven’t even got that right.
Stand up against the anti-trade union laws and let’s win back the right to fight.
Ends.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:16 AM January 26, 2008 | Comments (0)
Prison demonstration ends with more police abuse of Pauline Campbell
The link gives a full and vivid pictorial account of what happened when Pauline Campbell organised a demonstration following the death of yet another woman inmate at Holloway on January 16th.
Two days later Pauline was back at Styal Prison on the anniversary of her own daughter's death in custody:
HMP STYAL
Vigil held on Friday 18 January 2008 to mark the 5th anniversary of the death of Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, aged 18 who died in the so-called care of HMP and YOI Styal on 18 January 2003
A small group of supporters joined Pauline Campbell outside the prison on the afternoon of Friday 18 January 2008 to hold a vigil to commemorate Sarah's life, and to mark the 5th anniversary of her death.
Bouquets of flowers were laid at the prison gates, and banners were displayed. The vigil was covered by local radio, television, and newspapers, including: Channel M Television [Manchester], 17.01.08; BBC Radio Merseyside, 18.01.08; and the Manchester Evening News, 18.01.08 ("Mum leads vigil in Sarah's memory"): )
Professional visitors to the prison, and family members of those incarcerated in HMP Styal, stopped to speak to those attending the vigil. The apparent situation of one prisoner, as described by a family member, gave particular cause for concern, and will need to be looked into.
The vigil was attended by Georgina Griffiths, best friend of the late Sarah Campbell; and a representative from FRFI Salford (Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!).
Police: one police officer arrived at the vigil, at about 4 pm, but left after a few minutes. A police presence was unnecessary. No-one was breaking the law, and it was unclear why he was asked to attend.
Comment
"The fifth anniversary of Sarah's death was another very sad, and moving occasion, when her life was commemorated, and flowers were laid outside Styal Prison. I cannot even say that 'lessons have been learned' from Sarah's death, as a further 40 women have died in the 'care' of the prison authorities since 18 January 2003, when Sarah died. Every time another woman prisoner dies, it reactivates the feelings of loss and grief that I first experienced five years ago. The absence of an apology merely adds insult to injury."
Photographs
Two photographs are available [nil copyright]; anyone requiring a copy, please e-mail Pauline Campbell.
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Continue reading "Prison demonstration ends with more police abuse of Pauline Campbell"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:15 AM January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)
Death Row U.K. style
The Birmingham Post has highlighted a massive rise in suicide in British jails during 2007.
"There were a total of 92 "self-inflicted deaths" in 2007, including 84 males, eight females, seven male young offenders (under 21) and one juvenile.
The total also included 23 foreign nationals, 18 prisoners sentenced to life, and 41 prisoners on remand." Source Birmingham Post 2.1.2008.
The issue appeared to be under some control after a decreasing number were reported over recent years, but numbers have always been too high for comfort. The government's answer? Build more prisons - super jails based on David Blunkett's journey to South Africa. These warehouses will be just the thing. No humanity here. More New Labour. Just what we expected from the Tories in the past, who we finally got rid of. They couldn't hold a candle to New Labour's "achievement".
Continue reading "Death Row U.K. style"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:02 AM January 3, 2008 | Comments (0)
Our happy children
Remember folks our UK children must be the happiest by 2020. The Independent today (30.12.2007) shows two ways we are going about it.
First in our young offenders institutions staff are following to the letter the top secret manual that the government won't talk about. It shows ways to restrain kids- and staff are doing just that. It involves blows to the face, bending back thumbs to the limit and bending back arms.
Children in care are there in the first place most often because of the abuse and neglect they have already experienced. Our country, enshrining its Christian values (the Catholic Blair and Presbyterian Brown) shows them that abuse is the right way to behave. Hopefully when they have children themselves they will want to avoid them facing the same traumas. Unfortunately records indicate that abused children are likely to turn into abusers. No one is breaking the cycle.
I raised this at the case conference of a young woman in care whose mother was in care and whose children are being placed in care. Social Care and Health Service in Birmingham has set up a Children's Rights group to ensure young people's voices are heard. Unfortunately it is not independent from the service encumbered by a bureaucracy which gives the young people added additional problems and misery.
Continue reading "Our happy children"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:54 AM December 30, 2007 | Comments (0)
New Labour is it's own worst enemy
The insistence by Gordon Brown on extending the period of detention without trial looks to be heading to considerable opposition. The quote from the Director of Public Prosecutions damns the proposals for relying on threats which are not based on evidence. The road taken by Blair has already done immeasurable damage to community relations and stirred up feelings against Muslims in a way which draws uncomfortable parallels with the stoking of hatred against Jewish people. It looked in the first week that Brown was embarking on a process that drew away from this. That intention has now become very blurred.
" It emerged as Sir Ken Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions, delivered a damning verdict on Mr Brown's 42-day plans. He argued that the 28-day limit was working well, accusing ministers of wanting to pass laws based on a theoretical threat. 'I think the basic point is whether you want to legislate on the basis of hypotheticals or whether you want to legislate on the basis of the evidence that we have acquired through practice,' Sir Ken told BBC Radio 4's The World at One. "It seems to me that if you are legislating in an area which is going to curtail civil liberties to a significant extent, it is better to proceed by way of the evidence and the evidence of experience." Source The Independent 27.12.2007.
Continue reading "New Labour is it's own worst enemy"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:59 AM December 27, 2007 | Comments (0)
This is Durham Jail
The circumstances around the death of a 20 year old woman at Durham jail make grim reading. She had severe mental health problems from the age of 13, had continually harmed herself and taken overdoses.
As the prison population continues onwards and upwards Jack Straw et al advocate warehouse prisons overlooked by Group 4. The number of women banged up had risen the most.The staff at Durham jail were more preoccupied with Sudoko than looking after the welfare of their vulnerable charges. Young unexperienced, doubtlessly underpaid, staff.
We carry on about inhumane regimes elsewhere, but where is the human concern in New Labour's proposal for prison in the 21st century, which capitulate totally to the "hang 'em, flog 'em" brigade?
Continue reading "This is Durham Jail"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:50 AM December 8, 2007 | Comments (0)
Gigantic super prisons for the UK. "It's not like Alcatraz" says Straw
When Channel 4 News announced that the government was proposing 3 "super prisons" to take 25,000 prisoners each I believed it, 'cos it's the kind of bloody stupid thing New Labour would do. No, it's 2,500 each with a projected prison total exceeding 100,000 before long. Jack Straw was full of humanitarian warmth and kindness about it all. The prisons would be humanitarian (not at all like we've got now then) and inmates will be lovingly and tenderly cared for. But it's humanitarian for those outside to since there won't be anybody left outside to mug them. See? Jack you're amazing, just see how far you've come since you were President of the NUS. How much further can you go?
Who else is lurking in the background? Having just written the above I look at the Independent-on-line. Amazing discovery. Where did the "super prison" idea come from? David Blunkett and South Afrixa, I'll be taking a closer look at that haven. Did he visit Robben Island? Is that on the agenda? Nothing would surprise me when this lot's let loose running the country. Serially discredited they creep back again and again. No one can tell them anything! New Labour, New Conservative. Blunkett a socialist? What happened?
The Real Prison Numbers Scandal. Independent 6/12/2007
Blunkett and the Mission to South Africa
Continue reading "Gigantic super prisons for the UK. "It's not like Alcatraz" says Straw"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:20 PM December 5, 2007 | Comments (0)
De Menezes action defended by Met to the last
The Metropolitan Police attempted to shift the blame to Jean Charles de Menezes for his death at Stockwell tube station in front of horrified and traumatized onlookers. The police were found guilty of endangering the public but they didn't come clean and went down fighting, as the solicitor acting for the family said "into the gutter".
I said at the time of the shooting "Shoot first ask questions afterwards". It appears there are many more questions to answer and while the family of Jean Charles are grateful for a successful prosecution no one person is held responsible. Above all Sir Ian Blair remains in post. For how long?
Continue reading "De Menezes action defended by Met to the last"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:23 AM November 2, 2007 | Comments (0)
Three Reports on British Prisons
Pauline Campbell sen me the following information:
Neha Kumar recently completed an MA degree in International Journalism at City University, London, and has now returned to Tokyo.
"Suicides in UK Prisons" (Photo: Pauline Campbell)
20 September 2007
"Private Prisons: a success or failure?" (Photo: Web)
14 October 2007
"No to Women's Prisons" (Photo: BBC)
14 October 2007
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:45 AM October 20, 2007 | Comments (0)
Pauline Campbell's case dismissed
Pauline Campbell sent this report of her acquittal when common sense prevailed at the court hearing. How much it cost to get to this point is another question.
OUTCOME OF CRIMINAL TRIAL
North Avon Magistrates' Court - Wednesday 26 September 2007
Defendant: Pauline Campbell
Charge: Obstructing the highway
Judge: District Judge David Parsons
Defence barrister: Mr Peter Thornton QC, head of Doughty Street Chambers; instructed by Messrs Hickman & Rose, London
(1) The alleged wrong occurred outside HMP & YOI Eastwood Park on 24 January 2007, at a prison-death demonstration to protest against the death of mother-of-five Caroline Powell, 26, who died in the 'care' of the jail on 5 January 2007. Ms Powell was on remand, and therefore legally innocent, when she died.
(2) Today's trial finished at around 5.30 pm, and was attended by representatives from the 'No More Prison' group; Crossroads Women's Centre, London; and other supporters. A demonstration was also held outside the court building, commencing at 9.30 am.
(3) Reporters, photographers, and local television were present at today's court hearing.
(4) BBC Online News report: "Woman cleared after jail protest"; published 26 September 2007 -
Continue reading "Pauline Campbell's case dismissed"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:17 PM September 27, 2007 | Comments (0)
Our Human Dustbins
600 dead in custody in 2006, one third of which were suicides. Pauline Campbell alerted me to the Guardian sub headline as she continues to demonstrate after the deaths of women in "the care" of HM Prison (privatised) "service". BBC Report including Pauline Campbell's comments.
Here is Pauline's report of her second demonstration at HMP Send this year":
Prison-death demonstration - Thursday 20 September 2007
to protest against the tragic death of the young mother Lisa Doe, aged 25
who died on 11 September 2007 while in the care of HMP Send, Surrey
(1) The protest on 20 September 2007 was the 26th demonstration to be held since protests began in April 2004.
(2) Lisa Doe is the seventh woman to die in prison so far this year.
(3) The appalling death toll: 39 women prisoners * (including Lisa Doe) have died since Sarah Campbell's death in 2003. Lessons are not being learned.
( * 12 women died after Sarah Campbell in 2003; 13 died in 2004; 4 died in 2005; 3 died in 2006; 7 deaths so far this year = 39)
[Figures refer to apparently self-inflicted deaths; England and Wales]
REPORT
A small group of protesters held a peaceful 3-hour demonstration outside HMP Send and, for part of the afternoon, were joined by two relatives of Ms Lisa Doe, who laid flowers in memory of their loved one.
At 2 pm, Mr Andy Peacock, Head of Reducing Reoffending (Duty Governor for the day) emerged from the jail, and spoke to protesters, but said he was unable to comment on Ms Doe's death.
At 3.45 pm, a Serco prison van (BW04 VZH) was stopped as it attempted to enter the jail. The driver was informed that protesters considered the jail to be unsafe, in view of the recent death, and he was asked to take the women to a place of safety.
Surrey Police were summoned to the prison. Officers 1905 and 2751 attended; sergeant 1905 indicated that Section 14, Public Order Act 1986, would be invoked if the prisoner transport van was not allowed to proceed into the jail. The Serco vehicle was eventually allowed to enter the prison, and no arrests were made.
A number of visitors to the jail spoke to protesters, and expressed concern about the physical and mental wellbeing of their loved ones held in HMP Send.
The Conservative MP for Mole Valley, Sir Paul Beresford, was invited to attend the demonstration, but did not respond to the invitation.
The protest was attended by Sky Television; local reporters and photographers, and was also covered by local radio.
At the end of the afternoon, protesters left bouquets of flowers and a memorial placard at the prison entrance, in memory of Ms Doe.
COMMENT
"Another woman has died, and another family is left to grieve.
"This latest death at HMP Send brings into sharp focus the prison's custodial care record. Two young mothers have lost their lives at Send Prison this year: Emma Kelly on 19 April 2007, and Lisa Doe on 11 September 2007. It is particularly worrying that both women were on 'suicide watch' when they died.
"Courts must act responsibly and stop sending women, many with psychiatric and drug-dependency problems, to the punitive regime of a prison, when they are in need of treatment and care. Unless and until this inhuman practice stops, more families will have to deal with the tremendous pain and anger resulting from the death of their loved ones." [Pauline Campbell]
PHOTOGRAPHS
Photos of the demonstration are available from freelance photographer Guy Smallman.
(Charitable/non-profit publications are not generally charged, but a by-line must be given.)
The demonstration was also attended by a freelance video journalist; anyone wanting contact details - please e-mail me.
Pauline Campbell
[Bereaved mother of Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, 18, who died while on 'suicide watch' in the care of Styal Prison, 2003]
Trustee of The Howard League for Penal Reform
Awarded The 2005 Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize
Continue reading "Our Human Dustbins"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:58 AM September 22, 2007 | Comments (0)
Another woman's death. Another demonstration. 20th September, HMP, Surrey
DEMONSTRATION
TO PROTEST AGAINST THE DEATH OF A WOMAN PRISONER
Lisa Doe, aged 25
died on Tuesday 11 September 2007, while in the care of HMP Send, Surrey
Demonstration will take place on Thursday 20 September 2007
at 1.30 pm, for the duration of the afternoon,
outside HMP Send, Ripley Road, Send, Surrey, GU23 7LJ
Banners will be displayed, and flowers laid in memory of Lisa
Reporters/photographers are welcome to attend
NOTES
*
Lisa Doe, a mother, is the seventh woman to die in prison so far this year.
*
In 2006, three women died in the care of Her Majesty's Prisons.
*
The demonstration will be led by Pauline Campbell, mother of Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, 18, who collapsed, dying (while on 'suicide watch') at HMP Styal on 18 Jan 2003; Sarah died several hours later in hospital. See Guardian article.
*
The demonstration at HMP Send on 20 September 2007 will be the 26th demonstration to be held outside women's prisons since protests began in 2004. To date, Pauline Campbell has been arrested 14 times.
*
Figures refer to apparently self-inflicted deaths, England and Wales (though there are no women's prisons in Wales).
HMP SEND: PREVIOUS DEMONSTRATIONS
11 May 2004 - to protest against the death of Paige Tapp, 23, a severely depressed mother-of-two, who died in the care of Send Prison on 18 April 2004. Ms Tapp was on 'suicide watch' when she died. See: letter published in The Guardian, 15.10.04, from five grieving mothers (including Paige Tapp's mum) - "Crisis in women's prisons".
9 May 2007 - to protest against the death of Emma Kelly, a 31-year-old mother, who died in the care of Send Prison on 19 April 2007. Ms Kelly was on 'suicide watch' when she died.
INFORMATION
(1) BBC Online News report re Lisa Doe's death, published 12.09.07.
(2) Labour has presided over a shameful increase in the number of women sent to jail. In 1997, when Labour took office, 2,629 women were imprisoned. Number of women and girls currently locked up: 4,390 (as at 07.09.07). Yet there has been no equivalent increase in the number of women committing offences, or of women committing more serious crimes.
(3) The Guardian, 13.03.07: "the number of women in prison has increased far more rapidly than the number of men: over the past decade there has been a 126% increase in the number of women in prison, compared with a 46% rise in men in jail".
(4) The Corston Report (a report by Baroness Jean Corston of a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system): ISBN 978-1-84726-177-9; published March 2007 - report was handed to Government in March 2007; Ministers have promised to respond by Autumn 2007. The Home Office-commissioned report calls for existing women's prisons to be closed down, and replaced with a local network of small custodial units reserved only for those who are a danger to the public:
(5) All prison inmates are owed a legal duty of care.
(6) When a death occurs in State custody, the burden is on the detaining authorities to provide a satisfactory and convincing explanation for the death. In the absence of such explanation, Article 2 (right to life) is breached: European Convention on Human Rights [Human Rights Act 1998]. Information source: House of Lords, House of Commons, Joint Committee on Human Rights, "Deaths in Custody", 3rd Report of Session 2004-05, Volume 1; ISBN 0 10 400573 4, published 14.12.04.
COMMENT
"The tragic death of the young mother Lisa Doe, so soon after the previous death at HMP Send, raises serious questions about the prison's custodial care record.
"Thirty-nine women prisoners (including Lisa Doe) have died in the 'care' of the State since my daughter's death in 2003. Lessons are not being learned. Who is responsible for this appalling death toll?
"In 2003, following my daughter's death, I repeatedly called for an independent public inquiry: Two years later, I was informed that Government had rejected this in favour of conducting a review (by Baroness Corston).
"However, in the six months since the Corston Report was handed to Government, and while Ministers continue to deliberate, five women prisoners* have died. It is a shocking state of affairs.
"Instead of building 9,500 extra prison places, Government should increase provision for the mentally ill. Two out of three women in prison are mentally ill; prison exacerbates their difficulties. There is something cruel about sending sick people to a place of punishment." [Pauline Campbell]
* 5 women prisoners:
Kerry Devereux (HMP Foston Hall; 18 April 2007)
Emma Kelly (HMP Send, 19 April 2007)
Helen Mary Cole (HMP Styal, 3 June 2007)
Marie Cox (HMP Holloway, 30 June 2007)
Lisa Doe (HMP Send, 11 September 2007)
USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS
INQUEST
www.inquest.org.uk - advice, policy, research re deaths in custody
The Howard League for Penal Reform
www.howardleague.org - the oldest penal reform charity in the UK
Pauline Campbell **
[Bereaved mother of Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, 18, who died in the so-called care of HMP & YOI Styal, 2003]
Trustee of The Howard League for Penal Reform.
Awarded The 2005 Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize.
Continue reading "Another woman's death. Another demonstration. 20th September, HMP, Surrey"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:56 AM September 14, 2007 | Comments (0)
"The bureaucracy has to be seen to be believed"
The flash action by prison officers should be taken seriously. Very seriously. The government acted quickly to get a court order to force their hand. Not only is this a sign that prisons aren't working but that the overcrowding seriously impeded any meaningful work they might be able to achieve. The whole system is a mess and a blot on what is supposed to be a civilised society.
"The bureaucracy has to be seen to be believed," says Mr Robinson. Legal papers, suicide watch checks and personal data form small piles for prisoners who may be in the prison for under a week. "The strain is increased hugely in my time because of drugs and mental health problems.
"When I started here we were locking up criminals. Now it's mostly people with a drug habit or psychiatric disorders. I'd guess 80%." Source Guardian 20/8/2007.
This extract from a Guardian interview with a prison officer illustrates how bad things are away from public view with Thatcherite policies maintained and intensified under New Labour. Let's repeat what he's saying.
When I started here we were locking up criminals. Now it's mostly people with a drug habit or psychiatric disorders. I'd guess 80%
So what we suspected is the case: prisons have become used for more than dealing with criminals, including the most vulnerable people in society with mental illness. Even so his estimate of 80% is unbelievable. But we and the government better believe!
Continue reading ""The bureaucracy has to be seen to be believed""
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:48 AM August 30, 2007 | Comments (0)
Oh, by the way....
A piece in the Birmingham Evening Mail (23/8/2007) reported the early release of a violent prisoner fro Winson Green. It's not clear whether it was an error or a case of swapped identity. As an after thought the report mentions casually that two people committed suicide there last weekend.
One of the deceased was an Iranian awaiting sentencing. He was on a charge of "harbouring". Well that's cleared that up then. The other was an Irish national inside for burglary.
Meanwhile Pauline Campbell has had one charge replaced by another because she insists on demonstrating every time a woman dies in the "care" of HMP. If she didn't take the trouble then the cases would pass by unnoticed just as these two men did.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 6:36 PM August 23, 2007 | Comments (0)
Solve the prison crisis by banging more up. Women first
The jails are full to bursting point with more women in particular going inside. From the evidence so far there can be few places imaginable that are less suitable for sending the most vulnerable desperate for help and support. Now magistates once more have the power to lock up women who refuse to submit to rehabilitation.
Prison services are increasingly privatised with demoralised staff on low pay. Some prisons appear out of control. Some aren't, but having visited one such place the regime is so oppressive one wonders how any one involved in it, staff or prisoner, survive the experience. People still harbour a belief that prisons are holiday camps. Try it some time.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:19 AM August 12, 2007 | Comments (0)
Rough justice. What justice?
Jean Charles de Menezes, Mikey Powell and this week we learn of two people spending years in Guantamo Bay. All apparently innocent, but the first two dead.
In the case of the first two not only were the killings bungled, what happened in the aftermath continues the sorry tale. Looks as if someone is now taking the rap over the Stockwell tube shooting.
I wondered if they'd got the right guy at the very beginning. What went on subsequently in attempts to cover tracks with Met Commander Ian Blair kept in blissful ignorance. We learn that the duty officer on watch outside de Menezes apartment was of having a pee at a crucial moment. What we're learning now is that there are more victims who have suffered at the hands of the police while the investigation into the handling of the affair has been going on.
Continue reading "Rough justice. What justice?"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:12 AM August 1, 2007 | Comments (0)
Stop harrassing Pauline and give her support instead!
An article has appeared on the BBC News site: Prisons fail to 'learn lessons'
Pauline Campbell demonstrates every time a woman dies in a British prison. She has been arrested on numerous occasions and is frequently intimidated by either the police or prison van drivers (now usually in private hands with low paid staff) or both. The recent demonstration at Holloway is well recorded where Pauline and another bereaved mother, Gwen Calvert are shown being manhandled by a burly police officer. Pauline is thrown to the ground.
Pauline has spoken to people at high levels in government and is recognised by leading organisations. They recognise her courage and tenacity. Yet the treatment she gets on demonstrations and in court has to be seen to be believed.
Fortunately Pauline is in the habit of documenting not only the deaths, but the subsequent demonstration to draw attention to them and the consequences of doing this.
Continue reading "Stop harrassing Pauline and give her support instead!"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:41 AM July 14, 2007 | Comments (1)
Peaceful demonstration at Holloway and police response
The peaceful protest following the death of yet another woman in prisons in the UK is documented here.It shows a police officer manhandling Pauline Campbell and another protester, Gwen Calvert a pensioner whoseson Paul died in Pentonville . It shows the privatised prison van which was driven in a manner to intimidate those demonstrating about the death.
Continue reading "Peaceful demonstration at Holloway and police response"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:26 AM July 12, 2007 | Comments (0)
Peaceful demonstration marred by allegations of police brutality [HMP Holloway, 9 July 2007]
From Pauline B Campbell
Prison-death demonstration - Monday 9 July 2007
to protest against the death of Marie Cox, aged 34
who died on 30 June 2007 in the 'care' of HMP and YOI Holloway, London
- the 25th demonstration to be held outside women's prisons in England since protests began in 2004
PROTESTERS ANGERED BY:
Alleged police brutality at demonstration An ugly incident took place outside HMP Holloway. Legal advice will be sought following allegations of police brutality. Pauline Campbell, and another woman protester (an OAP), were pulled, pushed, and dragged, by male police officers. At one point, protesters alleged Pauline Campbell was 'thrown to the ground' by a large policeman; protesters reckoned he was about 16 stone.
Prison van driver's aggressive driving (Serco) Earlier in the afternoon, in a separate incident, a Serco prison van arrived at the jail, was signalled to halt, and the vehicle stopped. Protester Pauline Campbell was positioned immediately in front of the vehicle, but several times the driver started moving the vehicle slowly forward, until the van was about two inches away from making bodily contact. The manner of driving was potentially dangerous, and appeared to be designed to intimidate protesters.
REPORT:
* Around 25 protesters held a peaceful demonstration outside Holloway Prison, during the afternoon of Monday 9 July 2007, to protest against the tragic death of Marie Cox, 34, who died in the care of HMP & YOI Holloway on 30 June 2007.
* The four and a half hour demonstration was attended by protesters from Yorkshire, Cheshire, and London, including representatives from FRFI London (Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!); 'No More Prison'; and the Crossroads Women's Centre, London.
* Marie Cox is the sixth woman to die in prison in the first half of this year - double the figure for the whole of last year (three women prisoners died in 2006).
* Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP, Islington North, was sent details of the demonstration, but did not respond to the invitation to attend the protest.
* Local reporters and photographers attended the demonstration.
* At 5.10 pm, Serco prison van BX54 YNC, arrived at the prison entrance. Protesters blocked entry. The driver tried to intimidate protesters by driving his vehicle slowly forward towards Pauline Campbell, stopping about two inches short of making bodily contact. After a few minutes, he gave up, turned the vehicle round, and left the main prison entrance. He then entered the jail via another entrance and, as his vehicle reached the prison building, protesters repositioned and again blocked entry.
* At around 5.20 pm an all-male police contingent arrived: constables 649, 463, 533 and 332. Police action enabled the prison van to enter the building, but the manner in which this was achieved was completely unacceptable. No-one was arrested, and no-one was cautioned, but two policemen used brute force against two female protesters (both grieving mothers, and one an OAP) - Pauline Campbell, and pensioner Mrs Gwen Calvert. Mrs Calvert is the bereaved mother of Paul Calvert who died in the 'care' of HMP Pentonville in 2004.
* An official complaint will be lodged with the Metropolitan Police following this ugly incident. Protesters allege Pauline Campbell was 'thrown to the ground' by PC 649, readily identified by his size (around 16 stone) and bearing a large tattoo on one arm. Mrs Calvert then stepped forward to protest about his treatment of Pauline Campbell. PC 649 then grabbed Mrs Calvert by the arm, pulled her away, and bodily lifted her off the ground, and carried her to the pavement. He then pushed her roughly, which could easily have resulted in a fall. PC 463 then grabbed Pauline Campbell, and dragged her out of the path of the van. All this was captured on moving film and stills (time coded camera), and was witnessed by eight people (a number of protesters had left by this time). Mrs Calvert, from East London, complained to officers about police behaviour and 'bully' tactics.
* At 5.35 pm, shortly before leaving the jail, Pauline Campbell spoke to PCs 649 and 463 and informed them that protesters believed an assault had taken place against two female protesters (Gwen Calvert and Pauline Campbell), and that the matter would be reported.
* Before leaving, protesters left bouquets of flowers and a memorial placard outside the jail in memory of Marie Cox.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:36 PM July 10, 2007 | Comments (1)
Death at Holloway
Pauline Campbell sent me the following. It is about the death of the sixth woman to die in prison during 2007. Pauline also traces the history of Holloway in respect of the death of women prisoners. I think the news got hidden under that of the new leader, weather and attacks on British cities. Seems that the Times on Line just found space to devote a couple of lines, no other trace. No further comment.
DEMONSTRATION
TO PROTEST AGAINST THE DEATH OF ANOTHER WOMAN PRISONER
Marie Cox, aged 34
died on 30 June 2007, while in the 'care' of Holloway Prison, London
Demonstration will take place on Monday 9 July 2007
at 1.00 pm, for the duration of the afternoon,
outside HMP & YOI Holloway, Parkhurst Road, London, N7 0NU
Banners will be displayed, and flowers laid in memory of Marie
Reporters/photographers are welcome to attend
NOTES
*
Already six women have died in prison this year: Marie Cox is the sixth woman to die. (In 2006, three women prisoners died.)
*
The demonstration will be led by Pauline Campbell, mother of Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, 18, who died in the so-called care of HMP & YOI Styal on 18 January 2003.
*
The demonstration on 9 July 2007 will be the 25th demonstration to be held outside women's prisons in England since protests began in 2004.
*
To date, Pauline Campbell has been arrested 14 times, and is currently awaiting criminal trial at North Avon Magistrates' Court following a demonstration outside HMP & YOI Eastwood Park on 24.01.07 to protest against the death of Caroline Powell, 26 (mother of five children), who was on remand, and therefore legally innocent, when she died.
*
Figures refer to apparently self-inflicted deaths, England and Wales.
INFORMATION RE HOLLOWAY PRISON
(1) Times Online (News in Brief), dated 02.07.07 ("Prisoner hanged") states Marie Cox was awaiting sentencing for trespassing with intent.
(2) Previous prison-death demonstrations at HMP Holloway:
(a) 26 April 2004, following the death of Julie Angela Hope, aged 35
(b) 27 May 2004, following the death of Heather Waite, aged 28 -
(c) 9 November 2005, following the death of Karen Ann Fletcher, aged 30
(3) HMP Holloway - "one woman remains in a coma after being cut down from a makeshift noose" (May 2004)
* Waite = correct spelling of surname (Home Office notification of death was incorrect)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(i) Despite the fact that "crime has fallen by 35% since 1997" (The Observer, 08.04.07), Labour has presided over a shameful increase in the number of women sent to prison. In 1997, when Labour took office, 2,629 women were locked up. There are now 4,390 women and girls in prison (as at 29.06.07). Yet there has been no equivalent increase in the number of women committing offences, or of women committing more serious crimes. The culprit is Labour's get-tough sentencing policy.
(ii) The number of women in prison has increased far more rapidly than the number of men: over the past decade there has been a 126% increase in the number of women in prison, compared with a 46% rise in men in jail." Source: The Guardian, 13.03.07: (Q & A: Women in prison).
Continue reading "Death at Holloway"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:58 AM July 3, 2007 | Comments (0)
Styal demonstration 13.6.2007
Report from Pauline Campbell.
Prison-death demonstration - Wednesday 13 June 2007
to protest against the death of Helen Mary Cole, aged 48
who died on 3 June 2007 in the 'care' of HMP & YOI Styal, Cheshire
- the 24th demonstration to be held outside women's prisons in England since protests began in 2004
* A small group of protesters held a peaceful demonstration outside Styal Prison, during the afternoon of Wednesday 13 June 2007, to protest against the tragic death of mother Mrs Helen Mary Cole, 48, who died in the care of HMP & YOI Styal on 3 June 2007.
* The four-hour demonstration was attended by protesters from Shropshire, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester, including representatives from FRFI Manchester (Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!).
* Helen Mary Cole is the fifth woman to die from apparently self-inflicted injuries in women's jails so far this year, a figure that already exceeds the number of women's deaths for the whole of last year.
* Mrs Cole died less than 48 hours after arriving at HMP Styal. She was on remand, located in the 'first night centre', and was not on 'suicide watch'.
* A note was sent into the prison, asking if the Governor (Mr S Hall) would speak to protesters at the prison gates. Governor Steve Hall was on duty, but didn't emerge from the jail. A lower rank governor, Mr C Bailey came out to speak to protesters. He was accompanied by Ms Lucy Merrick, Head of Psychology; both declined to comment on Helen Cole's death.
* George Osborne, Conservative MP, Tatton, was sent details of the demonstration, but didn't respond to the invitation to attend the protest.
* Local reporters and photographers, including BBC Radio Manchester, and Xfm radio, Manchester, attended the demonstration.
* Cheshire Constabulary officers were present at the jail for the duration of the protest. No arrests were made. However, a prison van driver was reported to police following a disturbing incident at the prison entrance [see details below].
* Before leaving, protesters left bouquets of flowers and a memorial placard outside the jail in memory of Mrs Cole.
PRISON VAN DRIVER REPORTED TO POLICE
Incident witnessed by two impartial observers: Dr Helen Jones, and Dr Eileen Berrington, criminologists at Manchester Metropolitan University
Regrettably, police did not witness the incident at the prison entrance at 2.30 pm, as they were elsewhere on the prison site at the time. Prison van MX05 EWE (with no external markings to indicate the name of a private operator) approached the jail entrance, and was signalled to stop. The intention was to give the male driver a demonstration leaflet, and inform him that protesters considered Styal to be unsafe in view of the recent death.
The vehicle stopped, briefly. The driver, who was accompanied by a female in the front cab, declined to open his window, did not speak to protesters, and would not take a leaflet. Three protesters, including Pauline Campbell, positioned themselves immediately in front of the vehicle, and placed a leaflet under the windscreen wiper.
The vehicle then started moving forward, and actually came into contact with the three protesters, who refused to move in response to the aggressive manner of his driving. The vehicle kept moving forward slowly, pushing protesters as it did so. Pauline Campbell's pen dropped to the ground; she bent down to pick it up, and was out of the driver's line of sight for a few seconds. Alarmingly, he continued to move the vehicle forward, in what was becoming an increasingly volatile situation.
Protesters then allowed the vehicle into the prison to avoid any further danger to themselves. Shortly afterwards, the incident was reported to police, who were still on site. Pauline Campbell, and five witnesses, lodged an official complaint with Inspector Luke McDonnell and Sgt Julie Rafferty, who then went into the prison to speak to the governor and the prison van driver. At 3.10 pm, as the same vehicle left the prison, protesters identified the driver to Inspector McDonnell. All witnesses to the incident gave their contact details to police.
When protesters spoke to the police after the incident, Inspector McDonnell was asked to confirm that everything else was in order, and he confirmed that Pauline Campbell was conducting a peaceful protest. The Inspector said he had spoken to the driver, and instructed him that in any similar future incident he must stop the vehicle, and call either security or the police. Protesters had observed a CCTV positioned on the prison perimeter fence, facing the jail entrance, and asked police to check the recording. The Inspector told protesters that prison staff had said the "CCTV does not record", a statement which protesters challenged. Inspector McDonnell promised he would investigate further. [Incident No. 287, 13 June 2007; Cheshire Constabulary]
Continue reading "Styal demonstration 13.6.2007"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:21 AM June 14, 2007 | Comments (0)
Prison-death demonstration - Wednesday 9 May 2007
Report by Pauline Campbell
Prison-death demonstration - Wednesday 9 May 2007
to protest against the death of Emma Kelly, aged 31
who died on 19 April 2007 while in the 'care' of HMP Send, Surrey
* A small group of protesters held a demonstration outside Send Prison, during the afternoon of Wednesday 9 May 2007, to protest against the tragic death of a young mother - Emma Kelly, 31 - who died in the 'care' of HMP Send on 19 April 2007.
* The three-hour demonstration, attended by protesters from London, Shropshire, and Cheshire, was the 23rd demonstration to be held outside women's prisons in England since protests began in 2004 [there are no women's prisons in Wales].
* Emma Kelly is the fourth woman to die from apparently self-inflicted injuries in women's jails in the first four months of this year, a figure that already exceeds the number of women's deaths for the whole of last year.
* Ms Kelly was on 'suicide watch' when she died in the care of Send Prison on 19 April 2007, which means that a warning form (F2052SH/ACCT) had been opened, indicating she was considered to be at risk of taking her own life/self-harm. Another young mother - Kerry Devereux, 32 - who died at HMP Foston Hall on 18 April 2007, was also on 'suicide watch', as was Sarah Campbell who died in 2003, raising serious questions about the level of care given to vulnerable women who have already been identified as being at risk of self-harm.
* Paul Beresford, Conservative MP, Mole Valley, was sent details of the demonstration, but did not respond to the invitation to attend the protest.
* Local reporters and photographers, including BBC Radio Southern Counties, attended the demonstration. BBC 104.6 FM, main news items (5 pm onwards) included a report on the protest, plus interview with Pauline Campbell.
* Police did not attend the demonstration and, therefore, no officers of the law witnessed the erratic driving of the one prison van to enter the jail during the afternoon. See: Reactions to the demonstration/prison van driver (below).
* Before leaving, protesters left bouquets of flowers outside the jail in memory of Emma Kelly.
FURTHER INFORMATION
(1) BBC Southern Counties Online News - "Protest after woman's jail death" - published 9 May 2007 (including photo).
(2) Emma Kelly was imprisoned in 2006. BBC Online News report (published 17 August 2006) noted that her "descent into drug abuse was triggered by the death of her partner in 1996", according to Ms Kelly's defence lawyer.
REACTIONS TO THE DEMONSTRATION FROM PRISONERS AND PRISON STAFF
Two women prisoners, due for release soon, stopped to speak to Pauline Campbell as they returned to the jail after work experience. They took 'demonstration leaflets' into the prison, and agreed to pass on word about Baroness Corston's report.
Duty Governor Mr Andy Peacock (Head of Reducing Reoffending) emerged from the prison at 1.50 pm to speak to protesters. Pauline Campbell handed a demonstration leaflet to the Governor, and asked if he was willing to make a comment about Ms Kelly's death in relation to her right to life under Article 2. A newspaper reporter asked about the morale of prisoners following the death. Mr Peacock said he was unable to comment on Emma's death but, in response to Pauline Campbell's question, acknowledged that she was owed a legal duty of care. The Governor accepted "INQUEST" leaflets from Pauline Campbell, and was asked to ensure the details were passed to Emma Kelly's next-of-kin.
Prison van driver - prison van MV55 EKU (with no external markings to indicate the name of a private operator) approached the jail entrance at 2.15 pm. Pauline Campbell stood in the middle of the roadway, holding a large placard, and clearly signalled that the vehicle should stop, with the intention of giving a demonstration leaflet to the driver. The response of the man driving the vehicle was to accelerate, rather than slow down, as he drove towards Pauline Campbell and, at close range, the vehicle (with prisoners on board) suddenly swerved to one side in the wide roadway, before straightening up as it approached the prison gates. Protesters were alarmed by the incident, which was also witnessed by a newspaper reporter. Later, as the vehicle left the prison, the driver stopped, took a leaflet, and said he had no intention of stopping the prison van when signalled to do so earlier. The driver's name is known to the protesters, and a letter of complaint will be sent to the Governor. This was a peaceful protest, marred only by the prison van driver's erratic driving.
Governor Peacock was back inside the jail when the incident occurred. He reappeared as the van was waiting to go through the gates, enabling Pauline Campbell to have a further exchange of conversation with him.
Continue reading "Prison-death demonstration - Wednesday 9 May 2007"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:53 AM May 10, 2007 | Comments (0)
80,000 of us banged up
While John Reid continues to contemplate early release, elsewhere it is acknowledged there is no alternative. Jails are full and include many with mental health and social problems which urgently require other measures. Like building new roads, more jails will fill as soon as they open. Our "tough" home secretary prefers to continue the political agenda adopted by the Tories in the Thatcher years.
" 'The continuing overcrowding crisis means the government faces a real choice,' said Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust. 'They can either use early release as a pressure valve, buying time to build a few more prisons, crowded as soon as built, or they can get to grips with the root causes of needless overcrowding and stop sending mentally ill people, petty offenders, addicts in need of treatment to prison.' " Source: Observer 6/5/2007
Continue reading "80,000 of us banged up"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:57 AM May 6, 2007 | Comments (0)
Prison-death demonstration - Tuesday 1 May 2007
Report by Pauline Campbell
Prison-death demonstration - Tuesday 1 May 2007
to protest against the death of Kerry Kindra Louise Devereux, aged 32
who died on 18 April 2007 while in the care of HMP Foston Hall
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A small group of protesters held a three and a half hour demonstration outside Foston Hall Prison to protest against the tragic death of mother-of-two Kerry Devereux, aged 32, the third woman prisoner to die this year.
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Protesters, including a representative from 'No More Prison' campaign group, travelled from Yorkshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire, to attend the demonstration - the 22nd to be held since protests began in 2004.
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Ms Devereux was on 'suicide watch', and located on the segregation (punishment) block when she died.
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No prison vans entered or left the jail during the demonstration.
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Police officers attended the prison during the afternoon. No arrests were made.
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Head of Operations, Ms Jo Broadbent, emerged from the prison and spoke briefly to Pauline Campbell, but refused to take a letter for the Governor. The letter will, therefore, be mailed to HMP Foston Hall; it merely asked if the Governor would speak to protesters, and enclosed an INQUEST leaflet with a request that it be passed to Ms Devereux's next-of-kin.
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Details of the demonstration were sent to Mark Todd, Labour MP for South Derbyshire, but he didn't attend the protest.
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A male prison officer, who was leaving the jail by car, stopped and spoke to Pauline Campbell, and said he had just been suspended for "making racist comments".
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Local reporters and photographers attended the demonstration, which was also covered by local radio (RAM Derby 102.8 FM).
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Before leaving, protesters left bouquets of flowers outside the jail in memory of Kerry Devereux.
Continue reading "Prison-death demonstration - Tuesday 1 May 2007"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:41 AM May 2, 2007 | Comments (1)
Portrait of our prisons
The Guardian reports the state of one of our privatised prisons in Warwickshire (16/4/2007) where an undercover reporter catalogues a series of scandals. The list of concerns extends from bribery from inmates to get drugs and mobile phones to self harm and suicide. A murder was committed at this institution.
The picture is of a society which throws people away. They include the most vulnerable: those with mental health problems, victims of drug pushers, young people who have depended on the "care" system and so on. Although government legislation is shown to be flawed, the climate of fear engendered by political debate on crime and terrorism has led to a society tolerant of injustice and inhumanity.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:01 AM April 16, 2007 | Comments (0)
No discipline for officers in Mikey Powell case
No discipline for officers in Mikey Powell case
Family's comments to follow...
Source: IPCC
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has confirmed that none of the West Midlands police officers acquitted of criminal offences following the death of Michael Powell, 38, in police custody on 7 September 2003 are to face disciplinary charges. The IPCC has criticised important aspects of the police handling of the incident leading to Powell's death, which started when Mrs Clarissa Powell, his mother, called for police assistance at her home, and urged the force to ensure that key lessons are fully implemented.
Ten officers faced a range of charges covering dangerous driving, assault and misconduct in a public office at Leicester Crown Court last July and in August all ten were acquitted. The majority of charges were dismissed as 'no case to answer' on the direction of the judge when he disallowed crucial prosecution evidence of the transcript from the custody CCTV audio as being unsafe to rely upon because of its extremely poor quality.
Commenting on his decision IPCC Commissioner for the West Midlands region John Crawley said; "This has been a very lengthy and deeply painful experience for all involved. Having had responsibility for this case for some three years now, with extensive contact with the family of Michael Powell, I am only too well aware of the gravity of the matters at stake, the suffering of Michael's family and the dignified endurance and unfailing courtesy of the family as a too lengthy process has unfolded. Their sense of loss is as acute today as the day Michael died.
"I am also conscious that for the officers involved, all of them suspended for a very long time, followed by a lengthy criminal trial, this has been a deeply traumatic time. "The evidence for any misconduct (discipline) hearing would be essentially the same as that considered at the trial, and I have examined the findings and outcome of the trial very carefully indeed. I am satisfied that in this particular case - and given the weaknesses in the evidence against the officers that the rigour of the criminal process exposed - their acquittals should suffice in terms of the formal accountability properly expected from these police officers.
"I am confident that the leadership of the force is committed to learning and change from the important lessons that this case has identified. Central to this is the challenge of demonstrating real progress in better management of serious incidents where mental ill health is likely to be a key factor. The force has done much over the last two years to improve its formal policies and procedures; now it needs to be able to highlight the better results on the ground, including improved training of officers.
"This case also demonstrates - and it is by no means an isolated example in this regard - that there is also much scope for improved supervision of front line officers by their supervisors when they are involved in an escalating incident to ensure that all sources of available information - including crucially from family members - are identified and the right questions asked before critical decisions are taken.
"Finally, I cannot stress too highly the importance the IPCC attaches to proper investment in high quality CCTV systems in all police custody suites - an essential protection for officers as well as detainees, as this case has so unhappily revealed.
We live in a time when CCTV is very widely deployed - and assumed to be - as a crucial source of evidence and protection in public open spaces. We still have too many custody suites, where people are detained, where there is no - or seriously inadequate - CCTV; the public will not understand why this continues to be the case. The IPCC is committed to pursuing this issue to achieve national standards of coverage and quality."
-ends-
Continue reading "No discipline for officers in Mikey Powell case"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:52 AM March 31, 2007 | Comments (0)
Mother-of-five, Caroline Powell, died on 5 January 2007
From Pauline Campbell
Mother-of-five, Caroline Powell, died on 5 January 2007
while on remand at HMP & YOI Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire
Demonstration held on: Wednesday 24 January 2007
Pauline Campbell arrested (14th arrest), and charged (for the fourth time)
20th demonstration to be held since 2004
Following the tragic death of Caroline Powell on 5 January 2007, a demonstration was held outside the prison on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 January 2007. Around 10-15 people attended the protest, including reporters and photographers. Protesters had travelled from London, Shropshire, and Cheshire, to protest against the death of this vulnerable young woman, aged 26, who died in the 'care' of Her Majesty's Prison Eastwood Park. Caroline leaves behind five motherless children, the youngest aged 18 months. Ms Powell was on remand, and legally innocent, when she died.
Report by Pauline Campbell
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At 2.55 pm, Reliance prison van FX04 BUP, was stopped as it attempted to take prisoners into the jail. The driver was informed that (a) protesters regarded the jail as unsafe in view of the recent death; (b) the vehicle would not be allowed into the prison; and (c) he should take the women to a place of safety.
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Officers from Avon & Somerset Constabulary were called to the prison. Six officers arrived, and one began filming the demonstration. The sergeant read aloud a printed notice, then handed the copy to me. Dated 24.01.07, it reads: "To whom it may concern: I am the senior police officer here. I believe that you are committing, have committed, or intend to commit an offence of trespassing with the common purpose of deterring, obstructing or disrupting lawful activity and I require you to leave immediately. Failure to obey my direction may render you liable to arrest. If you return to the land as a trespasser within 3 months you will also commit an offence for which you may be arrested. Sergeant 1958 Ogborne."
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At 4.20 pm I was arrested for "aggravated trespass and obstruction of the highway", and taken to Staple Hill Police Station, South Gloucestershire. Handcuffs were not used.
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We arrived at the police station at 5 pm; detention was authorised at 5.30 pm.
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Photographs, fingerprints, and DNA were taken. I objected (as I have done on a previous occasion) to mouth swabs being taken by a police officer, and expressed the view that taking body samples from any orifice should be done by a nurse or doctor, not a police officer.
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I refused to sign the form which acknowledged that my prints had been taken and that the officer had informed me the prints would be kept on file for I.D. and crime investigation purposes. It was explained to me that it was within my rights not to sign.
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I was locked in a cell; allowed to contact the duty solicitor while detained; then subsequently charged ("aggravated trespass - fail to leave land").
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My reply to the charge, logged in police records, was: "Caroline Powell died on 5 January 2007 at Eastwood Park Prison; she has left behind five motherless children, and that explains the demonstration and my arrest today."
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Reporters and photographers from local newspapers attended the protest, which was also covered by local radio. BBC Points West attended the demonstration, and a news report was included on regional television at 6.30 pm. The news item, broadcast into about five counties, included footage showing the arrest.
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I have been granted unconditional bail to appear in North Avon Magistrates' Court, Kennedy Way, Yate, Bristol, BS27 4PY, on Thursday 1 February 2007 at 9.45 a.m.
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At 7.45 pm, I was released from custody. A police car returned me to Falfield, to enable me to collect my car.
Additional information
(1) Caroline Powell's grieving family are receiving support and advice from INQUEST, London: Caroline's father asked to be put in touch with me, and we spoke on the telephone on 23 January 2007, the day before the demonstration. He expressed wholehearted support for the protest, and said he was "100% behind the demonstration". Family members are grieving deeply, and preparing for the funeral, and therefore were unable to join us outside the prison.
(2) An invitation was sent to Steve Webb, MP for Northavon (Lib Dem), inviting him to attend the demonstration. In his e-mail reply to me, dated 22.01.07, he said: "Thank you for letting me know of your forthcoming demonstration. I will be at Westminster on Wednesday and will be unable to attend, but I am grateful to you for letting me know of the demonstration and certainly agree that the issue which you are highlighting is an important one."
(3) On the afternoon of the demonstration, a letter was sent into the prison (via a visitor), addressed to Governor Tim Beeston, asking if he would meet protesters at the prison gates. The letter was returned to me, unopened, at the end of visiting. The prison had apparently refused to accept the letter as it did not quote the prison's full postal address.
Continue reading "Mother-of-five, Caroline Powell, died on 5 January 2007"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:55 AM January 25, 2007 | Comments (0)
Benjamin Zephaniah on his cousin, Mikey Powell
The failure to come up with any explanation of why Mikey Powell died in police custody and the subsequent failure to bring anyone to book has been commented on in a Guardian article by the poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
So another death has occurred with no accountability, no one takes responsibility. As with Charles de Menezes the police will be back at work as normal without key questions being answered. Thornhill Road Police Station in Handsworth was supposed to be at the forefront of community policing, yet over the years there have been chilling stories of deeply racist views and actions - such as pinning up jokey pictures and comments on members of the black and Asian community they are meant to serve. On the day the march in tribute to MIkey ended up at Thornhill Road the station resembled a fortress. Benjamin Zephaniah talks about the differnce between a police service and police force. On an earlier occasion when Mikey was ill the police calmed him down. This time they killed him. Quite a difference.
Continue reading "Benjamin Zephaniah on his cousin, Mikey Powell"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:11 AM August 5, 2006 | Comments (1)
Racial unrest in Lozells
Three Asian men have been charged with the murder of a young African Caribbean IT specialist who worked for Birmingham CIty Council. The incident took place in the Lozells area of Birmingham last October. Isaiah Young-Sam was with his brother and friends trying to escape the trouble which was going on in the area at the time. A car chased them and hooded men got out producing knives and weapons. Isaiah was stabbed in the heart. The tension and unrest was felt in other parts of the area, including the Rookery Road area of Handsworth where a gang of youths roamed the area causing injury and damage to property. Again there was an underlying racial dimension.
Part of the problem appears to be underlying beliefs that sections of the community benefit more than others from grants and benefits available from the local authorities. Certainly the SRB6 funding has benefitted a group who were allowed to infiltrate the board claimimg that they had hitherto been denied their rightful share of funding available. One group has taken power politically in the area showing little awareness or concern about what had been taking place locally in recent months. Regrettably this is more likely to fuel suspicion and feelings of injustice rather than address it.
Continue reading "Racial unrest in Lozells"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 1:47 PM May 22, 2006 | Comments (0)
Demand Justice. The Execution of Jean Charles de Menezes
Now we know that what we were told about Jean Charles De Menezes was untrue: he didn't leap over a barrier at Stockwell underground station. He even picked up a newspaper and walked calmly down the escalators not knowing he was being followed. He wasn't wearing a padded jacket, just an ordinary denim top. He wasn't warned before 10 shots were fired, 7 into his head. The "shoot to kill" policy has not been debated in Parliament. Has the Home Secretary used his "personal power" on this occasion as he did to deport people he considers undesirable, but who have not faced trial.
The other fiction put about was that the CCTV cameras weren't working at the station. They were, and they showed Jean Charles.
We need to demand justice. Please sign this petition and let others know about it. Campaigns can be effective. For example the Washington Post has been persuaded to drop its sponsorship for a pro-government, pro-war march.
Continue reading "Demand Justice. The Execution of Jean Charles de Menezes"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:04 PM August 16, 2005 | Comments (1)
Shoot first, ask questions later
Today (22/05/2005) has been a follow up of the second terrorist attack on the London transport system. Police have been active and are showing CCTV shots of suspects. Evidently the public like to see the authorities get tough in response to events such as those we have experienced recently.
News reports that a man was shot at Stockwell Underground Station are coming in. Passengers were sitting in the tube when a man fell into one of the carriages. The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, said at a press briefing that "it was connected with the response to the terrorist attacks", at least that was the way he put it. An eye witness spoke of the man stumbling into the carriage pushed by the armed police officers in pursuit. At this moment the witness says that 5 shots were fired at close range. The police commissioner went on to say "any deaths are regrettable". At this moment we do not know who this person was. He has been described as of Asian appearance, and we are told he didn't respond when challenged. Instead he lept over the barrier into the underground system.
Now he's dead with 5 bullets in his head. No one can now ask him any questions. I can understand if the man posed a threat to the police, but since he was held on the ground the act of killing him appears unnecessary at the very least. This was done in full view of passengers which was traumatic in itself.
It is good to be reassured, but this act of violence seems to me to be wanton and could well inflame the situation. What now if there has been some sort of mistake? Too late to ask questions, shoot first.
Continue reading "Shoot first, ask questions later"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 4:41 PM July 22, 2005 | Comments (0)
Barenboim: the Concert
April 6th. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra are performing Mahler's 9th Symphony under their Music Director, Daniel Barenboim. A reception has been arranged after the performance.
I have not seen Barenboim conduct before, nor heard a performance of Mahler's Ninth, live that is. I certainly had not appreciated the use of the orchestra where you can hear so many unusual combinations of instruments and strange effects. It's clearly familiar territory as Mahler with Viennese waltzes or military bands breaking through. Full orchestra is pretty impenetrable, well it is for me. All it does is make the constant noise in my left ear louder. The closing pages had to be heard to be believed in the sustained hushed string playing. The movement of people around me was noisy in contrast. The huge audience were clearly caught up in this and there was not a single interruption.
Continue reading "Barenboim: the Concert"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:17 AM April 7, 2005 | Comments (1)
Birmingham and Fair Trade
The City of Birmingham is working towards status as a Fair Trade City. Dal Singh Dhesy of the Sikh Community and Youth Service and I attended a briefing at the Council House this morning (5/3/2005) when the Lord Mayor, Cllr Mike Nangle, unveiled a logo designed by Birmingham school children as part of a competition. There was a slight hitch when the curtain was drawn back to reveal a blank space. Nobody had put the winning drawing in place. A quick search found the design and the winners were photographed receiving prizes for both themselves and their schools.
Continue reading "Birmingham and Fair Trade"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 2:04 PM March 5, 2005 | Comments (0)
In Memory Mikey Powell
Mikey Powell died a little over a year ago. We couldn't believe reports that he had been hit by a police car and then by batons and C.S gas, before being sat on. After initial resistence from the police a march was organised along Soho Road ending at Thornhill Road Police Station. However the officers at Thornhill Road were in full riot gear.
Mikey's Mother had called the police when he jumped through a window. He was mentally ill. But she didn't begin to imagine it would end up with his death.
We attended a memorial service a year on, yet still no one knows why Mikey died. Still a long way to go in the fight for justice here.
Continue reading "In Memory Mikey Powell"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 6:04 PM October 15, 2004 | Comments (1)
Sheena Kotecha, 1982-2004
The following is something I wrote following a visit to the grieving parents of Sheena Kotecha who hanged herself in prison at the age of 22. She is now a statistic with self-harm and suicide rising at an alarming rate. Politicians are continuing to tell us that "prison works". Where is the evidence that it does? Another record has been broken now with the news that the youngest prisoner has killed himself. The rate among women is scandalous. Pauline Campbell has been campaigning by demonstrating at the scene of each incident as it occurs. She is now attracting coverage in the press. However she continues to be arrested for her efforts. She has lost her daughter through the failure of the prison system to protect her.
I visited the family of Sheena Kotecha this morning Sunday 4th April together with Jamnadas Vadhia and his wife. Mr Vadhia is a prison visitor and he met with Sheena only last Monday. She, as the report says, was very depressed and vulnerable. She was a vegetarian and I understand the prison was not providing her with adequate food.
On Friday she was taken in a prison van from her prison near Redditch to Leicester. I hear that she had to stand shackled to a high point. Since she was only around 5 feet high and weighed only 5 stone I would like to know how she stood the ordeal. Presumably the journey was not direct as other prisoners were collected from different points. Her parents, family and friends were in court yet they were not allowed to speak with her. The next thing they knew is that she was dead. They are saying she committed suicide, but I suggested that they should wait for proof that this was the case. The scene at the house was heart rending with mother and grandmother, holding her granddaughter's picture to her, inconsolable.
Sheena I understand, had no previous record of trouble. She was reported to have been a well behaved child and young person at home and at school. I fail to understand why she should have had a 9 year sentence given to her. My first impression was that she was unaware of what her acquaintance was planning to do. I would like proof that this was not the case. The local press had a front page headline "Bonny and Clyde" theft.
As a Councillor this is not the first case I have had to deal with of an inappropriately sentenced vulnerable young woman.
Cllr John Tyrrell,
Continue reading "Sheena Kotecha, 1982-2004"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:31 PM October 8, 2004 | Comments (0)
Rainbow over Derry
Jerry, son of my cousin Jack, and brother of Chris, died of cancer a few years ago. He was active in Derry, working with the Quaker Peace Initiative. I went to his funeral, which was extremely well attended by the Catholics and Protestants who valued Jerry and the Project.
The occasion was a truly Irish affair, with Jerry's huge frame on view in the front room of the family home. Jo, his wife, and children Sophie and Jack welcomed me, although I had not had contact with them for a long time. I had spoken to Jerry on the phone when I visited West Belfast a year or so earlier, before Jerry had known about his illness. He was then back in England with his father helping him to move from Isleworth to Aylesbury to be near to Chris and Margaret.
All the male relatives carried the coffin and Jerry was taken first to the College where a Quaker meeting remembered his life and work. I recounted the occasion when my friend and business partner in Vital Link, John Cockcroft, had phoned me to tell me that Jerry's airline ticket to Belfast had been found at the Euston Road Meeting House. Did I know where he could be found? A call to his Father, Jack found him. No, he had not realised his ticket was missing, and yes, he would be picking it up.
Jerry's book on Peer Group Mediation appeared posthumously. I left a copy with the Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem. This group organised a trip to Palestine/Israel this January (2004) when we found a deserted Bethlehem and a family in the Refugee Camp whose house had been demolished as a reprisal for a bombing incident in Jerusalem earlier the same day. More about that later.
The picture is a scene at Jerry's burial at the cemetery above Derry looking down into the valley. The rainbow appeared just as Chris had read "I am in the wind". It is a symbol of hope for Ireland and for Palestine/Israel.
The following links tell you more about The Quaker Peace Initiative and Jerry's work with information about availability of his book.
http://www.ccruni.gov.uk/research/csc/quaker.htm
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/emu/visits.htmhttp://www.peacenews.info/issues/2455/2455381.html
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:25 PM October 8, 2004 | Comments (1)
