Policing - new material (44)
01 November 1998
Concern about crime: findings from the 1998 British Crime Survey, Catriona Mirrlees-Black and Jonathan Allen. Research Findings (Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate) No. 83, 1998 pp6. Survey gathers information on people's attitudes and concerns about crime.
Safe custody, John Cartwright. Police Review 16.10.98. pp16-17. This is an edited version of a talk given by the chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) at a meeting on deaths in custody. Unfortunately, the PCA refused to invite relatives of those who died leading to a picket of the venue until a representative was allowed in following negotiations.
The right to life. The police and the criminal justice system: the case of Lapite, O'Brien and Treadway, Kier Starmer. Inquest Lawyers Group 1998, pp12 £5 (ISBN 0 9468 5806 3). This timely pamphlet documents the deaths in police custody of Oluwashijibomi "Shiji" Lapite and Richard O'Brien and the "serious allegations of [police] misconduct" in the case of Derek Treadway, who received substantial High Court damages for "tortious and criminal" police assaults. It concludes that safeguards to protect the right to life and the protection of human rights "are not currently in place in this country."
In the wake of the Lawrence case, the good cop who pledged to stamp out racism in the Met knows he failed, Mary Ridell/sir Paul Condon. New Statesman 30.10.98., pp18-19. Interview with sir Paul Condon, Commissioner of the Metropolitan police, in which he complains that new recruits to his force only earn £16,000 per annum, thereby "...inviting them to indulge in malpractice." He also complains that "I am working for peanuts"; he earned £95,000 in 1994-95, which would feed a lot of monkeys.
Ground force, Rob Jeacock. Police Review 13.11.98. pp19-21. This article follows the "deployment of sophisticated technology and intelligence" at the high profile ("Category C rating") Liverpool v Chelsea football match. Looks at the use of CS gas ("unarmed defence tactics"), CCTV and the role of the football intelligence officer.
Unreasonable terms, Dan Crompton. Police Review 30.10.98. p15. The author, an HM Inspector of Constabulary, makes an unhelpful contribution on the subject of institutionalised police racism (raised at the Stephen Lawrence inquiry), by repeating Sir Paul Condon's ill-conceived claim that the term taints the whole police service as racist.
Briefing: the death in police custody of Leon Patterson 1992 (3pp); the death in police custody of Shiji Lapite 1994 (3pp); the death in police custody of Ibrahima Sey 1996 (5pp) and the death in police custody of David Green 1997 (2pp) 1998, £1 each. Series of important briefings on some of the most disturbing deaths in police custody. They tackle controversial areas such as the police use of neckholds, the use of CS gas spray, police investigation and treatment of relatives. Available from Inquest, Ground Floor, Alexandra National House, 330 Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2PJ and web site:
here
Press Digest Two. National Campaign Against CS Spray 1998. This is the second issue of the very useful digest which collects press cuttings on police (mis)use of CS spray. The campaign welcomes cuttings, articles and information from supporters, which will make the digest even more comprehensive. Copies are available for £3 (to cover costs and post) from the campaign c/o NMP, PO Box 273, London E7 8QA.
Immunity from negligence suits, Louise Christian. Legal Action December 1998, pp22-23. This article looks at the practical implications of the European Court of Human Rights case of Osman v UK in the area of police negligence. It concludes that "it will post-Osman still be extremely difficult to bring a claim [of negligence] to court."
Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System. Home Office (HMSO) 1998, pp42. This publication, produced under section 95 of the Criminal Justice act 1991, contains c