Police Accountability App Launches in UK

(ANTIMEDIA) United Kingdom — An app recently launched in the U.K. enables people stopped and searched by police to capture incriminating footage and report the experience instantly.

Designed to hold police officers to account, the new Y-Stop app was developed by two U.K. groups: Release, which advocates for evidence-based drug policies, and StopWatch, a coalition that promotes police accountability. Lawyers will be employed to assess footage.

Stop and search powers in the U.K. allow officers to search a person if they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe the individual is in possession of drugs, weapons, stolen property, or anything that could be used to commit a crime.

Figures released by Stopwatch reveal that in London, black people are stopped and searched at just under 3 times the rate of white people. Officers are also allowed to stop and search a person without suspicion through Section 60, and under that provision, black people are searched at nine times the rate of whites. Those of mixed race are searched at four times the rate of white people while Asians are stopped at just under twice that rate.

Created as a response to police misuse of stop and search powers, the app helps the public instantly capture footage of discriminatory, unprofessional, or unlawful actions. Since it launched six months ago, the U.S. version of the app has been downloaded 170,000 times in California, alone.

A tutorial explains that the app works in two ways: by recording and reporting. After filling in the date and time of the stop, users use a GPS map to pinpoint where the search took place.

After those stopped briefly describe the details of their incident, such as what the officer was looking for, they have two choices: They can send the report just to Y-Stop (which can be done anonymously), or to the police — in which case Y-Stop will get a copy and decide if a lawyer is needed.

Developers have taken into account the possibility that police may take the phone and attempt to delete footage, and as such, designed the app so recorded video and audio information is sent to a server in seconds.

Download the app here

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Amanda's Trial for 'feeding the hungry' - Adjourned until Feb 2016

Amanda was in court today to face charges that she 'failed to comply with a Sec 34 dispersal order'. The trial was adjourned as the Police turned up without any evidence. Judge Andrew Shaw apologised to the defendants for the trial not going ahead

Amanda's Lawyer told the Judge that they had been left “in the dark” over the prosecution case.

Under legislation governing court procedure, the Crown Prosecution Service was required to serve evidence in sufficient time for the defence to prepare their case. But Richard Brigden, representing Doyle and Cawson, told the court the CPS were planning to rely on two and a half hours of CCTV footage during the case, which had not been served.

According to the CPS, the footage had been sent to Merseyside Police for editing.

Judge Shaw said: He said: “I’m not being critical of the defence, because this does appear to be a prosecution problem, but the law requires both sides to be pro-active and I’m not seeing letters in September, October, November. I’m not seeing letters to the court explaining the problem.”

He adjourned the trial until February 9.





Follow @HuytonFreeman

List of Police Officers charged/convicted of criminal offences 2009 to 2015 - V29

Here's my latest list of 'bad apple' Police Officers. It's a long list

Police Officers charged/convicted of an offence 2009 to 2015 Version 29

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Taser Police Officers recieve £25,000 payout from Merseyside Police

Two police officers who were libelled on live radio by one of their bosses have received £25,000 in damages and an apology by Merseyside’s Chief Constable.

Former PCs Joanne Kelly and Simon Jones were sacked in October 2013 after using a Taser on a man called Kyle McArdle in the back of a police van.

But they appealed their dismissal and were reinstated in June 2014 when the Police Appeals Tribunal concluded the findings of the misconduct panel had been unreasonable and unfair.

Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Ward appeared on BBC Radio Merseyside a month later and was asked what his force had learnt following the sacking of the officers for the Taser attack.

instead of correcting the interviewer and saying Miss Kelly and Mr Jones had been reinstated, he said the incident “demonstrated his force would not tolerate inappropriate use of Tasers”.

In a statement read out at the Royal Courts of Justice today, Jeremy Clarke-Williams, head of libel at legal firm Slater and Gordon, said: “By doing so, he suggested not only that Joanne Kelly and Simon Jones remained sacked from the force, but also that their case was a prime example of conduct which Merseyside Police would not tolerate.”

R.I.P John Harris

It's with sad regret to inform you that John Harris has passed away.

John Harris was a great inspiration to me, he put me on the path to freedom many years ago. I had the chance to see John doing one of his talks in Liverpool back on May 25th 2009. An extremely enlightening experience.

R.I.P John, you were a wonderful inspiration to me, one that enhanced my life, I thank you, you will always be remembered by me.

http://www.tpuc.org/john-harris/

Follow @HuytonFreeman

VIDEO: Huyton activist arrested for feeding the hungry.

Local activist Amanda was arrested yesterday by Merseyside Police after she attempted to throw food to hungry people in the Old Bank building in Castle Street, Liverpool.



Merseyside Police had put in place a 'Section 35 - Dispersal order'. These orders have to be signed by an Inspector who has to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the use of those powers in the locality during that period may be necessary for the purpose of removing or reducing the likelihood of — (a) members of the public in the locality being harassed, alarmed or distressed, or (b)the occurrence in the locality of crime or disorder.

In deciding whether to give such an authorisation an officer must have particular regard to the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly set out in articles 10 and 11 of the Convention.

A constable in uniform may direct a person who is in a public place in the locality specified in the authorisation.The constable has to have reasonable grounds to suspect that the behaviour of the person in the locality has contributed or is likely to contribute to - (a)members of the public in the locality being harassed, alarmed or distressed, or (b)the occurrence in the locality of crime or disorder and that the the constable considers that giving a direction to the person is necessary for the purpose of removing or reducing the likelihood of the events mentioned in (a) or (b).

It is clear from the video, that Amanda was NOT harrassing, alarming or distressing anyone, nor was she committing any crime, and therefore in my view the 'arrest' was clearly both illegal and unlawful.

Amanda was charged with refusing to comply with a direction from a Constable to leave the area and released on bail.

Amanda is due to present herself in court on June 16th 2015.

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Merseyside Policewoman jailed for 22 months.

Merseyside WPC Helen Jones was today jailed for 22 months for Misconduct in public office, after seizing CCTV footage of Steven Gerrard as a 'tool to blackmail'. Jones obtained footage of a street bust up involving Gerrard, using her warrant card whilst on a 'career break'

The 32 year old from Chatham in Kent was jailed for her role in a blackmail plot to 'embarrass' Steven Gerrard. Jones had argued that she got hold of the CCTV for "philanthropic" reasons to help out a friend of a friend but that was rejected by judge Baker at a previous hearing where he said Jones acted for others out of "base motives", possibly as a lever to extort money and "embarrass" Gerrard.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy O’Connor, said Merseyside Police will not tolerate such criminal behaviour. This former officer let down her colleagues whom day in, day out, provide a professional and quality service to members of communities across Merseyside.

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Video: Knowsley Council Budget meeting - 4th March 2015

The 'budget' meeting of Knowsley Council on 4th March 2015.

Items on the agenda include:

2- Corporate Plan 2013 - 2016: Year 2 Refresh.
3 - Robustness of estimates and adequacy of Financial reserves.
4 - Treasury Management strategy 2015/16.
5 - 2014/15 Revenue Budget Monitoring Position
6 - Medium Term Financial Strategy
7 - 2014/15 and Future years capital programme monitoring update
8 - 2015/16 Fees and charges
9 - 2015/16 Budget strategy - Phase 2 savings opitons
10 - 2015/16 Revenue Budget
11 - Council Tax levy 2015/16



Please note: I too, agree with filming of Council meetings, in line with the fact that the Council Building is a public building and therefore a Public place and there are no laws or legislation that explicitly prevents or prohibits filming in a Public place.

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Latest Police Officer Charged/Convicted List - Version 28

The latest list of Police Officers and Public servants charged or convicted of a criminal offence - Version 28 Click here


Follow @HuytonFreeman

Video: Police asked why they are stopping people randomly

A group of Police Officers and PCSO's were stationed as bus stops in Page Moss today, apparently they were randomly stopping and searching people on the buses. Here's a short clip of one of the interactions.



Follow @HuytonFreeman

Video: Knowsley MP George Howarth gets angry at being filmed.

I visited Knowsley MP George Howarth at his surgery in Huyton, to ask him why he was making untrue comments about me in emails to constituents. George immediately became angry, before I had even spoke, at the fact that I had a video camera with me. I commenced filming George once he became angry and threatened to call Police. Here's the full story and exactly what happened.




Follow @HuytonFreeman

Knowsley Housing Trust threaten to inform Social Services over children if they evict Tenant over bedroom tax.

In October 2013, KHT apologised 'Story here' over the way a letter sent to one of their tenants was 'worded'

Almost a year later, KHT are still sending similar letters, and threatening to evict tenants over bedroom tax arrears.

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Concerns over "questionable integrity" of high-ranking Merseyside inspector and junior colleague

The Liverpool Echo reports "Concerns over "questionable integrity" of high-ranking Merseyside inspector and junior colleague"

They reveal that Merseyside Police bosses have 'long running fears' over the 'questionable integrity' of Inspector Mark Gorton and PC David Woods.

Both men remain employed following an internal probe by the Force's anti-corruption unit because there is not enough evidence to bring criminal or disciplinary charges.

PC David Woods was one of the officers responsible for unlawfully arresting me on my own front garden on a dark night in November 2009.

I subsequently received an out of court settlement in 2013 with regard to this incident.

The ECHO also reports that PC David Woods runs a sideline business selling machetes, knives and realistic replica guns, as well as mugs bearing the Nazi insignia.

Military Mart, of which Woods is a co-director, sells weapons including bayonets and axes from a warehouse in Ormskirk.



Follow @HuytonFreeman

List of Police Officers sacked, or charged or convicted of a criminal offence

Here is the latest list of Police Officers sacked, or charged or convicted of a criminal offence - Version 24

Police Officer list - Version 24

Follow @HuytonFreeman

KHT Reported to Merseyside Police

A concerned individual has reported Knowsley Housing Trust to the Police for their crime of demanding money by menaces.

Dear Chief Constable

Letter by Knowsley Housing Trust: Administration of Justice Act 1970

I enclose for your review and possible investigation a copy of a standard letter from the Income Manager at Knowsley Housing Trust,which I understand to have been sent recently to several of the Trust’s tenants.

I seek your review because I believe the sending of the letter may have constituted an offence under the Administration of Justice Act 1970 Section 40, para (1) & (1) (a), which states that:

A person commits an offence if, with the object of coercing another person to pay money claimed from the other as a debt due under a contract, he…..harasses the other with demands for payment which, in respect of their frequency or the manner or occasion of making any such demand, or of any threat or publicity by which any demand is accompanied, are calculated to subject him or members of his family or household to alarm, distress or humiliation.

In addition, paragraph 2 of Section 40 states that:

A person may be guilty of an offence by virtue of subsection (1)(a) above if he concerts with others in the taking of such action as is described in that paragraph, notwithstanding that his own course of conduct does not by itself amount to harassment.

It is my lay view that the contents of the final paragraph of the letter may have been “calculated” to cause just such alarm or distress, in order to exact payment of rent arrears. People receiving the standard letter may, from the wording, have been extremely concerned, to the point of alarm or distress, that their children might be removed from them if they become homeless. This impression would be inextricably linked to non-payment of arrears, and may therefore be construed as a demand for payment accompanied by action calculated by the author of the letter (or others requiring that such a letter be sent) to cause such alarm or distress.

This is not to suggest that Knowsley Housing Trust do not have a duty of referral when a family is at risk of homelessness. However, the letter makes no reference to the justification for that referral, namely that it is a step taken to ensure that children and families receive the most appropriate support from the local authority during a difficult family time. I believe it is a reasonable to expect a professional body to have given consideration to this.

Of course, I understand that it would be a matter for the court to decide the extent to which the letter is “calculated” to cause alarm or distress, but at this stage I would contend that a) there is sufficient evidence to suggest to the Crown Prosecution Service that a prosecution under the Administration of Justice Act 1970 might successfully be brought b) that it is in the public interest to consider prosecution, given the fact that the letter comes from a professional body of whom the public might reasonably expect high standards of conduct

Yours sincerely

Link to crime report

Follow @HuytonFreeman

KHT refer tenant's children to Social Services over rent arrears.

KHT (Knowsley Housing Trust) recently sent one of their Tenants a letter stating that they were applying to evict them because of rent arrears.

The letter went on to say, that in the event of the Tenant being made homeless, KHT would refer their children to Social services.

On 1st Nov 2013, after becoming aware of this letter being shared over the internet and on social media, KHT issued a statement on their website.

Their statement published on the KHT website is as follows:

"Review of our customer communications
Following comments made across our social media channels with regard to a letter we sent one of our customers, we are now prioritising a review into how we communicate with our tenants.

Ian Thomson, Executive Director of Assets at KHT:

‘Many thanks for bringing this to our attention, I have looked into it and have discussed with our income team and although the intention is to be supportive this does not come across as we would have wanted it to in the way that the letter has been worded. As such, this will be reviewed as a priority’"

Link to KHT statement


Follow @HuytonFreeman

Two Merseyside Matrix Police Officers sacked after unlawful use of taser.

Two Merseyside Police Officers were sacked today for gross misconduct after the IPCC upheld a complaint by Kyle Wardle, a man who was wrongly arrested and subjected to five unjustified rounds of Taser in December 2009.

WPC Joanne Kelly, one of the officers sacked, was the female Officer involved in my unlawful arrest in May 2009. My complaint against her and the other officers, Sgt Charlie Tennant, PC Mark Gibbs and PC Jason Jones was dismissed by Merseyside Police's professional standards division, but upheld by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. I subsequently accepted an out of court settlement after issuing legal proceedings against Merseyside Police.

Kyle McArdle was detained by officers from Merseyside Police when he was spotted urinating in an alley off Elliot Street in Liverpool city centre.

Kyle was put into the back of a police van and hit with five rounds of Taser, including three times in 'drive-stun' mode where the weapon was pressed against his chest, leg and upper abdomen. The arresting officers said he was 'violent' and Taser was needed to restrain him.

Taser barbs were also removed from Mr McArdle’s chest in contravention of Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) guidelines that say they should only be removed by a medical professional unless there is an ‘operational necessity’. The officer who took them out said he feared Mr McArdle would remove them himself and use them as weapons.

Mr McArdle, 26, was charged with assaulting two of the officers but was found not guilty at a magistrates’ court hearing.

He then made a number of complaints, including that multiple use of Taser in the confined space of a police vanwas disproportionate.

After investigating the complaints Merseyside recommended officers receive management advice about their 'lawful' use of powers.

Unhappy that the force had not properly addressed his complaint about the extent of force used against him, Mr McArdle appealed to the IPCC. The appeal was upheld and the IPCC recommended Merseyside re-investigate, this time considering if the use of Taser would be justified had the victim been lawfully arrested.

Merseyside then asked its lead Taser instructor to examine the case. The officer concluded the force used was "necessary, proportionate, reasonable and in line with the officers’ training and Acpo Association of Chief Police Officers) guidance”.

A second appeal, which was also upheld, was lodged with the IPCC who found that the officers should have been served with notices for gross misconduct and interviewed under caution. The IPCC also said that insufficient weight was given to Mr McArdle’s version of events and the evidence that supported his account. That evidence included CCTV footage that did not support the officers’ claims that he had been violent and needed to be restrained.

The IPCC also said it was concerned that Merseyside’s lead Taser instructor was uncritical of the officers’ use of the weapon and relied solely on their version of events.

Following the second upheld appeal Merseyside police held a misconduct hearing for two of the officers that began on 30 September. It ended with the dismissal of PCs Simon Jones and Joanne Kelly after gross misconduct was proven. A third officer, Sergeant Charlie Tennant, had already been dismissed from the force for an unrelated matter.

IPCC Commissioner James Dipple-Johnstone said: "To enjoy public confidence it is important police officers only use force, including Taser, as a last resort; and then only at the minimum level necessary for the threat they actually face. The IPCC recognises that there is public concern over the considerable increase in Taser use – not only in the number of officers using it but also in circumstances where it would not have been used previously - and the significant rise in complaints that has accompanied that. Incidents such as this do nothing to alleviate that public concern.

"While we welcome the robust action eventually taken by the force in response to our appeal findings it is a concern that Merseyside’s lead Taser instructor lacked objectivity and presented as fact the officers’ version of events without challenge. It is important that when things do go wrong complaints are addressed thoroughly and responded to robustly. We hope the force will take on board learning from these events for the future.”

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Litter Enforcement Officer in Huyton

Whilst at a Public meeting in Huyton, we became aware of a Pensioner being 'issued' a £70 fine for allegedly dropping a cigarette. Now whilst I do not agree with anyone dropping litter, I and members of the Public felt it to be way over the top to bully a pensioner and try to extort money from him, rather than asking him to simply pick it up.

Here's what happened.



Follow @HuytonFreeman

Huyton Public Meeting

A Public Meeting in Huyton Village.



Follow @HuytonFreeman

Latest list of 'criminal' Police Officers - Version 22

Latest list of 'criminal' Police Officers - Version 22
Click Here

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Bedroom Tax/Council Tax - Walk of shame Protest Huyton

BEDROOM TAX/COUNCIL TAX. Peaceful Demo & Walk of Shame - Tues 7th May 2013 @12.30pm in Huyton Village.

"If you have had enough of this Government's attacks on decent people, if you have had enough of Council's silence and lack of support for the people, putting their masters in London before the vulnerable and suffering residents of their own Borough. Then please show your support and join us for a walk of shame to Knowsley Council.

Let's show this Council and this unelected Government, that we will not stand for these vile attacks and persecution.

Please, put everything to one side, we cannot let this go on any longer. Let these smug Councillors know, that if they don't stand up with us the people, against the millionaires in Government, then they will not be representing us come May 2014!

Please show your support, we are meeting at Huyton Post Office at 12.30pm.

We are all in this together. :-)"

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Statement from KHT's Bob Taylor

A statement from Bob Taylor OF Knowsley Housing Trust.

"I was fortunate to meet a group of anti-bedroom tax and welfare cuts protesters we had invited to our KHT offices on 25th April 2013. The group included tenants and others affected by the bedroom tax, council tax and other changes such as rising fuel and food prices.

Our meeting was positive but a real cry for help from people terrified for how friends, family and those they care for will cope with the cuts and bedroom tax and how it has taken away any hope for the decent life they aspire to.

I have said this before but will say again that the bedroom tax cannot in any shape or form be right. To reduce payments for people who have already been assessed as in need – and in areas where jobs are in short supply – just makes no sense at all. Suddenly thousands of people are being asked to find upwards of £15-20 per week and over £30 per week for many more – just where can this come from?

KHT has over 3,000 homes (around 7,000 people) affected by the bedroom tax alone and when council tax and other changes are taken into account that figure is much higher. We are already hearing that as people with no other sources of income try to come to terms with the enormity of what’s happening they are struggling to eat let alone deal with how they are going to keep the roof over their head.

Thousands of people are desperately worried and at their wits’ end with how to pay their rent, how to eat and how to live. The human and social costs are significant. There will be a huge strain on health services and organisations striving to provide support. Significant numbers of people are already resorting to food banks and other means to survive.

When you combine that with Knowsley (and most other areas of the North) being hit with the highest government cuts per head of working age population in the country, at £800 per head, the economic and social costs are immense.

If we all truly believe that it is the right of every individual to have a decent home, decent food and a decent life, sucking the life out of places like Knowsley through all these cuts is not just wrong but immoral. It’s not good for people, it’s certainly not good for businesses and in the absence of any economic stimulus the future is indeed bleak.

What people on the lowest incomes, in the most unfortunate positions in life need is hope and not to be characterised as spongers or scroungers, insulting phrases which do not apply to the vast majority of the millions of people affected by these policies.

The key point for me is HOPE. If we do not give people a feeling that there is hope – hope to get a job, hope that society cares about people who, through no fault of their own, can’t work, hope to live a decent life, hope to be able to feed themselves and their families – then what is left?

My call to anyone who has influence over the Government and policymakers and can understand the simple mechanics, if not the human cost, of what I and all at KHT are starting to witness is that it’s not too late to put it right. It’s not too late to recognise what is going to happen and to do something now to stop it.

If you agree and feel as strongly as us, write to your local MP, to Mark Prisk the Housing Minister or your local newspaper telling them how you feel and how it’s affecting you and the community you live in.

At KHT we will be doing much more work over the next few weeks to act on what our tenants, partners and others in our communities are telling us now that the harsh impact of these cuts are being felt in Knowsley .

The old adage – ‘you’ve got to invest to save’ – is something I subscribe to but it doesn’t appear that the Government feels this should apply to Knowsley, Merseyside and the North."

Source: KHT Website

Follow @HuytonFreeman

Knowsley Fight the Bedroom Tax

The Anti-Bedroom Tax Protest in Huyton Village on Friday 12th April 2013. Join us at
Knowsley Fight the Bedroom Tax

Latest list of 'criminal' Police Officers - Version 21

List of Police Officers and Public servants charged or convicted of a criminal offence 2009 to 2013 Version 21

Liverpool Echo Publishes "Policeman slapping youth" story

The Liverpool Echo's Ben Rossington today published the story of the Matrix Officer who slapped a youth, after the video was posted on Huyton Times TV

The Liverpool Echo - Merseyside police officer under investigation over YouTube ‘slap’ video