Keir Starmer Pledges Labour Will Recruit 13,000 More ‘Bobbies On The Beat’ In Crime Crackdown

Posted on 04/12/2024 by Boris Clair

Labour will recruit an extra 13,000 neighbourhood police to tackle anti-social behaviour between now and the general election, Keir Starmer will pledge on Thursday.

The prime minister will unveil the plan in a major speech as he attempts to relaunch his government after a turbulent first five months in office.

Every community will have a “named, contactable officer” tasked with patrolling their neighbourhood and who cannot be used to plug policing shortages in other areas, the PM will say.

The new “neighbourhood policing guarantee” is part of a “plan for change” setting out how Labour intends to achieve its five missions for government and will include separate pledges on clearing hospital backlogs, improving education, tackling the cost of living and bringing down energy bills.

But No.10 has denied that the PM has been forced into the reset by the controversies and scandals which have dogged the government since Labour’s landslide election victory in July.

They have included a row over Labour donor Lord Alli buying clothes and glasses for the prime minister, the sacking of Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray, and last week’s resignation by transport secretary Louise Haigh.

In his speech, Starmer will say: “The neighbourhood policing guarantee will deliver 13,000 extra neighbourhood police, visible on your streets, cracking down on anti-social behaviour.

“A named, contactable officer in every community. A relief to millions of people scared to walk their streets they call home.”

The extra numbers will be made up of police, community support officers and special constables.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said the move was “about rebuilding the vital connection between the public and the police”.

“This marks a return to the founding principles of British policing – where officers are part of the communities they serve,” she said.

“Through this visible, responsive police presence in every neighbourhood, we will restore the trust and partnership that lies at the heart of keeping our communities safe.”

Starmer is also expected to address public concerns about high immigration in his speech, as well as announce a major programme of public sector reform.

He will say: “My government was elected to deliver change, and today marks the next step. People are tired of being promised the world, but short-term sticking plaster politics letting them down.

“Hardworking Brits are going out grafting every day but are getting short shrift from a politics that should serve them.

“They reasonably want a stable economy, their country to be safe, their borders secure, more cash in their pocket, safer streets in their town, opportunities for their children, secure British energy in their home, and an NHS that is there when they need it. My mission-led government will deliver.”

Police And Crime Minister Robbed While Attending Police Conference

Posted on 12/09/2024 by Boris Clair

The police and crime minister was robbed while attending a police conference, it has been revealed.

In a major embarrassment, Dame Diana Johnson’s purse was stolen after she warned of an “epidemic of antisocial behaviour, theft and shoplifting”.

She had been speaking at the annual conference of the Police Superintendents Association at a hotel near Kenilworth in the Midlands.

In a post on X, she said it had been a “pleasure” to be there.

She said: “We have a mission to tackle serious crime, antisocial behaviour and restore neighbourhood policing. What I’ve seen in my short time in this role has given me renewed confidence that we’ll succeed.”

The Home Office confirmed that the minister had items belonging to her stolen while at the conference.

In a statement, Warwickshire Police said: “We’re investigating a report of the theft of a purse at a hotel on the B4115 in Kenilworth.

“A 56-year-old man from Coventry has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.”

Reform’s Lee Anderson Applauds Police Involved In Shocking Manchester Airport Arrest Video

Posted on 25/07/2024 by Boris Clair

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has said he would give the police involved in the kicking incident in Manchester “a medal”.

A video of an officer stamping on a man’s face and kicking him in the head during an arrest at Manchester airport has gone viral, and sparked a backlash against the force.

The police force has now referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the officer involved has been suspended from all duties after a “thorough review of further information”.

The man in question, named as “Fahir”, was later found to have a cyst on his brain in a CT scan after the incident.

Former Met chief superintendent Dal Babu has described the event as “totally appalling”.

Speaking before the CT scan, Anderson claimed: “The message I am getting loud and clear from my constituents is they are fed up with seeing police dancing around rainbows and being nice to people and running off from rioters.

“They want police to do their job, and I think these police yesterday should be commended.

“In fact, I’d give them a medal.”

Foreign office minister, Baroness Chapman, responded to Anderson’s remarks on Politics Live by saying: “I think Lee’s completely wrong to rush to a conclusion like that, not in full possession of all the facts.”

She added that “it’s a very sensitive situation” and many facts remain unclear.

Chapman said she would “caution colleagues against jumping in and reaching conclusions”, and claimed: “I don’t think it’s right for politicians to go around grandstanding and trying to make political capital out of this.”

But Anderson doubled down on his remarks on social media and lashed out at the BBC over the clip.

He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “The Biased Beeb.

“Hardly heard anything from them about the female officer who had her nose broke or the officers taken to hospital.

“I will back our police and said this earlier to the BBC. Brace yourself for the nonsense in the studio.”

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The Biased Beeb.

Hardly heard anything from them about the female officer who had her nose broke or the officers taken to hospital. I will back our police and said this earlier to the BBC. Brace yourself for the nonsense in the studio. pic.twitter.com/wMpitKbaKM

— Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) July 25, 2024

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The Biased Beeb.

Hardly heard anything from them about the female officer who had her nose broke or the officers taken to hospital. I will back our police and said this earlier to the BBC. Brace yourself for the nonsense in the studio. pic.twitter.com/wMpitKbaKM

— Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) July 25, 2024

Police Say Reform Activists Did Not Commit Any Criminal Offences In Secret Footage

Posted on 03/07/2024 by Boris Clair

Police have concluded “no criminal offence” was committed by Reform UK activists after reviewing the recent expose into the party’s activists.

Last week, an undercover reporter for Channel 4 News secretly filmed supporters of Nigel Farage’s party using racist and misogynistic language.

A party canvasser, Andrew Parker, was filmed saying: “I’ve always been a Tory voter, but what annoys me is that fucking P*** we’ve got in.

“What good is he? You tell me, you know. He’s just wet. Fucking useless.”

He was also heard advocating shooting people arriving in the UK by small boats across the England Channel, saying,“fucking just shoot them”, and suggested Reform should “kick Muslims out of mosques and turn them into Wetherspoons”.

A senior Farage aide was also seen in the footage looking at a police car with a Pride flag displayed. They said: “What are the old bill doing promoting that crap? They should be out catching nonces not promoting the fuckers.”

The investigation prompted the local police force to announce they were “urgently assessing” the material.

But on Wednesday, Essex Police said they had reviewed the footage and found no evidence of a crime.

In a statement, the force said: “Having assessed the comments made during a Channel 4 news programme, and all other information available to us, we have concluded that no criminal offences have taken place.”

PM Rishi Sunak responded to the racist term used about him last Friday by saying “it makes me angry” and said Farage “has some questions to answer”.

The Reform leader then released a statement saying he was ’dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign” and said they would no longer be with the campaign.

Channel 4 and Parker both had to deny last week that the activist was an actor who was paid to be in the video, after Farage stoked the conspiracy.

He claimed on X: “Andrew Parker was the man that made the astonishing racist comments that have given us so much negative coverage. We now learn that he is an actor by profession.”

Channel 4 said it stood by “our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself”, and explained its reporters first met Parker at Reform UK headquarters when he was a party canvasser.

Parker himself apologised to Press Association for his remarks, saying: “Of course I’m sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says.”

Reform confirmed Parker was a volunteer for the party but said he was longer part of the campaign.

Less than a week after those comments were first publicised, two Reform candidates officially defected to the Conservatives.

Georgie David said she believed the “vast majority” of those standing for the party are “racist, misogynistic and bigoted”, while Liam Booth-Isherwood accused the leadership of not taking racism within Reform seriously.

Why Everyone’s Talking About Golliwog Dolls Right Now

Posted on 13/04/2023 by Boris Clair

Golliwog dolls have made an unexpected return to the news cycle recently, following a recent police raid in an Essex pub.

Here’s why these highly problematic emblems of the past are still causing such a stir – and why the home secretary appears to have dragged into the row.

What are golliwog dolls?

The dolls are based off a design first produced in 1895 by an American cartoonist called Florence Kate Upton in children’s books, and was supposedly based on 18th Century minstrels.

The fictional character became identifiable by its frizzy hair, large lips and teeth, and seemed to resemble a rag doll.

The caricature then started to appear on Robertson’s Jam jars in 1910, becoming a popular brand, before evolving into toys and collectibles.

As the word Golliwog is used to attack Black people, Golliwog dolls are seen as racist.

In the 80s, the name for the dolls became “gollys” in an effort to step away from the racist connotations, but the brand was eventually dropped in 2001.

Media regulator Ofcom has since declared the word “golliwog” to be a highly offensive term, describing it as: “Strongest language, highly unacceptable without strong contextualisation. Seen as derogatory to Black people.”

What do golliwog dolls have to do with an Essex pub?

It all started on April 4 when police in Essex revealed five officers had confiscated several dolls from the White Hart Inn in Grays, where they were being displayed behind the bar.

No one was arrested or charged in connection with the investigation, but the landlord is to be questioned when he returns from abroad in May.

It is all part of an ongoing investigation following a complaint about an alleged hate crime (being racially distressed) on February 24.

Though she denies she or her husband are racist, landlady Benice Ryley, said she would be replacing the confiscated dolls. She said she had a collection of about 30 dolls from family and customers, in the pub for nearly 10 years and that she could not see “any harm” in displaying them.

The police have said it would only be able to remove the next lot of offensive dolls if they received another complaint.

“No victim has come forward who has felt racially harassed, alarmed or distressed since any further dolls have gone up in the pub,” the police said.

What does this have to do with the law?

Crime and Disorder Act

Displaying golliwog dolls could be considered illegal under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

It might fall under the definition for racially aggravated behaviour, if “the offender demonstrates towards the victim hostility based on the victim’s membership or presumed membership of a racial or religious group.”

According to The Guardian, it might not be necessary for someone to come forward as a victim to secure a conviction, as this is a public order offence.

Equalities Act

Businesses have to offer equal service to customers and staff under the 2010 Equalities Act.

Breaking this could be a civil issue, leading local authorities to act (potentially removing the pub’s licence).

Malicious Communications Act

A 2016 Facebook post from Benice’s husband, Chris Ryley, has also resurfaced, showing the Golliwog dolls hanging from a bar shelf. When his wife commented under the image asking if displaying the dolls was “legal”, he replied: “They used to hang them in Mississippi years ago.”

This could be construed as a breach of the Malicious Communications Act 1988, which relates to electronic communication including “with intent to cause distress or anxiety”.

Essex police are using this post as part of their investigation into the pub.

Why has Suella Braverman’s name been mentioned?

Reports in the Mail Online suggested that the home secretary had told the police force off for removing the dolls. The newspaper quoted a Home Office source allegedly saying the police “should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense” and focusing on “catching criminals” instead.

But Essex Police said this account was “categorically not true”. They alleged she had not contacted the force about the probe – but refused to rule out that the Home Office in general had contacted them.

The force said: “In addition, as is the case in all investigations across every police force, we maintain operational independence from the Home Office, which ensures that every investigation is carried out without fear or favour.”

We’re investigating an allegation of a hate crime in #Grays.

The report was made to us on 24 Feb and we visited a venue off Argent St on 4 April.

We’re aware of reports suggesting we have been contacted on this by the Home Secretary. This is not true.https://t.co/H2JL5wMXHl

— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) April 10, 2023

What next?

After an investigation, Essex Police would have to send any possible charges to the Crown Prosecution Service before a final decision was made.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has said the pub in question will now not be included in the Good Beer Guide, stating that it believes “pubs should be welcoming and inclusive places”.

Meanwhile, the saga has prompted a wave of reaction online, and polling company YouGov has revealed that 39% of respondents think it is still acceptable to sell/display the dolls, with 48% claiming it is not racist.

People Are Calling Out The Police For Their Attitude To Anti-Monarchy Protesters

Posted on 12/09/2022 by Boris Clair

Anti-monarchy protests have been quickly tackled by the police over the last few days – but not everyone is happy about it.

The changeover in monarch, from Queen Elizabeth II to her eldest son King Charles III, is seen by republicans as the ideal time for a change in the way the UK operates – prompting a small wave of demonstrations across the country.

But, police have quickly acted on several of these protests, escorting anti-monarchists away from crowds or even arresting them.

This has caused a huge stir on Twitter, as critics believe this impinges on freedom of speech, one the central pillars of a democracy.

Here’s what you need to know.

All the known police interventions so far

In Oxford, on Saturday

Author, activist and history tutor Simon Hill claims he was arrested in Oxford (although subsequently de-arrested) after he supposedly shouted, “Who elected him?” during King Charles III’s formal proclamation as the new monarch.

He told the Bright Green campaign website that the police had offered him “confused answers” when he asked about the reasons behind his arrest.

Thames Valley Police later confirmed to Yahoo News UK: “A 45-year-old man was arrested in connection with a disturbance that was caused during the county proclamation ceremony of King Charles III in Oxford.

“He has subsequently been de-arrested and is engaging with us voluntarily as we investigate a public order offence.”

Being de-arrested means to be released before being taken to the police station for further questioning.

In Edinburgh, on Sunday

A woman was arrested after holding an anti-monarchy sign shortly before the announcement for the accession proclamation of Charles on Sunday.

Police in Scotland said the arrest was made outside St Giles Cathedral, where the Queen’s coffin is currently lying at rest.

She held a sign with the slogan: “Fuck imperialism, abolish monarchy.”

Officers took her away, and the crowd clapped, although one man said: “Let her go, it’s free speech.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson later confirmed a 22-year-old woman was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace”. She was later charged and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

The latest in the UK’s so-called “democracy”: A woman in Scotland was arrested after holding a sign reading “Fuck imperialism, abolish monarchy.”

Police accused her of “breach of the peace.”

How much European “democracy” has advanced since feudal times!https://t.co/EYC9sClIac

— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 11, 2022

In Edinburgh, on Monday

One protester was arrested for “shouting abuse” at Prince Andrew during the procession carrying the Queen’s coffin moved down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh on Monday.

Amid the quiet crowd, he called: “Andrew, you’re a sick old man!”

In Edinburgh, on Monday

Another arrest took place around the same time on Monday, although more details surrounding it are yet to emerge.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: “A 74-year-old man was also arrested near Holyroodhouse in connection with a breach of the peace – he has also now been charged and is due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, September 12.”

In London, on Monday

A demonstrator holding up a small sign with the words “Not my king” was silently led away by police on Monday morning.

In London, on Monday

Barrister and climate activist Paul Powlesland claimed he risked being arrested for writing “not my king” on blank piece of paper while in Parliament Square.

Powlesland also tweeted a video recording of an exchange that he appeared to have had with a police officer, who could be heard telling him that someone might be offended if the lawyer were to write “not my king” on the piece of paper he was carrying.

He tweeted: “He confirmed that if I wrote ‘Not My King’ on it, he would arrest me under the Public Order Act because someone might be offended.

“A period of quiet mourning for the Queen is fine, but using that period to cement Charles accession as King and cracking down on any dissent to the accession as disrespectful is outrageous.”

Just went to Parliament Square & held up a blank piece of paper. Officer came & asked for my details. He confirmed that if I wrote “Not My King” on it, he would arrest me under the Public Order Act because someone might be offended.

— Paul Powlesland (@paulpowlesland) September 12, 2022

People on Twitter are furious…

So only monarchists are allowed to express an opinion on our streets?

The silence of so-called free speech groups is deafening. They support only bigotry and attacks on “woke”..

“Woman arrested after protester holds anti-monarchy sign in Edinburgh” https://t.co/phP20zWjLK

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) September 12, 2022

These arrests of anti-monarchy protesters in various parts of the country are absurd – and dangerous. Is there now a law against voicing anti-monarchical sentiments? What sort of country are we becoming?

— Stephen Moss (@StephenMossGdn) September 11, 2022

Warned about criticism of the monarchy when we went to Thailand in 2020. Found in amusing. Didn’t think I would see the same rules applied here. https://t.co/cDua7Xiz05

— Neil Shima. (@StickMan_v7) September 12, 2022

So, should people be arrested for peaceful protest?

Well, there’s a range of legal opinions out there.

Barrister Adam Wagner tweeted: “A few stories of people being arrested for protesting against the monarchy – unless they are threatening violence the police should leave well alone.

“Freedom of speech is as important a value in times of public mourning as it [is] at any other time.”

He continued: “A few people saying ‘now is not the time’. That is a fair opinion and will be shared by many, but it is an opinion not the law. Protest is often inconvenient and irritating – but still a central part of our democracy.”

He clarified that a “liberal society benefits from multiple points of view”.

Another criminal barrister, Tom Wainwright, also explained: “It is not automatically a criminal offence to express republican views in public. Now or ever. As is often the case, context may be important.”

He said police can “only arrest for breach of the peace if there is a threat of violence” – including if threatening or abusive words said or displayed in public could cause “harassment, alarm or distress”.

And, Wainwright explained that a court could only convict if it was necessary to protect public safety.

In England & Wales, police can only arrest for Breach of the Peace if there is a threat of violence. Where the threat comes from someone responding to the protest, an arrest of the person protesting can only be justified in exceptional circumstances.
3/13

— Tom Wainwright (@wainwright_tom) September 12, 2022

But, Wainwright also highlighted that laws are different in England and Wales compared they are in Scotland.

Legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg told Times Radio that in Scotland, this matter comes under a common law laid down over the centuries and reviewed by judges 20 years ago.

It states that “breach of the peace” which causes alarm to ordinary people and threatens serious disturbance to the community, could justifiably lead to an arrest.

He argued that offensive signs shown at times of heightened emotion might have caused violence to break out, and so the display of the ‘Fuck Imperialism’ sign “did fall under the definition of the criminal law as I understand it to be in Scotland”.

A protester has been arrested after holding an anti-monarchy sign outside St. Giles Cathedral.

The sign read “F*** imperialism, abolish monarchy.”

Legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg explains the law about protest. pic.twitter.com/IyjhL0vcfW

— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) September 12, 2022

‘Scary But Not Surprising’: The Horrible Spike In LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes

Posted on 16/08/2022 by Boris Clair

Reports of homophobic and transphobic hate crime are rising at record rates, with charities calling the findings “deeply worrying”.

The shocking data was collected and analysed by Vice World News, who sent freedom of information requests to every police force in the UK.

Overall, homophobic hate crime reports have doubled in the past five years while transphobic hate crime reports have tripled.

The data reveals that police received 26,824 reports of hate crimes based on sexual orientation in 2021-22, compared to 10,003 in 2016-17 – representing an increase of 168%. The most recent reporting year saw the biggest annual increase ever recorded, at 32% in 12 months.

The rise of reports for transphobic hate crime was even higher. There were 1,292 reports of transphobic hate crime recorded in 2016-17, but 4,399 in 2021-22– a staggering increase of 59%, which is also the largest increase ever recorded.

Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall, described the latest figures as “shocking”.

“This data is deeply worrying and shows an alarming rise in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people being targeted because of who they are,” she said in a statement.

“Behind these figures are people who’s lives have been damaged by hatred and abuse. All these figures are terrible, but it is especially shocking to see a reported 59% increase in hate crime targeted towards trans people in the past five years. The constant drumbeat of anti LGBTQ+ sentiment in media and politics has a human cost.”

Some police forces told Vice World News the increase in reported incidences actually reflects “increased confidence in reporting, improvements in crime recording and a better understanding of what constitutes a hate crime”.

But Arthur Webber, a 24-year-old journalist and former council candidate from London, is not convinced by this idea.

“My partner and I have been homophobically abused on the street we live on three times so far this year,” he tells HuffPost UK.

“It makes you afraid to leave your home because what if it’s not just verbal this time? We didn’t bother reporting them because nothing happened when we reported an incident in 2021.”

Webber said the individual officer who initially handled their report last year seemed helpful and disclosed that she was LGBTQ+ herself, which made them feel more comfortable.

However, after taking their statements the case was taken no further, despite the incident happening on public transport with CCTV. HuffPost UK has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment and will update this article with any response.

Hayley Speed, assistant director of services at the youth homelessness charity Akt, also believes LGBTQ+ hate crime actually goes underreported.

“What we know is that people who are experiencing homelessness are far less likely to report hate crimes directed at them,” she tells HuffPost UK.

“This is due to a series of factors that include a lack of a fixed address, lack of internet access, and in some circumstances, a lack of trust in the police. Furthermore, covid has drastically reduced any services dedicated to reporting anti LGBTQ+ hate crimes.”

Speed describes the latest statistics as “stark but somewhat unsurprising” and points out that people from that people from intersectional backgrounds are at risk of experiencing multiple oppressions as they deal with the threat of
homelessness.

“48% of the young people we helped nationwide identified as trans, non-binary or were questioning their gender identity. In London, 69% of the young people we supported identified as black, brown or people of colour,” she says.

“These are all factors that mean that young LGBTQ+ homeless people are at an
increased level of risk when it comes to anti-LGBTQ+ abuse in public.”

Similarly, Webber says the latest figures are “scary but not surprising at all”.

“More needs to be done to challenge anti-LGBT+ bigotry in the media, as it is no coincidence that such a stark rise is occurring when trans people are demonised daily by columnists and drag queens are being monstered for reading to children,” he adds. “These ideas don’t appear out of nowhere.”

Stonewall’s Nancy Kelley agreed that further action must be taken to protect LGBTQ+ people.

“As a society, we all need to do more to combat anti-LGBTQ+ violence and call out abuse, harassment and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment wherever we see it,” she said. “But we also need a greater commitment from the police to take decisive action to follow up and prosecute these offences.”

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