NEWS AROUND PRISON AND LAW  /  UNITED KINGDOM

10. JUNI 2005

kritik an der zeitlich unbegrenzter haft ohne prozeß gegen angebl. terroristinnen . der jetzt erst von der britischen regierung veröffentlichte bericht ist fast ein jahr alt.

UK treatment of terror suspects 'inhuman'

Government waits 11 months before publishing scathing condemnation by European torture watchdog on imprisonment without trial Britain's detention without trial of foreign terror suspects subjected some of them to "inhuman and degrading treatment", the European watchdog on torture said in a hard-hitting report yesterday. The Council of Europe's committee for the prevention of torture (CPT), which visited the detainees in February 2002 and March 2004, said detention without trial caused mental disorders in most of the detainees. The conditions under which some detainees were held "could be considered as amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment".

Foreigners in Britain suspected of involvement in international terrorism were held at Belmarsh and Woodhill prisons and Broadmoor high-security hospital under legislation passed in 2001. Last March they were freed from custody and put under control orders restricting their liberty after the law lords ruled that their detention breached human rights laws. The CPT report is the second within two days from institutions of the Council of Europe to condemn Britain for human rights failings.

Its findings are even more strongly worded than a scathing report on Wednesday from the European commissioner for human rights, Alvaro Gil-Robles, which criticised the UK's human rights record on terrorism, asylum and anti-social behaviour and said that control orders which impose conditions of house arrest on terror suspects "flout the right to the presumption of innocence". The government received the CPT report in July 2004, but waited nearly a year - until after the law lords had heard the detainees' challenge to the lawfulness of their detention, new legislation was pushed through parliament and last month's general election - before agreeing to its publication. Britain was forced to amend the law after the law lords ruled last December that the powers of indefinite detention without trial for foreign terror suspects but not UK nationals breached the European convention on human rights.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 was passed after a bitter parliamentary battle, and last March the detainees were put under control orders which allow them to live at home, subject to stringent restrictions on their liberty.

Gareth Peirce, a solicitor for several terror suspects, and Shami Chakrabarti, director of the human rights organisation Liberty, said the government's delay in publishing the CPT report had deprived the law lords and parliamentarians of important information which could have affected their decisions.

"From the time of the House of Lords judgment, they kept all the detainees in custody, knowing it had been condemned as inhuman and degrading treatment, until the last-ditch stand in March, and deprived parliamentarians of the information when they were debating the legislation," said Ms Peirce. Ms Shakrabarti said: "Why have we not seen this before now? Parliament should have seen this when they were debating the control order legislation, because it highlights the cruelty of punishment without trial, which is just as relevant for control orders.

"The government had this report in July 2004. Why didn't it show this to the law lords last autumn, and why didn't it show this to parliament when it was debating the control order legislation?" The CPT said the trauma of detention in Belmarsh and Woodhill prisons and Broadmoor high-security hospital was made worse by its indefinite nature, the difficulty for detainees in challenging their detention and their ignorance of the evidence which was being used to certify them as terrorist suspects.

"For those who had been subjected to traumatic experiences or even torture in the past, it had clearly reawakened the experience and even led to the serious recurrence of former disorders," said the report. Amnesty International's UK director, Kate Allen, said: "Once again, the UK's anti-terror measures are condemned by a leading international human rights body.

"How many times must the government be told that its anti-terror regime is plain wrong? "Surely the government must now listen to these voices of reason. It a shameful state of affairs when the UK stands condemned for inhuman and degrading treatment. "The Prevention of Terrorism Act, currently subjecting former Belmarsh detainees to house arrest without trial, must be repealed."

The government said the delay in giving its response, which should have been deliv ered last October, and the go-ahead for the report to be published "allows the government to update the Council of Europe on new legislation that it introduced through the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005." A spokesman said: "While we welcome the report, and will give serious consideration to its findings, we categorically reject the view that any of the detainees were held in conditions 'amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment'.

"The government maintains that throughout their detention the detainees received humane and decent treatment, and the appropriate levels of medical and psychological care."

[  guardian.co.uk

06. JUNI 2005

schottland;
ein 15 jähriger ,der in einem kinderheim lebt, ist das erste kind ( nach schottischem gesetz ist ein mensch bis 16 jahre kind) das mit rfid ( radio frequency Identification ) getaggt wird.

Tagging protest over 15-year-old

Human rights campaigners have protested after a 15-year-old boy became the first child in Scotland to be tagged. The boy, who is in a children's home, is thought to have been referred to the Children's Panel for minor offences, rather than violent or sex crimes. Glasgow City Council said the tag was "part of an intensive support and monitoring service." But the Scottish Human Rights Centre called the move "concerning and gimmicky". It said the tagging of someone who is under 16 - who is still a child under Scots law - will not prove effective.

Director Rosemarie McIlwhan said: "Tagging by itself will not actually address the problem. 'Offending behaviour' "Generally, when a child goes into a young offenders' institution, they are part of a programme that addresses the offending behaviour. "Tagging, just detaining someone in their own home - whether it's a children's home or a family home - doesn't actually address the offending behaviour. "What's actually needed is to enable the child to understand why what they are doing is wrong, to work out why they're doing it and then to enable them to stop doing it."

She added: "Tagging only relocates the problem. Instead of causing trouble outside the home, they may well cause trouble inside the home which may actually make life worse rather than better. "So you do actually need to address the behaviour so that they stop offending. Otherwise, as soon as you take away the tag and take away the order they will just go back to reoffending." A council spokesman told The Herald newspaper: "We can confirm Glasgow's social work service is supervising a young person subject to a supervision order with a restriction of movement condition." The move came just days after Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson hit out at local authorities for failing to use all the new powers under the new Anti-social Behaviour Bill.

[  news.bbc.co.uk

05. JUNI 2005

in zukunft werden polizistInnen in schottland auf drogen getestet.

Every police recruit in Scotland will face compulsory drug test

POLICE are to be subjected to drug tests amid fears that hundreds of officers have become addicted - and some are being dragged into Scotland's narcotics underworld. A substance misuse policy has been agreed by chief constables and rank-and-file representatives which will see every new recruit in Scotland tested during their first two years on the job, The Scotsman can reveal. Officers working in "high risk" areas - likely to include firearms units and drivers involved in high-speed chases - will also be screened for drugs.

And police chiefs will get the right to test any of Scotland's 17,000 officers and 6,000 civilian support staff if their performance gives cause for concern.

That will apply particularly to post-incident scenarios. For example, firearms officers will face tests after a shooting incident if there is concern about how they handled the situation. The testing regime, which is a first for the Scottish police service and will mirror a similar initiative which has operated for several years in the North Sea oil industry, is set to be introduced early next year. It has been reported that as many as 1,000 officers - about 5 per cent of the country's police - are addicted to alcohol or drugs, although the service insist the real figure is lower. Police say the policy, which also will apply to civilian personnel, is being introduced "to tackle drug and alcohol abuse among officers and improve public confidence in the force". The tests are also aimed at reducing the threat of corruption among officers whose work frequently exposes them to drugs.

Moira Docherty, director of human resources at Tayside Police, who is part of a national working group implementing the policy, said agreement had been reached between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents and Unison. "Reflecting changes within society, ensuring the health and wellbeing of our staff and enhancing service delivery were key drivers behind the preparation of this policy," she said. "As a result of this policy all applicants to the police service in the near future will be required to undertake a pre-employment drug test as part of the selection process.

"The policy also enables testing under certain circumstances, but the details of this part of the policy are currently being finalised. In addition, a list of key posts will be identified, following appropriate risk assessment, whereby additional safeguards will be introduced in relation to testing." A police source close to the discussions surrounding the new policy said officers were at a greater risk of being dragged into drug-taking and dealing than in the past. The source said: "There have been cases where officers have become involved in drugs. This is a recognition that in this day and age police officers can be vulnerable.

"Drug crime is a significant part of society and officers can be dragged into that. There is a threat of corruption if officers get involved. "There is no evidence that it is a problem with new recruits, but they are certainly more exposed to drugs, both in the course of their duties and before joining the force, than was ever the case before. "It is clear that there are police officers occasionally using drugs and, in some cases, occasionally dealing in drugs.

"The service has to be seen to be credible. Every time someone gets into trouble it damages the service's credibility." Ministers will be required to amend existing police regulations to enforce the tests, making it a penalty for a member of staff to refuse to give a sample.

[  scotsman.com

27. MAI 2005

neun für die cardiff bus arbeitenden menschen bekamen von der polizei die erlaubnis auf den buslinien gegen "antisoziales verhalten" geldstrafen zu verhängen und alkohol oder zigaretten zu beschlagnahmen.

Bus workers handed police powers

Nine workers on buses in Cardiff have been given powers by police in attempt to prevent anti-social behaviour. The inspectors, who work for Cardiff Bus, have been given limited authority by South Wales Police to take action against people causing problems. The staff have powers to issue fixed penalties for those who litter and graffiti, and to confiscate cigarettes and alcohol from young people.

The staff can use the powers to take people's names and addresses. It is an offence if people fail to comply. The scheme, funded by the city's community safety partnership, aims to cut anti-social behaviour and youth disturbance on board services and free up police time. Mike Strange, one of the inspectors and supervisors taking part, said staff received "a lot of verbal abuse and threats".

"I think it is getting out of hand, I think in the last 10 to 15 years it has got worse," he said. Operations director Chris Dexter said they had experienced problems both on the buses and off them, and this scheme aims to tackle both."The new powers we have will enable staff to travel on board services, to deal with the anti-social behaviour," he said."Likewise we can also patrol the area as well, if we have suspicion, to do so."The powers to the inspectors extend to issuing fixed penalty notices for illegal and inconsiderate cycling on pavements.Mr Dexter said that the powers of detention and arrest remained with South Wales Police, but his staff would be working closely with officers.

"What the training does enable us is to diffuse situations much better but also provide the police with infomation which will enable the courts to prosecute in future." All nine Cardiff Bus accredited employees are due to receive certificates and badges denoting their status from Chief Superintendent Bob Evans of South Wales Police at a ceremony in the city's bus depot on Friday. Chief Supt Evans, commander of the Cardiff police division, said: "Combating anti social behaviour is one of my top priorities as I strive to make Cardiff the safest capital in the UK".

Cardiff Bus is among the first UK bus operators to take part in the scheme, and the nine staff will be among only 250 people throughout the UK who are accredited in this way. In Wales, both Gwent and North Wales Police forces have accredited neighbourhood wardens but Cardiff Bus is the first bus company to get involved. David Brown, managing director of Cardiff Bus said: "Passenger and driver safety is one of our top priorities and we are constantly striving to make the environment as safe, secure and pleasant as possible."

[  bbc.co.uk

25. MAI 2005

die kriminalitätszahlen in nordirland sind um 7,7 % gefallen, gestiegen sind die anzeigen wegen sog hatecrimes - 634 rassistische angriffe und 196 angriffe gegen homosexuelle.

Race hate incidents on increase

The latest crime figures for Northern Ireland show a big increase in the number of race hate incidents reported to the police over the past year.

The number of racial incidents increased by 360, with a total of 634 such crimes recorded during 2004/05. The figures also show a doubling of homophobic crimes with 196 incidents of anti-gay or lesbian attacks. Overall there has been a fall in offences such as blackmail, burglaries and car thefts. However, there has been an increase of 4% in other serious offences including dangerous driving and drugs. The Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, has welcomed the overall drop in recorded crime of just over 7%. Of the racial crimes, 322 were criminal damage incidents and 187 woundings or assaults. There was a clearance rate of 15.9%.

Gay rights campaigner PA MacLoughlin said the police were taking the issue of homphobic crimes seriously and moving in the right direction to tackle the problem. He said the rise in figures was probably due to a greater willingness of victims to speak out. "What's happening is that there are more and more of the areas in Northern Ireland where we're starting to get reporting (of homophobic attacks)," Mr McLoughlin said. "I'd say there are very few areas left where you've not got any single incident reported." The chief constable said he was pleased that domestic burglary and vehicle crime had fallen significantly because a recent survey showed these were the crimes people worried about most. "Despite these significant results there is still much work to do. "A number of areas still give us cause for concern and we will be focusing more on these in the current year," Mr Orde said.

The chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Sir Desmond Rea, said the latest figures showed that policing was working and, more importantly, "that communities were being made safer". He congratulated the chief constable for delivering a further reduction of 7.7% in overall crime figures - meaning that crime levels in Northern Ireland were the lowest in six years. "Clearly one of the areas of concern is in relation to the increase recorded in hate incidents and crimes; in the weeks and months ahead the Board will be asking the police how this issue is being responded to," he said. "Through the work of the Policing Board at a Northern Ireland level and through the work of the District Policing Partnerships at a local level, we will continue to listen to what the community concerns are on policing and ensure that policing is being shaped to meet community need."

[  news.bbc.co.uk

25. MAI 2005

1978 wurde ein damals 15jähriger zu lebenslanger haft verurteilt, im märz 2003 wurde er nach 25 jahren knast entlassen.jetzt hat ein londoner gericht das damalige urteil aufgehoben.

Man cleared after 25 years

London - A British man who spent 25 years behind bars for the attempted murder of a young boy had his conviction overturned by the court of appeal in London on Wednesday. Paul Blackburn, 41, from Cheshire in northern England was just 15 when found guilty by a jury and sentenced to life imprisonment for the attempted murder of a nine-year-old boy. Judges at the high court on Wednesday declared his 1978 conviction "unsafe" and said Blackburn had not had a fair trial.

Blackburn was released on life licence in March 2003, after serving 25 years in 18 different prisons. Speaking outside court Blackburn answered "no" when asked whether he had ever given up the fight. Blackburn said he had "scary memories" of police interrogations. He said: "But you can't feel angry all the time, it's soul-destroying and self-destructing." Asked whether he believed he could pick up a normal life, Blackburn said: "I don't know. What is a normal life?"

[  news24.com

25. MAI 2005

die zahl der bewährungswiderrufe bei vorzeitig entlassenen gefangenen sind von 2. 337 ( 2000/2001) auf 8.135 ( 2003/2004) gestiegen. als grund wird die wesentlich strengere handhabung bei kleineren verstößen gegen die bewährungsauflagen angegeben.

'Startling' rise in jail returns

The number of offenders being returned to prison after being freed on licence has more than trebled in the last five years, says the Prison Reform Trust. The trust says the "startling" increase is due to conditions attached to release being more strictly enforced.

In 2003-2004, 8,135 offenders were recalled to jail, compared with 2,337 in 2000-2001, it says. A Home Office spokeswoman said the number of recalls showed how well the probation service was doing its job. The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) said unpublished government research showed four out of 10 offenders released from short prison sentences were recalled to jail for committing new crimes. However, among all types of prisoner the majority were recalled for breaking licence conditions rather than for re-offending.

'Target driven'

Enver Solomon, author of the Recycling Offenders Through Prison report, said it was a "harsh, draconian approach" which was impacting on the prison service. The probation service had "changed direction" over the past few years, he said, and now had a "much more target driven approach".

"The other side of it is the impact it has on people being back in prison," he said. Recalled offenders were often left feeling distressed and resentful, Mr Solomon added. The report claimed offenders were being left in the dark about why they were being recalled, while delays in transferring information meant they could not make prompt legal representation against the decision. "Resources ought to be about proactively preparing you for life when you leave prison," said Mr Solomon. "Instead, large number of offenders, who do not pose a threat to the public, are being dragged back into overcrowded, overstretched jails at great expense to the taxpayer. "Prisons exist to protect the public and detain serious, persistent criminals rather than warehouse people who have done their time and need support in the community to rebuild their lives."

'Breaking conditions'

BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the figures on reoffending were likely to prompt concern that prisoners were being freed too early. But Martin Narey, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, which oversees both the prison and probation services, said the numbers being sent back to jail proved probation was not a "soft touch". And he rejected the idea that there was a lack of support for prisoners released on licence. He told BBC News: "What has changed is the nature of supervision in the community. "People now have to do what they're told. They know that probation isn't a soft touch and they know that if they don't do what they're told by their probation officer they'll end up back in prison." The PRT report also found that about 9% of criminals released on electronic tags under the Home Office's home detention curfew had their licences revoked each year since the scheme began in 1999. Of those, 17% had reoffended, 57% had broken curfew conditions and the remainder were recalled because it was not possible to monitor them.

But the Home Office spokeswoman said: "Prisoners on licence, whose behaviour gives cause for concern, face swift action to recall them to custody. "The increase in the recall of prisoners reflects our overriding concern to protect the public from further offending and sends a clear signal that we will not tolerate poor behaviour from those offenders serving a sentence in the community. "The increase in the number of recalls is a direct result of the probation service improving its performance in enforcing licence conditions."

[  bbc.co.uk/go

25. MAI 2005

ein biosynthetisches "i-powder" genanntes dna-spray soll ,so die firma, dabei "helfen die kriminalität zu reduzieren".

DNA powder to help catch burglars

Burglars may find it much harder to escape the long arm of the law following the launch of a new device which sprays intruders with DNA. The biosynthetic "i-powder", produced by Denbighshire-based Redweb Security, carries a unique, traceable code which is registered to the device's owner. The DNA lasts several weeks, providing forensic evidence to help conviction.

The company said it hopes the product, believed to be the first of its kind, will help reduce crime. The system, called Sentry, works by fitting a box containing a powder spray above a doorway which, once primed, goes into alert mode if the door is opened. It then sprays the powder when there is movement in the doorway again. The aim is to catch a burglar in the act as stolen items are being removed. The intruder is covered in the bright red powder, which glows under ultraviolet (UV) light and can only be removed with heavy scrubbing.

However, the harmless synthetic DNA contained in the powder sinks into the skin and takes several days, depending on the person's metabolism, to work its way out. Redweb chairman Clive Smith said the powder could help in crime detection because burglars would be seen covered in red powder or because police could test suspects by using UV lights or by taking a swab to collect the synthetic DNA.

"Criminals might think they have cleaned themselves up and feel totally clean," he added. "But if police are interviewing a known suspect, they can either eliminate them or further question them. "It gives police sufficient indication that they are the individual that was at the scene of the crime." The Sentry was created from an original idea by Denbighshire mother Liz Williams, who wanted to invent a device to protect children from attackers.

She has won a Female Inventor of the Year award for the system, which Redweb claims is the first of its kind. Mr Smith said: "Our whole dream is we will have a major effect on the reduction in crime by giving police ammunition to do their job effectively, and become a benefit to the community." Redweb has launched the Sentry for business use with funding from Finance Wales, a subsidiary of the Welsh Development Agency. It hopes to produce versions for home and personal use in the future.

[  news.bbc.co.uk

19. MAI 2005

um "antisoziales verhalten" zu verhindern gibt es jetzt polizeistreifen in einer schule im norden von wales.

Police patrol school's corridors

Regular police visits are taking place in the corridors of a north Wales secondary school to prevent outbreaks of anti-social behaviour. Police said the activities of between 50-60 pupils at Rhyl High School had led to the visits. Acting head Martin Finch said the police presence was "a positive move". In the past two years, officers have been called out to more than 40 incidents at the site, which also has a leisure centre within the complex.

These have included anti-social behaviour to assault and criminal damage. As well as the community support officers, a police dog handler also visits the school grounds when possible. Inspector Roly Schwarz said: "We were very worried that there was the potential in school for just a few people to influence others massively in terms of bad behaviour." He blamed the problems at the school on the number of pupils from what he called "transient families" who live "a chaotic lifestyle and they have no loyalty to the community".

"This is the only school where we patrol school premises and grounds, and almost have to provide a policing presence when they [the pupils] are out of school at dinner-time to prevent anti-social behaviour," he said. Inspector Schwarz said officers had dealt with a number of problems, including an assault on a teacher who confronted a pupil for wearing a hooded top, which the school has banned. 2We are working with the school, they do a fantastic job under really difficult circumstances - I'm not critical of any member of the staff," he said. Mr Finch said the police were not there specifically to crack down on troublemakers. "We've invited them onto the site so that our pupils can get to know the police and the police can get to know them," he said.

"Everyone is winning as a result - it's very positive, it's a partnership, it's very effective and the vast majority of pupils are delighted to see them. "It helps break down the barriers between the pupils and the police. "Patrolling is the wrong word - they talk to the pupils and the staff, but they're not involved in maintaining discipline, that's our job." A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: "We welcome the way in which Rhyl High School has developed such a positive and workable relationship with their local police officers. It has proved very successful and has led to a much better relationship between pupils and police. "Both the police and the school feel that it is a very positive step forward. Police officers are not at the school everyday, nor do they have a role in keeping discipline. They are welcome and familiar faces round about the building and the grounds."

[  news.bbc.co.uk

20. MAI 2005

zum g8 gipfel wurde die polizei mit taser ausgerüstet.

G8 protesters face police stun-guns

POLICE dealing with civil unrest during the G8 summit in Scotland will have in their armoury controversial weapons that have been blamed for the deaths of 104 civilians in the United States and Canada. Powerful Taser stun-guns will be available to specially trained armed response officers for the first time in Scotland from late next month, The Scotsman has learned.

The weapons, which fire electric wires from compressed nitrogen cartridges and deliver 50,000-volt shocks to their targets, could be used in the event of serious disorder during the conference at Gleneagles Hotel or if street protests in the likes of Edinburgh turn violent, as they have at past G8 events. But while Taser training programmes continue in police forces throughout Scotland, some US states are reviewing their use after a series of deaths during the pursuit of suspects. An overwhelming 95 per cent of delegates at their annual conference approved the motion. Members of the Police Federation of England and Wales this week joined forces with their colleagues north of the Border by giving unanimous backing to calls for Tasers to be supplied to all officers, not only armed response units, called on to deal with serious incidents. An overwhelming 95 per cent of delegates at their annual conference approved the motion.

Yesterday, the Association of Chief Police Officers said it had put the Home Office "on notice" that it wants more officers to be trained to use the weapon. Mike Tonge, the chief constable of Gwent, said: "We want to make it more available and possibly extend it to more officers, beyond firearms officers." Last week, a survey revealed that eight out of ten officers in Scotland were in favour of frontline police carrying the stun-guns. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) said every Scots force now had, or was in the process of procuring, Tasers for armed response units, and firearms police officers were being trained to use them. A spokeswoman said: "Scotland's major constabularies are all in the process of procuring the weapons after both ACPOS and the former home secretary, David Blunkett, gave their full backing to the introduction of the weapons last year."Tasers can effectively be used in Scotland from next month, and officers will have the option to use them at the G8 summit, or in response to any major incidents they are called out to deal with." For Tayside Police, the clock is ticking towards early July, when Tony Blair, George Bush and Vladimir Putin, along with the leaders of Canada, France, Italy, Germany and Japan, and their respective entourages, will gather at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire for the G8 summit.

Police sources, anticipating the worst, have warned that major unrest could take place around the hotel and in Edinburgh, where a number of high-profile anti-globalisation protests are planned. If there is trouble, the new weapons could be used, although officers will not be issued with them as a matter of routine. The move comes despite a report by Amnesty International published last month, there have been 104 Taser-related deaths in the US and Canada since June 2001. Amnesty has documented cases of Tasers, made by the US weapons manufacturer Taser International, being used against unruly schoolchildren, pregnant women (one of whom subsequently lost her baby), a 71-year old partially-sighted woman and a girl of nine who was already handcuffed.

More than 5,000 US law enforcement agencies are currently deploying the hand-held electronic stun-guns that fire two barbed darts, which remain attached to the gun by wires, up to a distance of 21ft. The fish-hook-like darts are designed to penetrate up to two inches of the target's clothing or skin and deliver a high-voltage, low amperage, electric shock along insulated copper wires. However, Steve Ballinger, of Amnesty International, said: "Tasers are potentially lethal and inherently open to abuse because they leave no visible marks. There should be an open and independent inquiry into their safety and effects, and tight controls on their use - not a move towards wider deployment. "The use of stun technology in law enforcement raises a number of concerns for the protection of human rights. Although US law enforcement agencies stress that training and in-built product safeguards minimise the potential for abuse, Amnesty International believes these safeguards do not go far enough.

"There is also evidence to suggest that, far from being used to avoid lethal force, many US police agencies are deploying Tasers as a routine force option to subdue non-compliant or disturbed individuals who do not pose a serious danger to themselves or others. They have even been used against unruly schoolchildren, unarmed, mentally disturbed or intoxicated individuals, suspects fleeing minor crime scenes and people who argue with police or fail to comply immediately with a command." The decision to approve the use of Tasers in Scotland was revealed in The Scotsman last year after the officer in charge of firearms policy successfully pressed for their introduction. Ian Gordon, the deputy chief constable of Tayside, said then: "The evidence available so far is that Tasers are highly effective, the Taser is suited to incidents where an individual is violent and is difficult to approach and restrain. It may provide a good alternative to baton guns and incapacitant sprays in confined areas of action where they may be a risk of collateral injury."

DEATHS PROMPT SOME AMERICAN STATES TO STOP USING STUN-GUN

POLICE forces in the United States hailed the Taser as a lifesaver when it was introduced in 2000. Officers could stop violent suspects by paralysing them temporarily with a 50,000-volt shock, instead of having to resort to the deadly force of a firearm.But as its popularity has grown, so has concern over its safety. Authorities in several states, including Ohio, Arizona, Illinois and New Mexico, have taken Tasers out of service or launched inquiries into the risks after cases such as these:

CINDI GRIPPI

Cindi Grippi had broken no law and was not involved in any kind of disruptive behaviour when police delivered the 50,000-volt Taser shock that her lawyer insists killed her unborn baby. Ms Grippi, a six-months pregnant Californian housewife, was involved in a domestic dispute with her husband and ignored an officer's request not to try to return to her house.

She was shot in the back and, her muscles paralysed, fell stomach-first on to a concrete driveway. She was discharged from hospital after a check-up that night, but delivered a stillborn baby 12 days after the incident in 2001. A prenatal expert consulted by Ms Grippi's lawyer said that the electric shock was the most likely cause. She later won damages of $675,000 (£373,000) from the city of Chula Vista. Taser International does not recommend the use of Tasers on pregnant women because of the risk of injury or miscarriage in a fall, though it says there is no medical evidence to suggest the unborn baby would be harmed by the electric shock.

JOHN COX

To friends and family, John Cox, 39, was a kind-hearted man who ran errands for neighbours in Bellport, New York state. But to police who were called to a disturbance at his girlfriend's house last month, he was a violent maniac who injured nine officers before being subdued with five Taser jolts. Mr Cox's death, the most recent Taser-related fatality in the US, has reopened the debate about the effect of stun weapons on those under the influence of drink or drugs.

Mr Cox took prescription drugs for schizophrenia and a bipolar disorder, and a post-mortem revealed cocaine and alcohol in his bloodstream. A police report claims the first few shocks had no effect. CHRISTOPHER HERNANDEZ Christopher Hernandez, 19, was killed last December after he was hit twice with a Taser and doused with a substance similar to pepper spray as he fought police during a robbery at a store in Naples, Florida. He was the third suspect to die in Florida in the same month. In the wake of his death, investigators struggled to determine if the Taser was to blame, or if it was his suspected use of cocaine.

ALFRED DIAZ

Alfred Diaz, 29, was killed in April last year after officers in Orange County, Florida, were called to a disturbance at his home. He died after being subdued with at least two jolts from Taser guns. Police claimed they had to restrain him because of his erratic behaviour. The exact cause of death was unknown, but a post-mortem examination suggested cardiac arrest. Mr Diaz had no history of drugs.

[  news.scotsman.com

19. MAI 2005

durch das einschaltens des tapes an seinem handy konnte ein 16jähriger kurdischer mann die rassistischen beschimpfungen eines polizisten bei seiner verhaftung nachweisen und wurde freigesprochen.

Kurd youth released after taping racist abuse

A police officer has been suspended after being secretly recorded racially abusing and threatening a 16-year-old Kurdish youth.

In a foul-mouthed tirade lasting several minutes, the officer told the teenager he was "going to smash your fucking Arab face in" and warned him he would be found guilty because "I'll write it up properly". But the exchanges were recorded by the youth on his mobile phone. When they were played in court, the charges against him were dismissed and the judge said he could not believe a word of the police evidence. The youth, from Bayswater, west London, has a history of run-ins with the police and has a conviction for affray. He has been acquitted on a charge of rape and no further action was taken on an accusation of robbery. He was stopped by two officers while on the street in west London in February with a friend. The officers told him he was being arrested on a public order offence of using threatening and abusive language to the officers, a claim he strongly disputed.

As he was bundled into the police van, he switched on the tape player on his mobile phone. It captured him asking why he had been picked up, to which the officer replies: "It's because you're a fucking rapist and I hate you." As the teenager protests, the officer warns him: "If you say one more fucking word, I'll smash your fucking Arab face in. Do you understand?" He is heard laughing as he says: "You're a fucking robbing, raping, arsehole." And the officer tells the youth: "You won't swear at me again, sunshine, and this isn't one you won't fucking get off of at court because I'll write it up properly."

The case came to the West London youth court last Friday, during which the officer and a colleague both gave evidence that the youth used foul language to them. A transcript of the tape was read out to the court and then the recording was played. Checks on the teenager's mobile phone confirmed it had been made at the time of the arrest. District Judge David Simpson said: "No magistrate, judge or jury could convict on the evidence of these officers. I cannot believe anything these officers have told me. There's a lot of talk about respect and the lack of it. Respect is not something you get by putting on a uniform. I believe respect should be earned." Describing the officers' evidence as unreliable, he asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate the attempted prosecution. A Met spokesman yesterday confirmed that a 26-year-old officer based in Paddington Green station was suspended from duty. The spokesman said the force's directorate of professional standards was investigating "an allegation of racial harassment".

The youth has been in Britain since he was a child and is a UK citizen since his mother was granted indefinite leave to remain after she claimed asylum. He cannot be named for legal reasons; he has also said he is frightened of reprisals if he is named. Shauneen Lambe, youth justice spokesman of Lawrence and Co, the solicitors that represented him, said: "Lots of kids tell us stories about how the police treat them and they aren't believed. This youth might not have been believed if he hadn't recorded them. It would have been his word against that of two uniformed officers." Richard Garside, director of the Crime and Society Foundation think-tank, said: "This is the collateral damage of an aggressive policing approach, encouraged by Downing Street and the Home Office, that gives police a green light to crack down on those they believe to be causing the most trouble. The problem with cracking down on 'the usual suspects' is that innocent people can end up being fitted up, abused, or both."

Caught on tape

Youth: Why do you keep stopping me anyway?

PC: Don't tell me to fuck off. You know why, It's because you're a fucking rapist and I hate you.

Youth: Why are you calling me a rapist for? What are you saying that for? Are you... laughing? What's wrong with you? What are you saying that for?

PC: Shut the fuck up.

Youth: Hey, don't be silly, Hey, what did you say? Sorry go on, go on, go on.

PC: If you say one more fucking word, I'll smash your fucking Arab face in. Do you understand?

Youth: Just leave me alone, man.

PC: Just shut the fuck up, you cunt, otherwise I'm going to smash your fucking face in. [Laughter] 'Cause you're a fucking robbing, raping arsehole.

PC: You won't swear at me again, sunshine, and this isn't one that you won't fucking get off of at court because I'll write it up properly.

[  independent.co.uk

[  Officer suspended in racism probe / BBC

14. MAI 2005

Record jail population

[  guardian.co.uk

11.Mai 2005

2000 gefangene sollen jedes jahr vorzeitig entlassen werden und stattdessen mit elektronischen tags gefesselt.

Tagging: controversial plans.

2,000 prisoners a year set to be freed early and tagged instead TWO thousand criminals a year will be granted early release from jail and tagged under controversial plans to cut reoffending.

The Scottish Executive last night revealed the full extent of the proposed use of home detention curfews (HDCs), which will allow large numbers of "low risk" prisoners to serve the last weeks and months of their sentences in the community.

Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, yesterday insisted the move was "not a soft option". But opposition politicians branded the introduction of HDCs a "panic reaction" to the rising prison population and called for more resources to support proper community-based punishments. Under the plans contained in the Management of Offenders Bill, prisoners will be fitted with electronic tags to ensure they remain in their homes at night. If they breach the order they will be returned to jail. Sex offenders and violent criminals will be exempt, but housebreakers, drug dealers and other offenders assessed as being low risk could be released up to four-and-a-half months early. The Scottish Executive last night estimated that some 7,500 prisoners would be assessed for HDCs every year. Officials said about 2,000 would be released early with the average curfew lasting around 55 days. With about 30,000 prison "check-ins" every year, it is anticipated that 7 per cent of all inmates will benefit from the early release scheme.

Nearly £4.5 million will be spent every year monitoring those tagged. Kenny MacAskill, the SNP justice spokesman, said: "It's a simplistic solution to a problem of their own making. "If somebody deserves to be in prison because of the seriousness of the crime or their danger to society, that is where they should be. "If somebody is not a danger to society or their crime is not that serious they should not be in prison and in most instances probably should not be tagged. "What we need is more resources for community-based disposals and less panic reaction to ever-growing prison numbers."

Giving evidence to MSPs on the bill, Ms Jamieson defended the proposed use of HDCs saying they would help address the occasional "over-reliance" on short-term jailings. She insisted the curfews were part of a package of measures to help low-risk prisoners return to the community. Ms Jamieson said the scheme could offer "throughcare" support to short-term prisoners such as housing and employment assistance or money advice. However, they would not get "24-hour wrap-around" social work care, she said, arguing that a person who needed that should still be in custody. "What the home detention curfew does is allow people to begin to take responsibility for themselves, to prove that they're out there and they can be trusted to be in the community." Ms Jamieson added: "I don?t think it?s helpful to consistently refer to things as being a hard or soft option. What we need to find are effective options." The tagging of prisoners was thrown into the spotlight recently by the case of Peter Williams, the teenager who removed his device before taking part in a raid on a Nottingham jeweller?s shop in which his accomplice shot Marian Bates as she tried to shield her daughter. Williams had earlier been detained for burglary but was released on licence and tagged three weeks before the killing.

Margaret Mitchell, the Scottish Tories' deputy justice spokeswoman, insisted prisoners should not be released early if they are classed as posing any risk to society. "The criminal justice system must be driven with the protection of the public as its number one aim," she said. "This Labour-Lib Dem Executive seems far more interested in emptying prisons than in protecting the public and they need to face up to the simple fact that if somebody poses a risk to society then prison is the one place where they do not pose that threat." But Clive Fairweather, the former Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland, gave a cautious welcome to the plans, while acknowledging that releasing prisoners early from their sentences was "hugely controversial". He said: "I wouldn't welcome it as a blanket measure, nor as a panic step to deal with rising prison numbers. But as a careful measure to reduce the prison population and put the responsibility on some people to look after themselves and look after their own rehabilitation, it's not necessarily a bad thing at all." The proposed legislation will also introduce new community justice authorities and will require councils, prison bosses and other agencies to work more closely to help released prisoners stay out of trouble. The bill was launched in March after figures showed about six out of ten prisoners are reconvicted within two years of their release.

[  scotsman.com

9.mai 2005

4 männer, die mitglieder einer "globalen gang" namens " robin hoods" sein sollen und die teure software von firmen kopierten und die umsonst übers internet weitergaben ( z.b. windows 95 zwei wochen vor der veröffentlichung durch microsoft ) wurden zu knaststrafen von 2 1/2 bzw. 2 jahren ( die 2 die keine aussagen machten) , einer zu 18 monate knast und einer zu 18 monate auf bewährung ( haben aussagen gemacht) verurteilt.

'Drink or Die' four jailed

FOUR Britons have been given jail sentences for being part of a global gang described as "Robin Hoods" who stole expensive software from rich companies and gave it away for free over the internet. The group, described by prosecutors as "sad individuals" who spent their lives in front of computers, were said to have cost firms such as Microsoft millions of dollars in profit and enraged its chairman, Bill Gates. Prosecutors told London's Old Bailey criminal court that the four men, motivated by a hatred of software companies, were the key players in an international ring called DrinkorDie.com, said to be one of the world's most sophisticated Web piracy groups.

The gang allowed internet surfers to download new software for free, often before it came on the market, including the Windows 95 operating system two weeks before it was released. "They think of themselves like latter day Robin Hoods or sea pirates like Johnny Depp in the film 'Pirates of the Caribbean'," prosecuting lawyer Bruce Houlder said. Mr Houlder said the gang - corporate executives, university administrators and IT managers - were just "plain thieves."

The prosecution followed what Mr Houlder described as a groundbreaking crackdown on Web piracy and unprecedented cooperation between US and British authorities, which arrested 70 suspects in 12 countries. Often using moles in large corporations, the group cracked security codes for Norton Antivirus, Microsoft's Word and Excel products, and also pirated games and design programs. "The cost of their activities run into very many millions in lost profit ... the losses are incalculable," Mr Houlder said.

"But they also caused people to lose their jobs. They were not motivated by profit but by a dislike of the software industry and the kudos they received by being the first to offer new programs for free." London banker Alex Bell, 29, of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, was jailed for two-and-a-half years and Steven Dowd, 39, was given a two-year prison sentence. Mark Vent, 31, a computer network administrator, was jailed for 18 months and Andrew Eardley, 35, a computer systems manager, was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence. Dowd and Bell were found guilty. Eardley and Vent pleaded guilty. "They see themselves as stars, night time tappers of keyboards," Mr Houlder said. "You might feel that their lives are rather sad, living as they do for very large parts of their days and nights in a virtual world, in front of a computer monitor, cocooned from existence."

[  australianit.news.com.au

27.April 2005

gegen das vom europäischen gericht in straßbourg im märz 2004 gefällte urteil , daß einem gefangenen das recht zum wählen gibt, hat die britische regierung eine klage beim höchsten der europäischen gerichte eingereicht. in 13 ländern der eu werden gefangene von den wahlen ausgeschlossen. ein urteil wird erst in einigen monaten erwartet.

Britain appeals to European court on inmate voting

STRASBOURG (Reuters) - Britain called on the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday to overturn a ruling allowing convicts to vote, saying this clashed with cultural values both at home and in many other European countries. "Many people find it shocking that a man who has been convicted of murder and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison has the right to vote," said Rabinder Singh, the lawyer defending the British government. He said the case would have significant consequences for Britain and other members of the Council of Europe, 13 of which deny prisoners a vote.

Britain is seeking a final judgment from the highest chamber in the European Court in a case brought by a man imprisoned for manslaughter. The ruling is not expected for several months. In a triumph for John Hirst, the prisoner who brought the case, the Strasbourg court ruled unanimously in March 2004 that inmates should be allowed to vote. Hirst's lawyer, Flo Krause, said there was nothing in the government's argument that should change the court's decision from last year. The right to vote "is so fundamental that it must have a broad and liberal interpretation," she told a hearing. Hirst, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1980, was released on parole last November. He attended the hearing.

"Recently, in our country, someone convicted of electoral fraud went to jail for it," Hirst told Reuters. "I can understand the deprivation of the vote in this case. But with a killing, a robbery or something like that, there is no link with the crime," he said. Hirst lives in Hull, northwest England, where he is looking for a job. He will vote for the first time in 25 years in the May 5 election for a candidate proposing to legalize cannabis.

[  today.reuters.co.uk

11.april 2005

um sie nicht zur "märtyerin" zu machen hat ein richter eine 66 jährige frau die sagte sie benutzt marijuana gegen ihre schmerzen, und würde dieses auch weitergeben, zu 6 monaten auf bewährung verurteilt.

Pothead granny spared jail

LONDON: A 66-year-old grandmother with a taste for marijuana casserole has been spared jail despite admitting she had shared cannabis-laced cookies with fellow pensioners.Patricia Tabram from East Lea in Northumberland, who said she uses cannabis to alleviate pains in her neck and back, pleaded guilty to possession of the drug with intent to supply.But Judge David Hodson said he would not make a "martyr" of her when she returned to Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing on Friday. Instead, she received a six-month suspended prison sentence.The white-haired, bespectacled granny was unrepentant, and said she wouldkeep cooking with pot."I had it this morning in my scrambled eggs and I'll have it again for lunch. I'm not giving it up," she told Channel 4 News.Tabram has become a symbol for the legalise marijuana campaign. On her website, www.grandma-eats-cannabis.com, she promises soon to provide free recipes, as well as tea towels and mugs for sale.

Last year, the government downgraded cannabis from the same class as cocaine and ecstasy to a lower class of illegal drug, which means police are not expected to arrest people for possessing small amounts but can jail them for supplying it to others.Police said they raided Tabram's home after a tip-off in May last year and found 31 cannabis plants along with hydroponic cultivation equipment. In a later raid they found 47 bags of "skunk", a particularly strong form of the drug.The set-up at Tabram's home "bore all the hallmarks of any sophisticated drug dealer", police said in a statement.

[  www.stuff.co.nz

12. april 2005

6 jahre nachdem eine frau zu lebenslanger haft verurteilt wurde, wurde sie entlassen. der damalige schuldspruch hatte sich auf "beweise" eines professors bezogen,der die theorie aufgestellt hatt, daß es Mord sei wenn in familien mehr als ein kind an "ploetlichem kindstod" stirbt. Aufgrund seiner Theorie sind 28 Frauen verurteilt worden.

Baby-deaths mother freed after appeal

A MOTHER who spent more than six years in prison after she was found guilty of murdering her two children was freed yesterday by the Court of Appeal. Donna Anthony was present in the dock as three judges overturned her conviction, saying she would not face any retrial.Prosecution lawyers had indicated at an earlier hearing that they would not oppose an appeal by Mrs Anthony, 31, who was jailed for life in 1998 at Bristol Crown Court for murdering her 11-month-old daughter, Jordan, and her four-month-old son, Michael.The case against her relied on evidence from Professor Sir Roy Meadow, a paediatrician whose evidence in other cases has been discredited. Lord Justice Judge, sitting with Mrs Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Leveson at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, ruled yesterday that Mrs Anthony’s convictions were "unsafe".

Mrs Anthony, of Yeovil, has always said both children were victims of cot death and not smothering as alleged by the prosecution, but her first appeal in June 2000 was dismissed.However, her case was sent back to the Appeal Court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in February this year following consideration of fresh evidence from medical experts.Mrs Anthony faced the possibility of being bailed at a court appearance in March, but complications surrounding arrangements for her safe accommodation meant she was sent back to Bronzefield jail.During yesterday’s hearing, Mrs Anthony’s counsel, Ray Tully, described the original trial as "flawed"."Our submission is that these convictions are wrong and that they are unsafe and there are two essential pillars to the submissions I wish to make to your lordships."First, that the expert evidence presented at trial was flawed in a number of different respects and, second, that there is now fresh evidence with regard to a potential natural cause of death in the case of Michael."

He told the judges that the Crown conceded that the convictions were unsafe. He said the prosecution "do not seek to argue the merits of a retrial in this particular case".Mrs Anthony’s appeal was one of 28 referred to the CCRC after the conviction of Angela Cannings was quashed in January last year.Ms Cannings was one of several mothers who spent years in jail on the testimony of Sir Roy, who appeared as an expert and argued that more than one unexplained infant death in a family must be murder. New research has shown that natural causes can be behind the death of a second child in a family where one has already died, discrediting Sir Roy’s "lightning doesn’t strike twice" theory.

Mrs Anthony’s lawyer, George Hawks, said outside the court: "Donna was convicted of the worst possible crime any mother could be convicted of - murdering your own babies. But there was no direct evidence that she had done any such thing."She was condemned by theory based on suspicion which was masquerading as medical opinion. Donna is determined to campaign to ensure no other mother has to go through what she went through."During her original trial the jury heard that Jordan died in Yeovil District Hospital in 1996, doctors believing she had been the victim of cot death. When Michael died in a similar way in March the following year, a police investigation was launched. In both instances, Mrs Anthony tried to revive the babies but they eventually died in hospital.

[  news.scotsman.com

[  Free Angela Cannings

[  Sally Clark's website

23. märz 2005

am 18. märz 2005 wurde ein 40jähriger mann in heywood von einer gruppe männer, die ihn für phädophil hielt ,erschlagen.

Vigilante violence: Death by gossip

His assailants believed Paul Cooper was a paedophile, so they beat him to death. But he was innocent, a victim of vigilante violence Paul Cooper never found himself short of friends in the area of north Manchester where he grew up. He was known for his devotion to his dog, Blue, an interest in cookery and an optimistic outlook, despite a motorcycle crash that meant he needed a walking stick to get about. But a positive contribution to community life counts for little when a neighbourhood starts feeding on fears of crime and takes the law into its own hands.

A murder investigation was under way yesterday after a gang of men near Mr Cooper's home at Heywood wrongly convinced themselves he was a paedophile and beat him to death at his flat. Detectives were forced to stress Mr Cooper's innocence after being hampered in their investigation by locals who are unwilling to give evidence because they believe he was a sex offender. Mr Cooper's disability hampered his attempts to defend himself against the attack, by several young men, which took place at about 11.45pm on Friday, at his flat in Walton Close, a concrete-clad block of flats near Heywood town centre.

He was subjected to a "brutal and prolonged" attack, detectives say, and was found with serious head injuries in his bathroom. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Fairfield General Hospital. Despite the police's insistence that Mr Cooper, 40, was an entirely innocent victim of "mistaken identity", the climate of bigotry and vitriol that contributed to his death was still palpable in Heywood yesterday. "Some people deserve to be killed," said a drinker at the Starkey Arms pub before issuing an obscenity about Mr Cooper and his dog. Greater Manchester Police have come across the same sentiment as they have set about solving the crime. "We are trying to dispel the myth that has developed in the area that Paul was involved in paedophile activities," said Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Mahon of Greater Manchester Police. "We have checked our records and there is no trace of anything of that nature. However, the myth appears to have led to tragic consequences. Paul was a nice lad who did not deserve to die."

Mr Cooper's death appears to reflect the nationwide climate of suspicion and fear being fuelled by growing public concern over crime and punishment. Rising hostility toward minority groups, clamour for tough sentences against offenders and a sinister desire for retribution are being driven by an increasingly prevalent right-wing agenda. When the murder of Sarah Payne led the News of the World, four years ago, to publish the names and photographs of 50 people it claimed had committed child sex offences - tapping into anxiety about paedophiles in our midst - protesters circulated a list of 20 alleged sex offenders on the Paulsgrove estate in Portsmouth and proceeded to target them.

In that climate of suspicion, a female registrar was hounded from her home in south Wales because neighbours confused "paediatrician" with "paedophile". A former sea captain from Grimsby, Humberside, who had been cleared of paedophile offences, was murdered after his details were published in the local newspaper. Mr Cooper's life appears to have been carefree before the vigilantes began targeting him. Old schoolfriends from St Joseph's secondary, around the corner from his flat, attest to the fact that he was popular. Some say he drank too much in adulthood but he spent most mornings doing chores for his mother and had many friends at the Starkey Arms and Navigation pubs in Heywood, where he drank and was known by many.

His problems started when his brother was convicted of sexual offences. It is unclear whether the brother is still serving a sentence but local people suggest that Paul Cooper became the target of vigilantes some time ago and was on the receiving end of at least one serious attack. A police spokeswoman confirmed last night that Mr Cooper's brother has been convicted of sexual offences in the past. As community rumour and counter-rumour became detached from reality, many became convinced that Mr Cooper - not his brother - was the offender. "I used to live in the flat above him and I knew about his brother," said Paul, an associate. "But others didn't. There might have been confusion about them.

"Paul was a good lad. He was liked and didn't deserve this." "It wasn't the only attack of its kind," said a man who would only be known as Stephen, 42, a former schoolfriend of Mr Cooper's. "There's a halfway house for prisoners at the top of this road and, when word got out that a paedophile was there, a mob hit that place too." Mr Cooper's mother, Patricia, who suffers from a heart condition, said she could see "no reason" for the attack. "He was an easygoing, friendly man whose disability would have made it virtually impossible for him to defend himself," Mrs Cooper said.

Police said two men in their twenties from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, had been arrested on suspicion of murder. One of the suspects, aged 24, was later released, but the other man, aged 22, was still being questioned last night.

20. märz 2005

zur zeit gibt es 10.000 menschen mit fußfesseln.

Electronic tagging investigated

There is no evidence the electronic monitoring of criminals reduces re-conviction rates, the Home Office has admitted.BBC Three's Raphael Rowe meets criminals with electronic tags, and investigates the companies that are supposed to be keeping a close eye on them.Electronic tags are designed to keep criminals in their homes under curfew and to stop them going out to commit crimes.There are currently 10,000 criminals on a tag. Most of them are on the Home Detention Curfew scheme, which allows prisoners to leave jail early.

The private companies that monitor these offenders make millions of pounds through government contracts.The British government says it wants to double the number of offenders on electronic tags by 2008.Seen as a tool to tackle prison population numbers, juveniles, terror suspects and custodial battles, Labour wants this virtual prison to be the new solve-all sentence.

So does the tag work?

I embarked on a four month journey to find out more from the criminals, the victims, and the employees of the companies.I uncovered confidential documents that revealed the tragic consequences of a tagging company's failure to act on a repeat offender.

I began my journey by meeting several tagged offenders, all of whom have their own story to tell about how their tags are really working.Some admitted repeatedly committing crimes while wearing the tag and others claimed to have beaten the system.

One young man I met told me that he took his tag off.Although he was supposed to be at home under curfew, he was in fact "robbing cars, going to parties, drinking".The tagging company took no action and he was free to do what he liked for a month.

Another young criminal told me that he couldn't see how a tag would stop him committing crime."In at seven o'clock, what's that? How is that going to stop your crime?" he said.Their weary parents were not confident that tags were a sufficient punishment for their children.

Many of the parents I spoke to would rather see their child locked up in prison."Matthew should be in prison, he is my son and I think a proper sentence in prison would do Matthew the world of good, more than the tag," one told me.

Tagging companies

I spoke to current and ex-employees of the tagging companies. Talking to these people made me aware of the widespread technical problems with the equipment.I uncovered a catalogue of technical failures and control centre mismanagement that lead to criminals being left unmonitored and free to breach their curfews.

One former employee said the system was so mismanaged that recently released offenders would phone up asking why they had not been tagged yet.

"They've said, 'When're you gonna come round and put the tag on? I've just come out of prison yesterday: I'm meant to be tagged.'"

I spoke to experts to ask them what research says about tagging. "It says what you would expect it to say, which is that it has no basic impact on crime, on re-offending."

When we challenged the Home Office it admitted that there was no research to show that tagging criminals stops re-offending.

14. märz 2005

weil sie ihren garten nicht aufräumt wurde eine frau in slaybridge, greater manchester, zu 14 tagen knast verurteilt.

Messy garden woman faces prison

A woman faces a jail term for refusing to clean up her garden.

Helen Abbott, 46, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, was taken to court by the New Charter Housing Trust Group which manages her home.The housing association says the amount of piled-up rubbish in the garden is "disrespectful" to her neighbours.Ms Abbott failed to turn up to the court case but was sentenced to 14 days in jail. She claims she has made an effort, but cannot now avoid prison.

The housing association has given repeated warnings to Ms Abbott to move the litter and a container in her Elms Road garden.She told BBC's North West Today that her partner was away and unable to clear up the mess.Ms Abbott said: "He can't leave a good job, say in London, just to come home, not get paid, to knock it [the container] down."He only comes when he can get time off to knock it down."Last week, Ms Abbott did not turn up for her court hearing at Oldham County Court, so she was sentenced to 14 days in prison.She is now waiting for court bailiffs to arrive at her home and impose the sentence.Ian Munro, from the New Charter Housing Group, said: "We have someone here who has been disrespectful to the neighbours and as a consequence is causing problems because neighbours like to be proud of where they live."If you have that sort of rubbish in the garden that's next to you, are going to lose that pride."

3. märz 2005

in einem artikel über die verhandlungen über den prevention of terrorism bill werden einige der gesetzesänderungen während der labourregierung aufgeführt.

„Stop-and-search“/ anhalten und durchsuchen :

in den ersten zwei jahren der regierungszeit von blair fielen die zahlen der stop-and-searches von menschen aus asiatischen oder schwarzen communities. dies veränderte sich bereits ende 1999. nach der einführung des terrorism act 2000 wurden z.b. 2003/ 2004 12,5 % der asiatischen menschen durchsucht, obwohl sie nur 4,7% der bevölkerung stellen. im letzen juli wurde die polizei durch moslem-gruppen der islamophobie beschuldigt da die stop and search statistik belegte, daß die zahl der asiatischen menschen die durchsucht werden, seit der einführung des gesetzes um 300% gestiegen ist. gestern, mittwoch,den 2.3.05, erklärte die sprecherin des innenministers hazel blears daß moslems es als „realität“ akzeptieren müssen daß sie,im kampf gegen den terrorismus, öfters angehalten und durchsucht werden

ID cards / ausweise

jede/r muß zukünftig einen ausweis haben der vorgezeigt werden muß wenn die polizei dies verlangt. es wird ein „biometrischer“ ausweis sein mit fingerabdruck , irisabgleich und anderen persönlichen daten. Right to trial by jury/ recht auf ein geschworenengericht seit 2003 können bestimmte prozesse von einem richter ohne geschworene durchgeführt werden. bisher ist dies beschränkt auf fällen in denen die geschworenen bestochen wurden und bei fällen von schwerem, verwickeltem betrug. jetzt soll dies auch auf einige terrorfälle angewandt werden.

Previous convictions/ frühere verurteilungen:

jack straw war der innenminister, der als erster den vorschlag machte die geschworenen sollten über die vorstrafen des angeklagten informiert werden. es ist ein seit langem verankertes prinzip des englischen gesetzes das ein angeklagter keinen fairen prozeß haben wird wird dieses vorverurteilende material veröffentlicht. der damalige protest verhindert dies. letztes jahr, mit dem criminal justice act 2003 wurde dies zum gesetz.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders / antisoziales verhalten anordnungen

darunter fällt eine ganze menge, z.b. singen nach der kneipe, pinkeln in der öffentlichkeit, sitzen auf dem rasen. es kann nach verwarnungen und geldstrafen zu strafprozessen kommen. angesehen wird das ganze als „blueprint“ für die überwachungsanordnungen gegen angebl. terroristen.

Asylum / asyl

es soll ein punktesystem für „wirtschaftsflüchtlinge“ eingeführt werden. asylsuchenden werden „vorübergehende“ aufenthaltserlaubnisse erteilt, die nach 5 jahren überprüft werden. außerdem sollen die abschiebungen schneller und vermehrt stattfinden und mehr asylsuchende in lager inhaftiert werden.

Double jeopardy/ niemand darf wegen der selben tat zweimal vor gericht gestellt werden:

weil es in verschiedenen prozessen nicht gelungen war verurteilungen zu erreichen, führte dies zum ende des verbotes von „double jeopardy“. seit dem criminal justice act 2003 kann jeder der wegen eines „schweren verbrechens“ freigesprochen wurde, erneut angeklagt werden.

On-the-spot fines / sofort zu zahlende strafen

die pläne der polizei die befugnis zugeben, hooligans mit „on -the- spot-fines“ abkassieren zukönnen, wurde aufgegeben. aber neue bestimmungen erlauben dies bei der sog. kleinkriminalität wie ladendiebstahl und bei „vandalismus“. „das heißt verdächtige können eine verurteilung durch ein gericht vermeiden wenn sie ihre schuld bei der frühesten gelegenheit zugeben.“

Extradition / auslieferung:

neue abkommen zwischen den usa und uk berechtigen us -gesetzesvertretern eine auslieferung zu verlangen ohne beweise für die schuld vorlegen zumüssen.die schuld beweisen zu müssen

PREVENTION OF TERRORISM

by statewatch.org

PREVENTION OF TERRORISM BILL PUBLISHED - TO BE RUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT It is intended to rush the Bill through parliament in just 14 days. Prevention of Terrorism Bill - full-text introducing "control orders" (including "house arrest") on "suspected" people for "terrorist-related" activities:

The Home Office has also produced four short briefing papers intended to emphasis the need for this new law regardinf international terrroism:

28. februar 2005

david biber wurde in den als „britannien’s alcatraz“ bezeichneten knast woodhill verlegt, weil er „zu beliebt unter seinen mitgefangenen“ war. „ der ehemalige us marine , der kaltblütig pc ian broadhurst hinrichtete und zwei seiner kollegen anschoß, wurde verlegt weil die gefängnisbosse befürchteten, er könnte ausbrechen ,da er seinen bösen einfluß benutzte um ihre autorität zu untergraben.“

„ bieber ist böse, aber er hat jede menge charisma. er hat immer versucht das system zu manipulieren und sein einfluß im gefängnis wuchs ständig was das leben der wärter erschwerte.“ er ist jetzt in einer „ 2 raum zelle“ mit möbeln aus pappe, „damit er sich nicht selbst verletzt“.das bett ist aus beton und er hat eine eigene dusche die auch fitnessraum ist. dadurch wird sichergestellt daß er von den meisten der 773 anderen gefangenen isoliert ist. der richter sagte bei der urteilsverkündung daß bieber nie entlassen werden wird.

28. februar 2005

save the children hat einen bericht „no place for children“ über die inhaftierung minderjähriger asylantinnen herausgegeben.

download the report here :  [  No Place For A Child.pdf

25. februar 2005

es gibt pläne, den berüchtigten maze knast, indem 1981bei einem hungerstreik 10 ira gefangene starben, in ein erholungszentrum mit sportstadium umzubauen. maze ist seit 2000 leer. damals wurden die meisten ira -kämpferinnen nach dem „good friday peace agreement“ von 1998 entlassen.

22. februar 2005

änderungen an dem geplanten gesetz terrorismus verdächtige unter einen hausarrest zu stellen. damit er das gesetz schneller durch kriegt hat clarke jetzt u.a. angekündigt das solche fälle, bei denen der hausarrest von den bullen angeordnet werden kann, nach 7 tagen eine richterliche überprüfung stattfinden soll.

22.februar 2005

artikel über den neuen „organised crime and police bill“ und seine auswirkungen auf politischen protest.

11 .februar 2005

es wird erwartet, das gefangene und ehemalige gefangene in schottland nach einem grundsatzurteil zum „slopping- out“ die behörden verklagen werden. ein gefangener des barlinnie knastes in glasgow hatte letztes jahr mit der begründung daß seine menschenrechte verletzt werden dadurch das er zum „slop- out“ gezwungen sei und das er unter dem ausbruch von ekzemen leide. er hat die klage gewonnen und es wurden ihm 2.450 pfund schadensersatz zugesprochen. mehr als 300 klagen soll es bereits geben und weitere 1.000 werden in kürze erwartet.

[   slop - out : es bedeutet daß die gefangenen nachts toiletteneimer benutzen müssen und keine toiletten in den zellen haben, das slop- out bezieht sich auf das ausleeren am nächsten tag  ]

7.februar 2005

der britische innenminister, hat seinen antrag, einen algerischen mann erneut zu inhaftieren, verloren. der beklagte steht als terrorverdächtiger unter hausarrest. grund für den antrag war, das der nur als "g." bekannte mann ( da er nicht verurteilt wurde bzw.angeklagt ist ,darf die regierung die namen nicht bekannt geben und deshalb haben die „belmarsh“ gefangenen alle buchstaben.) zwei nicht erlaubte besucher gehabt haben soll.

dieses verwarfen die richter des siac als nicht erwiesen. das siac ist ein sondergericht, eingesetzt um die fälle von nicht aus gb stammenden menschen die des terrorismus verdächtigt werden, abzuurteilen. g ist bisher der einzige gefangene der nach den anti - terror - gesetzen unter der überwachung zu hause steht statt im knast. er wurde aus belmarsh im april 2004 entlassen, nachdem die richter von siac urteilten das er unter einer psychose leidet die durch die inhaftierung entstand.

die bedingungen der haftaussetzung:
kann nur mit polizeibegleitung seine wohnung verlassen;
kontakt nur mit ehefrau, tochter, rechtsbeistand oder doktor;
jeder andere besuch muß im voraus vom innenministerium genehmigt werden;
fußfessel muß getragen werden;
die firma die die fessel überwacht muß 5x am tag angerufen werden;
alles womit kontakt hergestellt wird - z.b. computer oder handy - ist verboten;
existierende telefonleitungen werden abgestellt und mit von den behörden geprüften und betriebenen ersetzt;
jederzeit zutritt zur wohnung haben: polizei, ausländerbehörden und die fußfesselfirma.

7.februar 2005

neue gesetze gegen migrantinnen.

6 Februar 2005

die acpos ( association of chief police officers scotland) verlangt haftstrafen für alle pädophile ( auch sog.“ersttäter“) die im internet kontakt aufnehmen oder sich pornos ansehen.

4. februar 2005

In den UK sollen nach der Ermordung eines Bankiers alle Menschen ihre DNa abgebeben, die sich zum Tatzeitpunkt in der Nähe des Hauses des Ermordeten aufgehalten haben. Der DNA-Test wird ausgeführt um Menschen aus den Ermittlungen aussschliessen zu können. Dabei rechnet oder hofft die Polizei mit bis zu 150 DNA Abgaben.

1.Februar 2005

aus der rubrik „gestern im Parlament“ des guardians: letztes jahr sind mehr als 21.000 strafzettel ( on-the-spot fines) wegen „betrunkenem verhalten“ ausgestellt worden.
seit labour regiert sind 16 kinder ( leider keine altersangabe, aber england können 10 jährige in den knast gesperrt werden) im knast gestorben. die zahl der inhaftierten frauen ist um 3% gesunken.4.261 frauen sind z.zt. im knast.

2 Februar 2005

einen einbrecher zu erschießen „kann innerhalb des gesetzes sein“. so steht es in einem flugblatt daß von der Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) und dem Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) herausgegeben wurde.

31.Januar 2005

tierrechtsaktivistinnen die versuchslabore beschädigen, können nach einem neuen gesetz mit bis zu 5 jahre knast bestraft werden. „ die polizei wird die befugnisse haben jeden der vor den häusern von labormitarbeitern protestiert festzunehmen und weitere versammlungen vor oder in der nähe der wohnung für 3 monate zu verbieten.“ außerdem wird „ökonomischer schaden durch einschüchterung“ zum kriminellen delikt gemacht.

die gesetze werden in den sog. serious organised crime and police bill eingefügt.

Animal rights extremists face five years in jail

Animal rights extremists found guilty of harming research laboratories will face up to five years in prison under tough legislation announced by the Government. The laws will protect animal research companies as well as firms that supply and deal with the laboratories. Animal laboratory workers and their families have been targeted by animal rights activists Police will be given powers to arrest anyone protesting outside the home of laboratory workers and stop demonstrators gathering near an employee's house for three months. The legislation will be introduced under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill and will make it a criminal offence to cause "economic damage" through intimidation. As well as covering laboratories and their suppliers, it will protect firms that are considering working with companies that test medicines on animals.

The Bill is being tabled in response to a series of attacks on centres such as Huntingdon Life Sciences and a guinea pig farm in east Staffordshire. Newchurch farm at Darley Oaks suffered 450 incidents between February 2003 and last month after being targeted by animal rights protesters. One of the most serious attacks involved the desecration of the grave of Gladys Hammond, the 82-year-old mother-in-law of the farm's owner, Chris Hall. Hundreds of attacks have also been carried out on the homes of workers at Huntingdon Life Sciences in a four-year campaign of intimidation. The attacks included three masked thugs beating Brian Cass, the company's managing director, with baseball bats. Last month the firm BOC, which had supplied Huntingdon with bottled gas, withdrew from its contract after being targeted by activists.

The Government has defended using animal testing by saying that it will advance treatment of diseases such as Aids, cancer and Alzheimer's. However, ministers are divided over whether new laws proposed to tackle international terrorism could be used to combat animal extremists. Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, said plans outlined last week for terror suspects to be put under house arrest could also be applied to animal rights activists. But Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary, said international terrorism was a "completely separate issue" from animal rights' violence. Human rights' campaigners have criticised the new laws to protect laboratories by saying that they could be used to halt legitimate and non-violent protests.

25 Januar 2005

die regierung hat angekündigt, das gefangene zukünftig nach der hälfte der haftzeit entlassen werden . ausgenommen seien die „die für die gefährlicheren verbrechen verantwortlich sind“.

die neuen verurteilungsregeln des criminal justice act von 2003 werden am 4. april in kraft treten, und werden zu strengeren regeln für sexual -und gewalttäter führen, die ab dann nur entlassen werden wenn es eine empfehlung des begnadigungsausschusses / bewährungsausschuß gibt. sollten die risiken niemals akzeptabel werden, werden sie vielleicht niemals entlassen. gefangene, die durch den ausschuß entlassen werden, werden nach ihrer entlassung für die gesamte restliche zeit ihrer bewährung überwacht werden und nicht wie bisher 2/3 der zeit. zur zeit sind 73,713 menschen in gb im knast.