Police tasering of man with mental health issues ‘contributed to his death’ – The Guardian
‘Truro inquest hears Marc Cole was hit three times as family calls for review of stun guns.’
The Guardian, 28th January 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Category: weapons
Police deployment of tasers doubles in two years in face of rising violence by suspects – Daily Telegraph
‘Police deployed tasers a record 23,000 times last year in face of increasingly violent suspects, double the number just two years ago, Home Office figures show.’
Daily Telegraph, 20th December 2019
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Tory minister admits UK breached court order banning arms sales to Saudi Arabia again – The Independent
‘The government has again admitted breaching a court order banning arms sales to Saudi Arabia over concerns they could be used in the Yemen war.’
The Independent, 26th September 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
More police officers to be armed with Tasers in London – The Independent
‘More police officers in London are to be armed with Tasers following calls for the weapons to be rolled out for their own protection, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has said.’
The Independent, 17th september 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Government apologises for breaching court ruling against arms sales to Saudi Arabia – The Independent
‘The government has apologised for breaching a court ruling against the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia that could be used in the Yemen conflict.’
The Independent, 16th September 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
UK ministers challenge court ruling on Saudi Arabia arms sales – The Guardian
‘Ministers have asked the courts to set aside a landmark ruling that British arms sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful, a legal manoeuvre that prompted Jeremy Corbyn to accuse the Conservatives of prioritising military exports over civilian lives.’
The Guardian, 8th July 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Yossi Nehushtan: The Unreasonable Perception of Rationality and Reasonableness in UK Public Law – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘In the recent case of R (Campaign Against Arms Trade) v Secretary of State for International Trade [2019] (hereinafter CAAT), the Court of Appeal invalidated the UK government’s decision to grant licences for the sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia for possible use in the conflict in Yemen. The court found that the government had violated Article 2.2 of the EU Common Council Position 2008/944/CGSP, as adopted in the Secretary of State’s 2014 Guidance. Article 2.2 compels Member States to deny a licence for the sale of military equipment to other states if there is a clear risk that this equipment might be used ‘in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law’.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st July 2019
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Arm Sales to Saudi Arabia: Evaluating the Clear Risk of Violations of IHL – Oxford Human Rights Hub
‘On Thursday 20 June, the Court of Appeal issued its open judgment in the appeal concerning the lawfulness of the grant by the UK Government of export licences for arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”), for possible use in the conflict in Yemen. In their judgment, Sir Terence Etherton MR, Irwin LJ and Singh LJ allowed the appeal by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (“CAAT”), remitting the decision to issue said licences by the Secretary of State for International Trade for reconsideration in accordance with the correct legal approach.’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 26th June 2019
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful, court of appeal declares – The Guardian
‘British arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been ruled unlawful by the court of appeal in a critical judgment that also accused ministers of ignoring whether airstrikes that killed civilians in Yemen broke humanitarian law.’
The Guardian, 20th June 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Violent offenders avoiding criminal records through controversial community resolutions – Daily Telegraph
‘Violent criminals, burglars and sex offenders are among more than 100,000 people escaping prosecutions each year by opting for community resolutions, according to new figures.’
Daily Telegraph, 17th June 2019
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Knife and offensive weapon offences reach highest level for decade – The Guardian
‘Numbers of knife and offensive weapon offences have risen to their highest level for nearly a decade, with the number of cases dealt with by the criminal justice system up by more than a third since 2015, figures have revealed.’
The Guardian, 13th June 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Continued use of Taser on autistic male was disproportionate – UK Police Law Blog
‘In Gilchrist v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police [2019] EWHC 1233, the High Court considered officers’ use of force in the context of use of CS gas and a taser repeatedly upon a man who was autistic and mentally distressed and found that its continued use became unlawful. Whereas the initial use of CS gas and Taser were justified, once the police learned of the male’s vulnerability as an autistic man and noted that his behaviour was defensive rather than aggressive, a more cautious approach should have been adopted.’
UK Police Law Blog, 29th May 2019
Source: ukpolicelawblog.com
Police dog Finn’s law comes into force – BBC News
‘A new law named after a police dog which recently appeared on Britain’s Got Talent has come into effect.’
BBC News, 8th June 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Family President to issue guidance to courts on secure accommodation placements and statutory regime – Local Government Lawyer
‘The President of the Family Division has said he will issue practice guidance to the courts before the end of July so that more can be done to bring secure accommodation placements within the statutory regulatory scheme.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th May 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Police officer who shot unarmed black youth worker was ‘following procedure’, watchdog finds – The Independent
‘A police officer who shot an unarmed black man on his way to the shops was “following procedure”, a watchdog has found.’
The Independent, 1st April 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Mark Duggan family to sue Met Police over death – BBC News
‘The family of Mark Duggan, whose death sparked riots across England in August 2011, are suing the Metropolitan Police for damages, BBC News has learned.’
BBC News, 23rd March 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Half of children who are tasered come from BAME groups – report – The Guardian
‘Half of the children tasered by police, and a third of those restrained using spit hoods, in England are black or from other minority ethnic groups, according to figures obtained by children’s rights campaigners.’
The Guardian, 12th March 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Gun in Paul Cleeland murder trial ‘did not kill victim’ – BBC News
‘A forensic report on a murder in 1972 has proved the gun relied on at trial did not kill the victim, lawyers claim.’
BBC News, 11th March 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Abolishing short prison sentences will let ‘thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail’, report claims – The Independent
‘Ministers’ calls for short prison sentences to be abolished would see thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail, a report has claimed.’
The Independent, 25th February 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
