Custody death to be investigated
9th September 2007
The death of a man in police custody is to be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The 37-year-old man was arrested on Friday for failing to answer bail and was taken into custody at Blackpool police station.
More > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6986190.stm
More detained in secure hospitals
9th September 2007
The number of people detained in secure psychiatric wards in England has reached a record high, figures show. More than 3,500 were being detained in secure hospitals in July 2007, experts at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health said.
More > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6983918.stm
Report into death of boy, 14, calls for reform of youth custody
3rd September 2007
A report into Britain's youngest death in custody will today condemn the youth justice system for treating 14-year-old Adam Rickwood more as a tearaway deserving to be locked up rather than a vulnerable child in need of care. The serious case review by Lancashire county council's Safeguarding Children Board adds a powerful official voice to calls for reform in the handling of under-16s in youth custody.
More > http://www.guardian.co.uk/prisons/story/0,,2161311,00.html
Announcement by the IPCC on the death of Roger Sylvester
23rd August 2007
MPS response following the announcement on August 8, by the IPCC that no officers will face disciplinary action in connection with the death of Roger Sylvester: The death of Roger Sylvester in 1999 has always been a matter of deep regret to the MPS. We wish to take this opportunity to once again extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
More > http://www.blackukonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=359&Itemid=52
Abroad:
Steve Biko: Your memories
13th September 2007
It is 30 years since South African anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko died in police custody, aged 30. What does the anniversary mean to you? The leader of the black consciousness movement was arrested and detained under the Terrorism Act by South African police on 18 August 1977.
More > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6989160.stm
Eyewitness Identification Research Laboratory
(Publish date unavailable)
Tony Ford is residing on Death Row in Texas awaiting execution. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied his appeal. One of the issues in the appeal was denial of funds to hire Professor Malpass to testify as an expert concerning the eyewitness identification issues in the case. More > http://eyewitness.utep.edu/tonyforda.html
US inquiries into Iraqi deaths
12th August 2007
The US military has been conducting a number of investigations into incidents of alleged unlawful killings by US forces in Iraq. The BBC summarises the most important elements of each case. More > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5105284.stm