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From:       Lyn
Date sent:  Fri, 20 Feb 2004 14:04:37 +1300
Subject:    British harassment of justice-seekers,
            recent government reforms

HARASSMENT OF JUSTICE-SEEKERS IN BRITAIN 
AND RECENT UK GOVERNMENT MOVES 

1.   A newly-structured "Independent Police Complaints Commission"
     http://www.ipcc.gov.uk
     is to replace the former Police Complaints Authority in April 2004.
     It will have its own investigation teams and greater powers, including
     the power to take on corruption cases and be informed of them in
     sensitive ways.   It is required to see that "public confidence is
     secured and maintained" in matters of complaints against police.   

2.   The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 in the UK has in the past
     protected whistleblowers but excluded police officers.   This is to
     change.  The Police Reform Act 2002 (Section 37) brings the British
     police within the protection of this "whistleblower" legislation.
     http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/en/2002en30.htm
     or
     http://www.policereform.gov.uk//docs/reformsummary.pdf
     (page six).

3.   People experiencing harassment they believe has been caused by the
     British state are told they can complain to the  IPT - Investigatory
     Powers Tribunal -  set up under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers
     Act 2000.

     But neither this body nor its predecessor have ever upheld a complaint.

4.   A group working in the field, called Innocent.
     http://www.innocent.org/

5.   United Against Injustice is another group (linked to Merseyside Against
     Injustice, Kent Against Injustice, etc)

     UAI focuses on miscarriage of justice cases, false convictions, etc.   

     It was formed by Kevin McMahon, formerly special investigator with the
     Royal Military Police, who in 1979 joined Merseyside Police and worked
     as a detective on drugs, vice and murder cases.    

     McMahon says that there was no protection when he was ordered to do 
     illegal and corrupt tasks by a more senior British police officer 
     including:

     * perverting identification parades,
     * concocting evidence, and
     * falsifying statements.

     After reporting the corrupt officer to higher authorities including
     the Chief Constable and Police Authority, he reports that they made
     excuses so as not to investigate his allegations, and years of
     harassment and bullying began.   It still continues.   

     He started to get involved in miscarriage of justice cases, and
     eventually formed UAI.   He and sometimes other members of such
     organisations, he said to the meeting, were:

     * vilified by the authorities,
     * subjected to harassment including telephone interference, e-mail
       interception, and surveillance,
     * suffered wrongful arrests and malicious prosecution,
     * found that the police refused to investigate when he and his
       family reported harassments including theft, criminal damage
       and threats of violence by a stalker.

     McMahon spoke before a House of Commons meeting chaired by McDonnell
     MP, on 17 September 2003.  At this meeting a number of miscarriage of
     justice campaigners said they were being subjected to serious harassment
     and intimidation.   

     Concluding his remarks, he said:

     "Victimisation against the Miscarriage of Justice fraternity is a
     serious matter and must be taken seriously.   It often involves criminal
     activity by the authorities, and they must be held accountable."

3.   Don Hale, a newspaper editor who has worked in the Miscarriage of
     Justice field for 30 years, secured the release of Stephen Downing who
     had been imprisoned for murder for 27 years, in 2001.  He has dealt
     with six MOJ cases.   He wrote a book called "Town Without Pity",
     published by Century, London, 2002, and a BBC TV drama called "In Denial of Murder": is being made
     and scheduled for Feb/Mar 2004.

     He reported harassment of himself and his family on every MOJ case he
     has handled including:

     * phone tapped at home and at work,
     * his family hassled,
     * attempts to discredit him,
     * break-ins at the newspaper offices,
     * followed by various cars, one of which was traced to CIB2, 
       an elite investigative unit,  (Complaints Investigation Bureau).
     * numerous death threats,
     * threatened with jail by the police,
     * two hit-and-run attempts on his life.

     These facts are taken from "Miscarriage of justice,the police complaints
     system and whistle blower protection for police officers" written by
     Jane Affleck, published by Lobster magazine issue 46, Winter 2003, pages
     32-34.  Lobster is a remarkable, long-established political undercurrents
     magazine which has publicised issues including (occasionally) harassment
     by electronic equipment.

     I consider it well worth subscribing to if you can afford it.
     (GBP6.00 in UK, more overseas.)    www.lobster-magazine.co.uk
     http://www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/

     Lyn

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