Man held over police shooting

Detectives hunting a gunman who shot at two policemen have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder.

A 20-year-old man was held when armed officers swooped on a street in Rotherhithe, south east London, at 8pm last night.

The suspect was being held at a south London police station today where he will be questioned about the shooting, close to Waterloo railway station.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A 20-year-old man was arrested at 8pm last night following a proactive police operation in Rotherhithe.

"He is currently in custody at a south London police station on suspicion of the attempted murder of two police officers.

"He is also being held on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm."

A man opened fire at two officers as he was chased along roads between Waterloo railway station and Southwark Underground station on 5 August.

Witnesses said the police dived for cover as the man turned and fired off two shots from a small black handgun.

There were initial fears that one of the officers was shot in the leg after he suffered a minor injury. continues here

England star Jermain Defoe sues 'racist police' because he's always stopped in his car

England star Jermain Defoe is suing the police, claiming he is the victim of a racist campaign.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker, 26, who was England's hero in Holland on Wednesday, believes he is unfairly targeted by police when driving his Range Rover.

He was locked up last month after he was pulled over on suspicion of driving while disqualified when he was out in his top of the range car in Harlow, Essex.

He was held overnight until police checked with the courts and realised they had made a mistake.

Defoe’s lawyer, Nick Freeman, said: 'He feels particularly aggrieved as he is stopped constantly. He feels like whenever there is a police car behind him he will be pulled over for a check.

'It does not seem to happen to the white players, just the black ones.' Defoe, who scored both goals for England in a 2-2 draw away to the Netherlands on Wednesday night, has now launched a civil action against Essex Police for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment and will make a claim for damages worth 'several thousand pounds'.

Mr Freeman, who is known as Mr Loophole for his ability to help high profile individuals be cleared of driving convictions, said race would be a 'strong element of our claim' and that Defoe would donate any received damages to an anti-racism charity.

Mr Freeman, continued:'I asked Jermain if he feels there is a racist element involved. He said he discussed it with black colleagues and they have similar experiences. He asked why white colleagues and they didn’t have similar experiences. Every time he is in his Range Rover he gets pulled over and he does not know why.'

When Defoe was pulled over on 27 July, his driving ban had been suspended while he appealed his conviction for speeding.

Mr Freeman added: 'It had been very widely reported he had not been disqualified from driving, we spoke to police five times and informed them of the fact but rather than release him on bail while they continued their inquiries they kept him locked in a cell for five hours until the court opened and confirmed the result. They could have checked on Google straight away and found the result.'

Essex Police admitted a computer error meant it did not show up on the system that Defoe was allowed to drive.

A spokeswoman said: 'Essex Police is conducting an investigation and is liaising with Mr Defoe’s legal team to ascertain the details of his complaint. It would not be appropriate to comment any further.' continues here

POLICE 'MUST RECRUIT GYPSIES'

POLICE forces across the country are being told to recruit gypsies in a plan that could put the public in danger, MPs warned last night.

Senior officers are so concerned about hitting the new quotas they have been inviting young travellers to their training colleges. But while gypsy and traveller groups gave a “wholehearted welcome” to the plan, political campaigners last night condemned the scheme as “utter nonsense”.

An idea of the Association of Police Authorities, called Local Employment Targets For Under-Represented Groups, the scheme says police forces have a duty to reflect the communities they serve.

But furious Conservative MP Philip Davies said: “I absolutely despair, this is utter nonsense.

“It should be irrelevant whether police officers are black, white, gay, straight, muslim or Christian, gypsy or not. The only consideration should be whether they are people who can uphold the law without fear or favour.

“Furthermore, this is potentially dangerous because police forces could end up recruiting people who might not be the best people, just to meet their quota.”

Mr Davies, who represents Shipley in West Yorkshire, added: “The police were branded institutionally racist a few years ago, now they are becoming institutionally politically correct.”

John Midgley, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, is also astounded by the gypsies plan, dubbed “lucky heather and handcuffs” by critics.

“It is absolutely astounding that police authorities should get involved in political correctness to this degree,” he said.

“What we want is the best possible policemen, not policemen appointed by a tick-box culture.

“How ridiculous it is for them to suggest that the police force needs to be representative of the society in which we live.

“On that basis, ultimately they would want to employ criminals as police officers as a proportion of society is made up of criminals.”

Mark Wallace, campaign director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “People want their police to be picked because they are the best for the job, not because of their ethnicity or background.

“Victims of crime just want the criminal caught, they don’t care what ethnic group the officer comes from.”

The Police Federation, which represents 124,000 rank-and-file officers across England and Wales up to the rank of Chief Inspector, says it is concerned that recruitment standards are not lowered to make sure each force gets enough gypsies pounding the beat.

Vice-chairman Simon Reed said:

“If targets are set this must be for the right reason, not just lip-service and there must certainly be no lowering of standards by forces in order to meet them.”

However, Emma Nuttall, a spokeswoman for Friends, Families And Travellers continues here

It all seems just a tad late to me, a little late given the horse has already bolted, and as for lowering standards in order to meet targets well…
Our police force or what now passes for it has become merely a quasi-militia, an instrument of tyranny, to complain now of “institutional political correctness” for that state was reached some time ago and you all said nothing, merely allowed leftists the field and dam the wishes of the people. Blacks achieved a considerable amount by rioting if I remember, whereas non-rioting whites were pilloried, it would seem to me that whites suffer in all ways due to their lack of a voice ,be that voice political or indeed rather more militant. Mr and Mrs Average quite simply wish to live in peace, amongst their own with their own culture, whereas there are those that enforce and enforce again an unworkable agenda, why even amongst non-whites tensions exist yet we have a drive to inflict such stupidity upon the police force, I’m afraid that at one time the people respected the police however times they are a changing.

A suspect is tasered three times by police before being punched? New York? No, the streets of Nottingham

There was fresh controversy over police methods last night after officers shot a man three times with a Taser gun and punched him repeatedly as he writhed on the ground.

Shocking footage shows one officer repeatedly stunning the 40-year-old man with the high-voltage weapon as he lies in the middle of a busy city centre.

His colleague then appears to punch the man with considerable force three times in the neck and shoulder.

Scroll down to watch the video (Warning video contains swearing)



As a crowd gathers round the man, an onlooker is heard to shout: 'He don't look like he is resisting.'

The footage, captured by a taxi driver, was referred voluntarily to the Independent Police Complaints Commission by Nottinghamshire police, who said the man had earlier struck an officer.

But it sparked alarm over a decision by ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to arm police with the stun guns, which fire two darts on the end of wires carrying a 50,000-volt shock.

She made 6,000 extra Tasers available to forces across the country only last month.

It also revived controversy over police tactics in the wake of allegations that officers assaulted protesters near the G20 summit in London, in April.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Chris Huhne said: 'This shocking footage calls into question the wisdom of issuing more and more police officers with Tasers.



'These are dangerous weapons that have killed 334 people in the United States, yet the Home Office seems to be treating them as standard issue for routine matters.

'Tasers should be treated like firearms and used as a last resort, not the first port of call.' The incident happened in Nottingham city centre at around 12.30am on Sunday.

Police said they were called out by door staff at one of the city's nightspots. One officer was assaulted and needed hospital treatment, they said.

Nottinghamshire Assistant Chief Constable Peter Davies said: 'We understand that some members of the public may be concerned about this.

'The public's trust and confilisheddence is very important for us, which is why we have referred this matter for an objective investigation to the IPCC.


'We are looking at other CCTV in the area to ensure we have a clear picture of events leading up to the arrest and I would ask anyone in possession of such evidence, including the person who took the footage that has been pubto come forward as witnesses.' continues here

Remember this?

Cop forced to quit over BNP badge

A POLICEMAN has been forced to resign after wearing a British National Party badge at an England football match.

Stuart Janaway, 36, wore the badge while off duty at a game against Hungary at Old Trafford two years ago.

He had also worn it at a charity England versus `the rest of the world' celebrity match held a few days earlier at the same ground. 

An investigation began after Greater Manchester Police received information that Mr Janaway had items relating to the extreme right-wing party at his home. Badges were recovered after a search of his house and photographs showed him wearing them at the matches. A misconduct hearing into claims that Mr Janaway was wearing an `inappropriate' badge while off duty was held last week.

Following the hearing he was asked to resign and did so.

Mr Janaway, of Rixtonleys Drive, Irlam, had served in GMP for 14 years and worked as a Pc based at Longsight. He joined the police after first training to be a priest.

A police spokesman said there was no evidence that he was a member of the BNP.

Acting Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney, head of the Professional Standards Branch, said: "The Chief Constable's Order of 2004 makes it clear officers are banned from being members of the BNP. This requirement extends into the private lives of officers. 

"All officers and staff are aware that non-compliance will likely result in dismissal. The officer failed to live up to the high standards we demand." 

One source said: "The swiftness with which this matter was dealt with indicates that GMP will not tolerate such breach of police regulations."  continues here

And you think we live in freedom?

Kent's police chief tipped as new Commissioner

Kent Chief Constable Mike Fuller has been tipped as a successor to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.

Mr Fuller is said to be a top contender for the post as the UK's most senior policeman.

It comes after the shock resignation of Sir Ian on Thursday.

He joined Kent Police as chief constable in January 2004, but started his career with the

Metropolitan Police Service as a cadet in 1975.

He has served in busy and demanding uniformed and CID positions throughout London, including New Scotland Yard.

His achievements included, as a Detective Chief Inspector, devising a burglary control programme, which formed the basis for the Metropolitan Police anti-burglary operation, ‘Operation Bumblebee’.

Later, as a detective superintendent based in the Home Office, he worked as staff officer specialising in giving advice and carrying out inspections in crime and counter-terrorism.

In 2001 he won the G2 ‘Man of the Year Award’ in recognition of his personal achievements and contribution to policing in London. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service in July 2004. continues here

The officer who is a disgrace to his uniform

Each time a charge of racism against the Met has hit the headlines, the sanctimonious bleating of Commander Ali Dizaei, the Iranian born president of the National Black Police Association, has never been far behind.

So when Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur launched his recent bid to sue the Met for alleged racism, who was it that backed his claim?

Ali Dizaei. And when the Met's most senior Muslim female employee, Yasmin Rehman, claimed to be the victim of racist bullying, who was it that popped up to offer his support? Yes, Ali Dizaei.

In fact, Commander Dizaei appears to have been so busy intervening in claims of alleged racism, it's a wonder he's had any time for policing at all.

Now we learn that what Dizaei did have time for was a close association with the lawyer who is handling many of those same race claims against the Met - Dr Shahrokh Mireskandari.

Though the Mail this week exposed Dr Mireskandari as a convicted fraudster with a suspect legal degree, it transpires that Dizaei has secretly been advising him on how to undermine a prosecution case brought by the Met against one of the lawyer's clients.

You do not need to be a legal expert to realise that this represents a blatant conflict of interests - and an inquiry has now been launched into the affair.

But this is not an isolated incident. Time and time again, Dizaei's behaviour has raised serious concerns about his suitability to be a high-ranking officer in Britain's premier police force.

He is a womanising bully who is on record as having threatened to kill one lover. He has written a poisonous book about his colleagues. He has stood trial at the Old Bailey accused of expenses fraud and perverting the course of justice. Oh, and he is under investigation over alleged misuse of his Scotland Yard credit card.

So how does the Met treat Dizaei after this litany of disgrace? By promoting him to the rank of commander on a salary of £90,000, complete with chauffeured car.

The truth is that the commander has become untouchable. None of his superiors - and certainly not his pathetically PC boss, Sir Ian Blair - appear willing to challenge him for fear of the inevitable accusations of racism that would follow.

Unsurprisingly, there is now anarchy at the Yard. At a time when the Met should be encouraging the rise of its many fine black and Asian officers, it is being slowly destroyed by a sickening culture of opportunism and victimhood of which Commander Dizaei is the prime example. How shameful.

Hundreds of police set to lodge race bias claims

Hundreds of police officers are poised to mount race discrimination actions against their own forces in reaction to the case launched by Britain's most senior Asian police chief, it was reported last night.

Black and Asian staff from almost every force in the country are claiming they have been marginalised or passed over for promotion, following the example of Tarique Ghaffur, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph. 

Mr Ghaffur has compiled a dossier of evidence that he believes proves he was discriminated against during his career in the police, including the claim that he was passed over for the post of deputy commissioner because of his race. continues here