Scrap non-crime hate incidents to protect free speech, Tories say
Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) were introduced after the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence to monitor situations that could escalate into more serious harm or show heightened community tensions. But increasingly they have been used to record petty arguments and trivial incidents.
In November The Times revealed how a nine-year-old was subject to a NCHI after calling a classmate a 'retard'. It was among at least 13,200 NCHIs logged by 45 police forces in the year to June 2024, according to data obtained under Freedom of Information laws.
An amendment to Labour's Crime and Policing Bill will seek to block police forces keeping
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The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘No discussion' on how to prevent future incidents after prisoner death, coroner says
A coroner has raised multiple concerns after a restrained prisoner died, including that there had been 'no discussion' among healthcare and prison leaders on how to prevent similar incidents. Azroy Dawes-Clarke, 28, from Romford, east London, was an inmate at HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, when he died after suffering multiple cardiac arrests on November 10 2021. He had tied a ligature around his neck before officers intervened and began a restraint which 'escalated unnecessarily', jurors concluded by majority in an inquest at Kent and Medway Coroner's Court, Maidstone, earlier this month. In the record of inquest, jurors also found that officers showed a 'deeply concerning lack of care and compassion' during the incident. Handcuffs were wrongly applied to the father-of-four which may also have played a contributing factor in his death, the inquest heard. Following the conclusion, Ian Brownhill, assistant coroner for Kent and Medway, raised multiple concerns in three separate prevention of future deaths reports, including that there had been 'no discussion' among 'various parties involved' on learnings or how to prevent a similar incident. In one report, sent to the health and justice secretaries, Mr Brownhill wrote: 'As the jury noted, communication between attending prison staff, healthcare professionals and paramedics was confused. 'There was confusion as to who had command and control of the medical emergency, which public body took primacy and the difference in roles and responsibilities. 'Those attending the scene did not establish any sort of communication strategy or command structure. 'During prevention of future deaths evidence, there remained a lack of clarity and consistency as to how such a situation would be avoided if a critical medical emergency eventuated in a custodial setting again.' The coroner added in another report, that 'despite the severity of the incident', there has been 'little (if any) dialogue between leaders of the various parties involved'. He said: 'Formal complaint processes, safeguarding processes and risk reporting mechanisms had been used, but there was no discussion about how to learn from this specific case or how to avoid a reoccurrence. 'During prevention of future deaths evidence, responses were inconsistent as to how to avoid other difficulties during a major medical emergency in a prison setting.' 'Despite the severity of the incident which occurred in this case, it appeared that there still remains confusion as to which public body would have primacy in an acute medical emergency in a custodial setting,' he added. In a third report, the coroner said that officers present during the incident had 'different training with regard to first aid and basic life support.' 'During the course of the inquest, evidence was heard that whilst all uniformed prison officers would have regular training in respect of control and restraint, not all had recent (if any) training in first aid or basic life support. 'Some of the officers who gave evidence were unclear as to the correct response to a cardio respiratory arrest during physical restraint,' he wrote. The coroner also noted that, during the completion of paperwork, many of the prison officers were 'unclear' what their role would be in conveying a prisoner who lacked capacity to consent to their conveyance to hospital in a medical emergency. He added: 'Answers in respect of handcuffing prisoners for the purpose of conveying them to hospital in a medical emergency varied. 'Answers in respect of the legal framework which applied when prison officers are involved in care and treatment of a prisoner (the particular issue in the present case being the conveyance to hospital and the decision to dress him) were inconsistent or incomplete.' The three reports are being sent to different recipients including the governor of HMP Elmley, the chief executive of South East Coast Ambulance Service, the chief executive of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and the director general and chief executive of His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. In the record of inquest, jurors found: 'The ability of the paramedics to perform their duty of care to Mr Dawes-Clarke during the restraint was limited by their placement and lack of visibility from outside the cell. 'Furthermore, it was inappropriate for the paramedics to approve thehandcuffing of Mr Dawes-Clarke having had no training in mechanical restraint to give such advice.' Bodyworn footage, released to the PA news agency, shows officers singing and joking about the size of the handcuffs they needed for Mr Dawes-Clarke while he groaned on the floor. The inquest heard that a prison officer holding the deceased described him as a 'bucking bronco' in his police interview and had said that he had been making 'loud animal noises'. After the inquest concluded, Azroy Dawes-Clarke's sister said he died 'restrained, neglected, and dehumanised' as officers looked on and 'did nothing'.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
UK companies that pay suppliers late will be fined under new law
Companies that continually pay their suppliers late will face fines under new legislation announced today. Sir Keir Starmer said 'it's time to pay up' as the Prime Minister announced plans to impose fines on large companies that persistently pay suppliers late. As many as 38 businesses shut down each day, partly owing to late payments, according to the Government, with tradespeople, shopkeepers and start-up founders particularly vulnerable. It is estimated that late payments cost the economy £11bilion a year. 'Late payments are one of the biggest barriers to small business growth - causing cashflow problems that stop firms from scaling up and investing in their future,' the Government said. 'Every day, hardworking businesses close their doors because they aren't paid on time.' The small business commissioner will be handed new powers, including carrying out spot checks and enforcing a 30-day invoice verification period to speed up resolutions to disputes. The legislation will also introduce maximum payment terms of 60 days, reducing to 45 days, to ensure businesses are paid on time. Small businesses have been quietly battling late payments, with the issue only worsening since the cost of living crisis. Research by the Federation of Small Businesses trade body in 2023 found if late payments had been made on time, 50,000 business closures could be avoided each year. The definition of prompt payment for a small business suppliers, as per the Prompt Payment Code (PPC), is to pay 95 per cent of invoices from small businesses with fewer than 50 employees within 30 days. However, the code is voluntary and plenty of businesses flout the rules. The Prime Minister said: 'From builders and electricians to freelance designers and manufacturers - too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments instead of doing what they do best – growing their businesses. 'It's unfair, it's exhausting, and it's holding Britain back. So, our message is clear: it's time to pay up.' Tina McKenzie, policy chair of the FSB added: 'Today's plan is an encouraging commitment from the Government to take the side of small businesses in the great growth challenge ahead.' The crackdown on late payments is part of a wider package, including plans to pump £4billion of financial support into small businesses. This includes £1billion for new firms, with 69,000 start-up loans and mentoring support.
BBC News
27 minutes ago
- BBC News
Lenny Scott: Witness denies lying for prison guard murder accused
A defence witness denied telling a "pack of lies" to a jury for a man accused of murdering a former prison officer in a "revenge" plot. Elias Morgan, 35, claimed he was seeing a man about a dog at the time 33-year-old Lenny Scott was shot dead outside a gym in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, on 8 February 2024. Mr Scott had seized a phone from the defendant's prison cell at HMP Altcourse, Liverpool, four years earlier - which exposed a sexual relationship Mr Morgan was having with another prison officer called Sarah Williams. Witness Thomas Cole told Preston Crown Court he was the man with Mr Morgan that evening - and denied he was under the defendant's "control". Asked if he was providing an alibi out of "fear", he said: "I don't mean to disrespect anyone but have you seen the size of Mr Morgan?"If you go to Aintree you will see a bigger jockey on the back of a horse. He isn't intimidating no-one." He told the jury the two men got to know each other two or three years ago through their mutual interest in dogs after he saw Mr Morgan walking XL bullies in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool where they both lived. Mr Cole, who the court heard has criminal convictions including for stalking, harassment, supplying Class A drugs and assault, said he told Mr Morgan he had bred Chow Chows in the past and was hoping to get into breeding Tibetan Cole said on the day the murder, he had been called by Mr Morgan and asked to look at a Chow Chow at a house in Squire Street, Edge Hill, which needed rehoming. He said he left home at some point between 19:00 GMT and 21:00, and stayed in Squire Street talking to Mr Morgan for between one to two hoursMr Scott was shot six times with a handgun at 19:35, by a killer who had waited for about 53 minutes in the gym car park at Peel House, Peel Road. Mr Cole said when he heard Mr Morgan had been accused of the murder he "knew he didn't do it". When asked by judge Mr Justice Goose how he knew that, he replied: "Well I was getting a dog off him. "He didn't seem like he'd just murdered someone, I would imagine a murderer to not be very relaxed."Mr Cole said he did not come forward as a witness until after the trial started because he did not want to be involved, but then realised it was "the right thing to do".Mr Morgan is on trial alongside 29-year-old Anthony Cleary, also from Edge Hill, who is accused of aiding the murder plot by leaving a getaway van and electric bike on a housing estate near the gym. Both men deny murder while Mr Cleary also denies an alternate count of manslaughter. Mr Cleary's legal team has claimed Mr Morgan called him after the shooting and admitted he had "done someone", and then "bullied" Mr Cleary into silence. 'Pack of lies' Tim Forte KC, representing Mr Cleary, accused Mr Cole of telling his long-time solicitor, Sara Doyle, in January this year that he had been "asked to act as a false alibi witness and didn't want to". Mr Cole denied having that conversation. Mr Forte said: "She told you that would make you guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice didn't she?"Mr Cole replied: "Totally untrue."The jury heard Ms Doyle was also Mr Cleary's solicitor, but Mr Cole claimed she had not made him aware of that. Mr Forte read a series of WhatsApp messages that he alleged Mr Cole had sent to Ms Doyle in June, which he claimed were a "set of instructions" intended to be passed to Mr Cleary. The messages mentioned elements of Mr Morgan's defence case including his explanation for a Mercedes car believed to have been used by the gunman being "linked" to him. Mr Cole said he "could not recall" sending the messages, but denied passing on information for Mr Morgan. Mr Forte said: "You were sending that on behalf of Mr Morgan to influence the account of Mr Cleary?"Mr Cole replied: "I have not had contact with Mr Morgan."Alex Leach KC, prosecuting, suggested to Mr Cole that his account of the night of the murder was a "pack of lies". Mr Cole said every one of his previous convictions had followed a guilty plea, and said: "I won't lie, not for myself never mind anyone else."The trial continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
