Misconduct proven against Devon and Cornwall Police deputy chief
Mr Colwell was suspended for alleged "professional standards breaches" in November over claims he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature".The tribunal was held on 18 July and chaired by the chief constable of Lincolnshire Police.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Australian actor Rebel Wilson sued by production company behind her own film
The legal drama surrounding The Deb, Rebel Wilson's directorial debut, has made landfall in Australia, with one of the production companies behind the venture filing a lawsuit against Wilson in the New South Wales supreme court this week. UK-based AI Film, represented by Australian legal firm Giles George and high-profile barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, accused the Pitch Perfect Australian actor of deliberately sabotaging the film's release, alleging threats and defamatory claims had caused the production company financial and reputational damage. The suit also claims the motive behind Wilson's actions was to devalue the production's worth and pressure AI Film and Australian company Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company (DDCC – the entity managing the film's rights and named as the second plaintiff in the lawsuit) into selling their stake to Wilson's company Camp Sugar. Originally conceived as a quirky musical comedy celebrating Australian culture, The Deb was co-produced by AI Film and Camp Sugar, with Wilson directing and starring. But the partnership fractured in mid-2024 when Wilson took to Instagram to accuse fellow producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden of alleged embezzlement, sexual misconduct and obstructing the film's release. The allegations, broadcast to Wilson's 11 million followers, were swiftly denied by the producers who began defamation proceedings against Wilson in the Los Angeles superior court last July. In November, the film's lead actor, Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed was the victim of the alleged sexual misconduct, filed a declaration in the US court stating that Wilson fabricated the claims, describing them as 'completely false and absurd'. The court subsequently threw out Wilson's bid to strike out the defamation suit, not accepting her lawyer's argument that under California's anti-Slapp laws, the accusations she had made against the producers of her The Deb constituted 'protected activity' and were a matter of public interest. That defamation case remains ongoing. After filing its lawsuit in the supreme court's equities division on Thursday, AI Film issued the following statement: 'These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it.' And MacInnes issued a second statement, saying: 'I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released … it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen.' Wilson's Californian legal team, Freedman Taitelman + Cooley, which is handling the defamation case, did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment. In its lawsuit filed this week, Giles George claims that on 5 January, Wilson's lawyer Bryan Freedman responded to correspondence by AI Film's legal team, saying that 'Wilson is currently in active discussions to outright purchase The Deb (the 'Film') and all associated rights and title'. The Freedman letter also threatened to 'pursue all claims and damages should Al Film or any agents acting on its behalf interfere with that business opportunity'. AI Film is alleging that Wilson's motivation behind her alleged undermining of distribution efforts, including making threats to seek an injunction against the film's release, was personal financial gain. AI Film's lawyers claim that on 6 June 2025, Wilson had a discussion with film distributor Kismet, who was bidding to secure the rights for the theatrical release of The Deb in Australia, during which she said words to the effect that she was supportive of Kismet as the Australian distributor of the film but while there was a legal case involving the film in the US she could not support the film's distribution and would seek an injunction if any attempts to distribute the film were made. Giles George alleges Wilson knew the legal proceedings in the US were not impeding the film's release, and knew the threat of injunction was against her and her company, Camp Sugar's, contractual obligations. But as evidence in Byran Freedman's correspondent to them in January, Wilson was delaying the film's release so that she could pursue the 'business opportunity' of buying all rights to the film outright. AI Film is seeking damages, a formal apology, corrective advertising and a permanent restraint on Wilson and her company making any further disparaging and incorrect claims relating to other companies and individuals involved in the making of The Deb, which have come to been know in legal circles as 'The Wilson Statements'.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Watchdog inquiry after detained man dies in police van near A&E
An inquiry has been launched by the watchdog after a detained man died in a police van after being taken to Police were called out before midnight on 11 July to a man in his 30s who had refused to leave a cinema, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was later detained under the Mental Health Act a few hours later at the Holmes Mill complex in Clitheroe before he was taken by police to Royal Blackburn condition deteriorated and he was later put in the back of the police van which was parked in an ambulance bay outside the emergency department, but became unresponsive and later died. The IOPC said he became unresponsive at 06:35 BST, when medical staff tried to resuscitate him for about an hour before a clinical decision was made to cease and he was declared dead. The force made a mandatory referral to the IOPC, who is now appealing for a woman who spoke to the man at the Holmes Mill Complex and members of the public inside A&E to contact the watchdog. Bodycam footage A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said "it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage other than to say our thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who sadly died and that we will, of course, continue to cooperate fully with the IOPC".IOPC director Amanda Rowe said the watchdog had met the man's family , adding: "It's important that an independent investigation is carried out to fully establish the circumstances when someone has died in police custody."The watchdog said they had obtained body-camera footage from officers involved "although further enquiries remain ongoing to identify all officers who attended and to ensure all relevant footage is secured".They have also acquired evidence from the police van and the mental health room in the hospital. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Senior police officer is found guilty of misconduct after man, 23, was hit by a train when he absconded from mental health hospital
A senior police officer has been found guilty of misconduct after a 23-year-old man was hit by a train when he absconded from a mental health hospital. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the officer - understood to be West Midlands Police Inspector Collin Baker - had been given a written warning to last for 18 months. It came after misconduct was proven against him at a private meeting on Wednesday. The IOPC said the misconduct during the search for Matthew Caseby was 'proven in respect of a breach of duties and responsibilities when it was found the inspector may not have included relevant information within his decision making'. It added he may also have 'dismissed information when deciding that Matthew was a medium risk missing person'. The watchdog determined the officer should face a misconduct hearing after a complaint about Mr Baker was made by Mr Caseby's father, Richard Caseby, a communications consultant, almost three years ago, alleging a series of failings. An inquest jury ruled in April 2022 that failures amounting to neglect contributed to the death of Mr Caseby, who was hit by a train near Birmingham 's University railway station after absconding from the city's Priory Hospital Woodbourne by climbing over a courtyard fence. The 23-year-old, who lived in London, had been detained under the Mental Health Act following reports of a man running on to railway tracks near Oxford five days before his death. His father believes police were 'utterly negligent' about Mr Caseby's acute vulnerability and should have classed him as a high-risk missing person. An IOPC spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Matthew Caseby's family and everyone affected by his sad death. 'We investigated how West Midlands Police responded to reports that Matthew was missing after the force referred a complaint to us, made by the family in October 2022, following the inquest into his death. 'We examined the initial risk assessments and further reviews by officers; the actions taken to try and find Matthew and what consideration was given to concerns and information Matthew's parents shared with the force. 'At the end of our investigation we shared our report and findings with West Midlands Police and Matthew's father. 'We found that a police inspector may have breached the standards of professional behaviour regarding duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct in relation to their decision-making and handling of information, after Matthew was reported missing.' The IOPC spokesperson, who did not name the inspector involved, said of Wednesday's misconduct meeting: 'Misconduct was proven in respect of a breach of duties and responsibilities when it was found the inspector may not have included relevant information within his decision-making and/or dismissed information when deciding that Matthew was a medium risk missing person. 'The sanction imposed was a written warning to last for 18 months.' The IOPC said it had also identified learning for the West Midlands force in respect of procedures for investigating missing persons deemed to be medium risk, particularly on overnight shifts, with less staff on duty. The inquest jury - which heard the University of Birmingham graduate should have been under constant observation but was left unattended - reached a conclusion that death was contributed to by neglect. Care provider Priory Healthcare was last year fined £650,000 for safety failings linked to the death. A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police, who also declined to name the officer involved, said: 'Our thoughts remain with Matthew Caseby's family and friends. 'An investigation was carried out by the IOPC and concluded that a police inspector should attend a misconduct meeting. 'A misconduct meeting took place yesterday and the officer received a written warning to remain on his file for 18 months. We note the recommendations made by the IOPC and the outcome of their investigation.'
