Smiley culture update

Channel 4 report on the march today: http://www.channel4.com/news/police-failed-miserably-dead-reggae-star-smiley-culture

 

http://blog.thtc.co.uk/content/thtc-and-mau-mau-produce-official-smiley-culture-organic-t-shirt

 

For some reason (I didn't know about the march at this point) ,I woke up today and fantasised about being at a march where at some point this happened, it felt wonderful in my fantasy...I am glad it has happened.

 

Sky news report at least a 1000 people, some of the footage I shot that this maybe a little conservative...

 

I would say about 2000. Possibly more.

 

Fantastic. Well done all.

 

here's a report on the march that my mate did for his blog. He managed to get some photos yesturday.

http://jerrybarnett.blogspot.com/2011/04/justice-for-smiley-culture-march.html


http://www.demotix.com/news/660279/justice-smiley-culture-march-london

 

Less than 1000. 2,500 would have filled Broadway - o/s the Yard - didn't come close.

 

Yes, he was. 100%.

Randall (Mick?)

I was surprised at what a twerp he was when I ran into him

 

What bugs me is that the real problem is down to a fairly small proportion of police officers who are repeat offenders, but who are backed up by the vast majority of their colleagues who seem to think that by denying that any policemen are "bad un's" they will protect their own reputation. In fact we just end up suspicious of all of them. Regardless of this that or the other initiative from on high that never seems to change. It's a change that has to be made and it's a change that is entirely in the hands of the police, nobody else can make that change for them.

Until we know that any wrongdoing by a police officer will be dealt with by other officers in the same way as the same thing done by a member of the public, then there will not be widespread trust in the police. No matter what they do in terms of PR.

 

I see the SWP were out in force with their attention grabbing placards...

 

It was an amazing atmosphere

 

When I first read about this death, he really odd thing about it, it seemed to me, was that (i) if people are going to kill themselves they don't stab themselves in the chest and (ii) if Mr Plod is going to be a thug, he doesn't stab people in the chest either. Mr Plod may bash or kick, but he doesn't, it seems to me, plunge blades into chests.

I have just read the news article posted in the world politics forum about some young American who committed suicide in front of an audience by stabbing himself in the chest. Clearly, it can be done and my guess is that Mr Plod is telling the truth.

 

That person had been suicidal for months

 

The point isn't whether he was killed or took his own life. The point is that he was in the care of the Met at the time, and they are treating the family as if they don't have any right to ask questions. It's about getting the police to understand why there are suspicions and concerns and to act accordingly.

 

No, I'm sorry, I think it is about who killed him. Was it suicide or did Plod kill him? That is the central question.

You are right, of course, that there are suspicions - suspicians that Plod killed him.

If Plod is not being very forthcoming at the moment, my guess is that that is because he has said what he wants to say for the moment (that SC stabbed himself in the chest) and will say more when he has conducted some internal investigation, interviewing all relevant people, and/or when the coroner asks questions (which Mr Plod is of course obliged to answer).

 

Yeah this suicide story is showing up on my Facebook feed too...

 

In what way are the Met treating the family as if they don't have the right to ask questions?

Edited to add - genuine question by the way, rather then trying to refute what you're saying!

 

Belated impressions of the march, plus the campaign's demands, Asher Senator's tribute tune and more police-sourced bollocks in The Sun:

http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2011/04/smiley-culture-march-and-updates/

 

Cheers fozzie, keep it up.

 

That Blog reports the death of Cherry Groce? Is this correct anyone?

 

Yep. Friday just gone i think.

 

Deaths in custody.

333 deaths in police custody since 1998. Officers convicted - none.

 

RIP Cherry.

 

Reply to spammy post now removed.

 

well, we appreciate you, HTH

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/02/smiley-culture-david-emmanual-reggae

 

I just came in to post that. Its amazing that the IPCC doesnt have the powers to interview the officers present at such a death, the police can simply refuse unless made a suspect. To refuse suggests some sort of guilt or a complete disregard for the deceaseds family imo.