Archive for July 2010
- No charge for officer who assaulted Ian Tomlinson before he died
Breaking news has just come in concerning the police officer who assaulted Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests last year. Tomlinson died shortly afterwards, but the incident in which he was struck by a police baton while walking home from work, and thereafter pushed to the ground by an officer, was captured on camera and released to the public.
The CPS ruled today that no charges would be brought against the officer in question.
- The more things change...
At the protest today outside New Scotland Yard, I noticed something interesting. One of the things City of London Police have done since the G20 debacle is attempt to make officers more approachable and identifiable by adding a name-badge to their uniform. As you can see in the following photos, it's worn on the chest, and if you're in a public order policing situation it can be handily covered with either your walkie-talkie or your fluoro jacket - even if you're the man in charge. So, much the same as shoulder numbers in the past, it doesn't look like these badges will be much use to anyone who's been slapped around the head with an armoured gauntlet or a baton lately.
(Top to bottom: Constable *mumble*ch, Constable Silb*mumble*, and Superintendent Morg*mumble*)
- The Digital Economy Act: what's next?
Last Saturday I attended ORGCon, the Open Rights Group's first digital rights conference. The day was packed full with interesting discussions, and I'll aim to blog about a number of relevant issues here over the next couple of weeks. The most pressing topic concerns the campaign to amend the problematic sections of the Digital Economy Act, as Ofcom's current consultation period ends on Friday, and we need to send in as many responses from a digital rights perspective as possible this week.
The question of how digital rights activists should respond to the passing of the Digital Economy Act by the previous government was tackled in a panel discussion including Tom Watson MP, Julian Huppert MP, Eric Joyce MP, John Grogan and Anita Cole (Director of civil liberties foundation Liberty).
Photo from ZDNet UK
