The killing of unarmed Chris Kaba by a police marksman shocked people all over the UK. Manchester, like many British towns and cities, held a rally to demand justice for his death.
Protecting those who protest – Manchester Green & Black Cross on police bills, legal mutual aid and how we can protect our rights
With the passing of the draconian Police, Courts, Sentencing & Crime Bill it’s now more important to know our rights, to hold the police to account for their actions.
Nicholas Prescott spoke to solicitor Simon Pook, a volunteer with mutual legal aid collective Manchester Green & Black Cross, about holding the police to account, supporting marginalised communities and sharing the legal tools to protect ourselves.
Greater Manchester Police deletes road safety Tweet placing burden on cyclists to avoid getting hit by drunk drivers
GMP officer Nicola Heap suggests cyclists and motorcyclists wear hi-vis to reduce the chance of being hit by drunk drivers, despite research showing around 80% of UK cycling accidents occuring in daylight.
Manchester council scraps school-based police officers
While anti-racism campaigners welcomed the move as “an important step”, they warn it “does not go anywhere near far enough” to remove police influence in Manchester’s schools.
Three legal observers at ‘Kill the Bill’ demonstration lodge assault complaints against Greater Manchester Police
Legal observers have lodged complaints against Greater Manchester Police for alleged assault by police officers at a ‘Kill the Bill’ demonstration in Manchester, the Network for Police Monitoring says.
Community union ACORN marches against ‘dangerous and undemocratic’ police powers bill
Community union ACORN call on Andy Burnham to speak out against the police powers bill. Rebecca Long-Bailey says the bill ‘represents a slide into authoritarianism.’
Manchester marches to oppose ‘greatest blow to democracy’ threatened by the police powers bill
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Manchester on Saturday, opposing the controversial police, crime, sentencing and courts bill which could severely limit the right to peaceful protest in the UK. The Meteor spoke to those who had come out on May Day to ‘kill the bill’.
Salford City Council attempts to defer Police HQ court case for six months
A court case set for March between Salford Council and Stama Developments, surrounding planning refusal for the old Police HQ on the Crescent, looks set to be postponed, after a decision published by the Council states that it is “Applying to vacate a High Court hearing for a period of 6 months” for “further discussions and negotiations”.
Pressure grows on Andy Burnham to scrap plans for school-based police officers
Deputy metro mayor Beverley Hughes insists SBPOs will create “positive relationships between young people and the police”. Campaigners say police presence in schools causes “harm”, urging the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to “divest from penal approaches”.
Manchester teachers union slams Burnham for putting more police in schools
Motion passed by teachers union condemns plans for school-based officers and says evidence supporting their use is ‘non-existent’.