Chief Constable Stephen Otter shortlisted?

Mr STEPHEN Otter, the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

It would seem STEPHEN Otter, the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall may have been short listed for the post of Deputy Commissioner at Scotland Yard.

Mr Otter is said to be one of four candidates to have applied for the post – second-in-command of the largest police force in Britain – after Sir Paul Stephenson's promotion to commissioner.

I say
“God help the GLBT population of London if Mr Otter gets the post” which carries a salary of £204,075

Mr Otter, who joined Devon and Cornwall Police on a five-year contract in January 2007 and has continued just like his predecessors to ignore complaints regarding the homophobic conduct, attitudes & practices of Cornwall police officers under his command.

However John Smith, chairman of Devon and Cornwall Police Authority (who also ignore complaints regarding homophobia within the police) is said to have commented
"The fact that Stephen Otter's name is being linked to this role is a testament to the difference he has made to policing in Devon and Cornwall over the past two years." He added: "We would be very sad to lose Stephen."

Well I know gay people in Cornwall who would be absolutely delighted to be shot of Chief Constable Otter. Since Mr Otter chooses to blindly ignore continuing homophobic abuses & the traumatic impact & violating affect of police abuses upon gay people in Cornwall.

Like that of police trying to prosecute the corpse of a gay suicide victim twenty days after he had killed himself following being arrested by police & despite warnings of the victims fragile state of mind, but hey, who cares how many fags top themselves in Cornwall (at least four in 2008).

Certainly NOT Mr Otter’s Devon & Cornwall Constabulary in my experience of them, having attempted suicide myself directly & specifically due to violating Cornwall police abusive conduct & practices against me specifically as a gay man who was acting lawfully & legally.

Mr Otter, who joined the Metropolitan Police as a constable in 1989, has instituted a five-year plan to transform the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary into "a top performing force" which has included transferring 200 officers from back office functions to the front line.


However, the reality is Devon & Cornwall Constabulary were the 3rd most complained about police force out of the 42 British police forces last year. A Freedom of Information Act enquiry revealed that between Jan 2006 to Dec 2008 there were 2,978 complaints made against Devon & Cornwall Constabulary (and these are just the ones that police will actually admit too and does not include complaints police have ignored, buried or bullied the complain tents to shut up about)!

Well done Mr Otter, on your astounding ability to ignore police abuses!

He should fit in very, very nicely in London, given the G20 police conduct (& denials) & the Charles De Menezes tube train police execution & known & established police bullsh*t & lies about that!

(WELL DONE THE IPCC in helping cover up police violations)

Interviews for the Deputy Commissioner post expected to take place next month in June. The final decision rests with the Home Secretary, although the Commissioner and the Mayor of London will have influence.

Lets hope the Home Secretary has the good sense to “Just F*cking Google it” and look at the reality of abusive policing in Devon & Cornwall under Chief Constable Mr Otter

The successful candidate for the Met Police will be a favorite to replace the newly appointed Sir Paul Stephenson, also reputedly not exactly renowned for supporting GLBT people.

Personally, due to my experiences of dishonest, corrupt & homophobic Cornwall police, I do not trust a Cornwall Police officer to even tell the correct time without my getting a second opinion

Search Devon & Cornwall Constabulary on the Freedom of Information Act website
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com

GLBT...Hate Crime...does it get worse than this?

I have just blogged this directly as I recieved it, it makes horrific reading....Please copy, blog & pass it on!

Iraqi gays report that their lives are in danger, that they live in continuous fear of people finding out that they are gay.

Gays are being sadistically tortured, mutilated and murdered

... some by the method of sticking a special glue (which can only be removed by surgery) up their anuses then forcing diarrhea. This method is being employed not just in Baghdad but in smaller town and cities all over Iraq

. Videos of this form of torture are being distributed on mobile cellphones in Iraq. There are reports of hospitals turning away gays with glued anuses.

Attacks against gays have been abundant in Shiite neighborhoods, especially poor regions and remote areas such as the southern provinces and the Hurriya, Sho’la and Sadr neighborhoods in Baghdad.

Although gays could be tried and imprisoned under the Saddam regime Iraqi gays report that "now they kill people like us."

The campaign started in 2004, following the religious decree of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani that said gay men and lesbians should be “punished, in fact, killed .. The people should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing.”

Since then Iraqi LGBT has received reports and information of over 600 LGBT people killed.

But Iraqi gays and media reports say that the killings have massively escalated since the end of 2008.

Iraqi LGBT has received reports of 63 killings in the last four months but does not have correspondents or members in large parts of Iraq and believes that the actual number of gays killed since December 2008 is much higher.

Amnesty International says that 25 boys and men were killed in Baghdad this spring "following calls from religious leaders to eradicate homosexuality."

There are reports that religious leaders, both Sunni or Shiite
... have used Friday sermons and satellite channels as a platform to incite hatred and violence toward homosexuals.

Reporting about the murders by anal glue of gays in Sadr City in April by Iraqi daily newspapers and many television stations branded gays as 'perverts' and 'terrorists who are undermining the moral fiber of Iraqi youth'.

Posters and leaflets distributed in the Baghdad neighborhoods of al-Shola, al-Hurya and Sadr City contain orders to "cleanse Iraq from the crime of homosexuality."

Lesbians are reported as being burned to death in Kadhimiya, Hurriya Al-Olaa, Hurriya Al-Thaniya, Dolaai and Dabaash.

Baghdad US Embassy workers are reported as saying that the killings are not tribal or familial disputes.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says that homosexuals are a specific group which have been identified as at risk of violence.

State involvement and lack of action Human Rights Watch says that Iraqi LGBT are vulnerable to attacks from both state and non-state actors.

Mobile phone footage circulating in Baghdad shows uniformed police harassing LGBT. There are reports of police extracting bribes.

Police have been quoted as waging a campaign to "clean up the streets and get the beggars and homosexuals off them.”

Iraqi LGBT has received reports that police and the Ministry of the Interior are behind some of the murders.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
says that despite the legal obligations of the Iraqi government to protect all citizens, crimes committed against LGBT Iraqis and those believed to be homosexual are not properly investigated or prosecuted.

US Vice President Joe Biden is reported to have said 'the Iraqi .. government is either too ineffectual to act, or is afraid of offending the religious zealots who perpetuate the attacks'.

The US State Department, following representations by Rep. Jared Polis and the Council for Global Equality, is investigating reports of trials and executions of LGBT, including for membership of the Iraqi LGBT group, as well as reports of arrests, beatings and rape by Ministry of Interior security forces. Polis says that at least one gay man has been executed by the government for 'membership of a banned organization' and that "gregious human rights violations ... [are] being carried out by Iraqi government officials from the Ministry of the Interior."

Amnesty International has expressed concern at the government’s failure to "publicly condemn the killings." It urged the government to make sure that the killings are "promptly and effectively investigated, and to see that the perpetrators are brought to justice." They also condemned police statements that,"appear to condone or even encourage the targeting of members of the gay community in Baghdad."

The Australian government has questioned the Iraqi Ambassador to Australia and Australia’s Ambassador to Iraq has questioned the Iraqi government over the pogrom.

On April 8, 2009, IGLHRC and Human Rights Watch submitted an urgent appeal to the Special Procedures of the United Nations to ask for an investigation.


Sources


Human Rights Watch: Iraq: Events of 2008

Iraq: IGLHRC Asks the Iraqi Government to Protect LGBT People

Comments from US Vice-President on Iraqi gay pogrom

US State Dept: Iraq Status Report (PDF)

Alarabiya: Bodies of 7 Gays in Baghdad Morgue

Gay City News: Iraqi Gays Face Gruesome Torture/ Murder Technique

NBC News: ‘They kill people like us,’ says gay Iraqi

Reuters: Gays killed in Baghdad as clerics urge clampdown

BBC News: Iraqi Gay Men Face 'Lives of Hell'

Independent: Dozens of young men and boys killed by death squads in Baghdad
New York Times: Iraq’s Newly Open Gays Face Scorn and Murder

Denver Post: Congressman takes Iraq to task over attacks on gays

The Advocate: I'm Gay and Iraqi: Please Help Me!

Human Rights Campaign: Gay advocacy groups call for the end of violence against LGBT people in Iraq

Sydney Star Observer: Australia raises Iraq’s gay killings

Baltimore Gay Life: Polis: Iraqi GLBT Executions have Begun

GayCityNews - Iraqi Gay Murders Surge; World Finally Takes Note

US Rep. Jared Polis: letter to Patricia A. Butenis (Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the US State Dept) [PDF]

UK Gay News: Member of Iraqi Gay Group Pleads for Help “Before It’s Too Late”

LGBT Asylum News: Los Angeles City Council opposes Iraqi gay pogram



Statements by Iraqi LGBT
This letter was written to Los Angeles councillor Bill Rosendahl in response to the passage by Los Angeles City Council of a resolution in opposition to the Iraqi gay pogrom.

I’m a 25 year old graduate student from Baghdad and my name is Ahmad.

I want to thank you very much for caring about me and my problem. Finally, after many desperate years of hopelessness I found a group of people that understand and care about me.

My problem is that I’m a gay, and as a gay man I can’t live a normal life in Iraq because:

My life is in danger. I live in continuous fear of people finding out that I’m gay.

I can’t express my deepest emotions. I can’t love...I can’t tell those who I care about that I love them... It is like being tortured from inside.
In the past few months I have heard of many cases of violence against gay men, including killing, torturing, and public humiliation of us. The religious vigilantes (known as Maghawer) have kidnapped many men suspected of being gay. No one knows anything about the fate of those gays.

The Maghawer’s most popular method of torture for homosexuals is putting silicon glue on their anus to shot down their digestive system and then force them to take laxative drug to make them suffer.

Every time I walk on the street I wonder what may happen to pen to me today. To protect myself, I have to lie to everyone and pretend that I am a straight person. It is really hard to be a 24/7 liar out of the fear of death…I keep asking myself if this is going to be MY LIFE!!!

I have no one to turn to. Not even other gay men or my family members. Recently I have been blackmailed by men I had sex with in the past. They told me either I have to have sex with them again or they will out me to my family, neighbors and even classmates. I had to choose between scandal and public humiliation and prostitution. But I decided that I can’t have sex with people I don’t love … so I decided to transfer to another college in Northern Iraq.

My family doesn’t know about my homosexuality…if they find out, they will disown me because I will become a disgrace to them. They may even try to kill me to protect their honor. I always have to pretend in front my family that I ‘m “normal”…but like any other straight man, my family wants me to marry a woman … I try to avoid that conversation as much as I can but there is a lot of pressure on me to get married.

I am not happy with myself. I am not proud of who I am.

A while back I went to a psychologist to see if he can treat me. I told him about my problem…he told me that homosexuality has no treatment in Iraq and only experienced doctors in developed countries can give me therapy.

The news made me so depressed that I started thinking of committing suicide. I feel even without vigilantes killing me, I AM ALREADY DEAD FROM INSIDE.

I just want to know what wrong I have done. Do I have a choice to be gay? Do I want to humiliate myself? Do I want to live in constant fear and anxiety? Do I want my family & friends to hate and abandon me if they discover my truth? Do I want myself to be killed on the hand of uneducated people for something I didn’t choose?

I don’t want to make it long for you…but I want to let you know that I have already suffered too much and I don’t have the power to go through more pain and suffering.

And finally I want to thank you for your support and help…

My Regards and Best Wishes to ALL of YOU…


Comment by Hasan given to The Independent
My boyfriend was killed by the police because of his sexuality. Policemen came to his house, 10 minutes away from mine, put him in a police car, arrested and killed him.
They told his parents it was because of his job. He was working for Iraqi LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender). For six months I didn't go out, I didn't do anything – just grieved for him. He was killed because of who he is.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, we – the gay community – were very optimistic. We thought that we would live in a democracy and felt safe with US troops around. So we started to print leaflets that promoted freedom for gay and lesbian people.

But members of our group started being arrested for it. The leaflets weren't political, they were just spreading gay rights.

We have the right to exist and be who we are, but this offended the government. The leaflets had our email addresses and telephone numbers, so the government and the militias came to find out who was distributing the leaflets.

In 2004, the situation got much worse. People began to be killed in the streets, burnt alive and mutilated for being gay. We were a target for the government and militias. I fled to the UK; I feel very safe here but get emails every day about more killings in Iraq. And the problem is that the UK Government doesn't allow us to stay with refugee status even though Iraq is one of the most dangerous places on earth for homosexuals and a war is being waged by the parts of the Iraqi government on gay people. In the UK, I can't work or study because I've been denied the right to asylum, but my only option is to go back to Iraq, face my family and my community and be killed.

Four members of our organisation have already been deported. I am fighting for my right to stay by re-applying for asylum with the help of Iraqi LGBT. Otherwise, I have no future. On Thursday, we will protest outside the Home Office to highlight the homophobic killings. I wish someone would listen and help us; this has been going on in Iraq for years and no one cares.

Hasan, 26, is gay. He moved to the UK nine months ago from his home in Babel province, south of Baghdad, after receiving death threats. His boyfriend was killed because of his sexuality.
Call for help

My name is [name and address removed], Baghdad, Iraq.

I was detained at my residence December 15, 2008 after midnight, by the Ministry of Interior. During the detention process, they hit me on the head and my rear end to make me confess that I am a member of the Iraqi-LGBT. Later on the Ministry of Interior transferred me to the criminal justice court in al Karkh, and after a short trial I was sentenced to death.

I was sentenced without given the chance to defend myself or to hire an attorney. Two days later I was returned to the same place and was told that the execution will take place in two weeks.

Please pass this message to [my friend] in London. I just wish to tell him not to forget about my mother and siblings, I was their only supporter.

I am all hopeful that Allah will show Iraqis a life with no death sentences. And lastly, I ask you for help. Is there anyone to help me before it is too late?



Addendum


The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) advises favourable consideration for people belonging to specific groups from these areas which have been identified as at risk, including members of religious and ethnic minorities; Iraqis perceived as opposing armed groups or political factions; Iraqis affiliated with the multinational forces or foreign companies; media workers; UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) workers; human rights activists; and homosexuals.

Improving security prompts UN to revise guidelines for Iraqi asylum claims




What you can do



There are a number of ways in which you can take action.

Support Iraqi LGBT through fund raising and donations

This support is desperately needed and will be put to good use both inside Iraq itself and to support the exiled movement. The group needs £10,000 a month in order to keep its safe houses and other support for beleaguered LGBT inside Iraq going.

You can find out how to do this on the Iraqi LGBT website http://www.iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com

Alternatively, in the USA, tax-deductible donations can be made at http://www.rainbowfund.org

Contact your local representative to urge them to ask for your government's pressure on the Iraqi government to take action

In the USA -
You can get contact information for Representatives and Senators on this website http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
The only statement so far from the State Department is carried in this post http://www.madikazemi.blogspot.com/2009/04/does-hillary-know-this-man.html

In the UK -
Contact your MP through this website http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

Suggested letter

The following is a letter for a UK MP which you can adapt for your locality

Dear XX XXXXX

I write to draw your attention to the pogrom of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people which is currently taking place in Iraq.

Although this has yet to draw much mainstream media attention the reports are truly horrifying and escalating. They have draw the attention of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and US Representatives.

However the UK Foreign Office does not appear to be taking any action.

I refer you to the statement of Bill Rammell [http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2009/04/millibands-fco-joins-smiths-home-office.html].

The following report covers the pogrom:
http://www.madikazemi.blogspot.com/2009/05/report-iraqi-anti-lgbt-pogrom.html

I would urge you to ask the Foreign Office why they are not taking stronger action in this matter.

Sincerely

XXXXXXXXX

Please take action today!



--
~~~~~~~
Visit our website, LGBT asylum news (formally Save Medhi Kazemi)
http://www.medhikazemi.com

Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) on Discrimination (Homophobia)

Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) on Discrimination (Homophobia)


(Above:- Nick Hardwick of the IPCC)

IPCC published new discrimination guidelines yesterday! 19th May 2009


The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) published yesterday new guidelines on dealing with allegations of discriminatory behaviour

...and it still won’t be worth “JACK SCHITT”... AS IPCC CONTINUE TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO HOMOPHOBIC POLICE CONDUCT & PRACTISES already reported, but which STILL remain un-investigated!

The new guidelines, 'Dealing with allegations of discriminatory behaviour', build upon the racial discrimination guidelines published by the Police Complaints Authority in 2003 and include age, religion and belief, disability, gender, race, and sexual orientation discrimination.

...and we all know how much notice police have taken of racial discrimination & the findings of the Stephen Lawrence murder report & enquiry.

The IPCC say they are committed to producing its own guidelines on the handling of allegations of discriminatory behaviour because of the importance it places on valuing diversity and concerns about discrimination,

...but frankly we believe having had personal experience of the IPCC protectionism of police, that GLBT people & PUBLIC IN GENERAL would be foolish to believe the IPCC!

The IPCC are said too provide guidance on the handling of allegations of discriminatory behaviour and ensure a consistent approach is achieved by those responsible for investigating allegations.

"WHAT TWADDLE"

In our experience of the IPCC, this means to consistently cover up for police abuses, interconnected violations & traumatising of gay victims of homophobic police conduct & practises

Discrimination allegations are said to account for a small number of overall complaints, (but then AS GLBT we KNOW as A FACT complaints are systematically disregarded and ignored habitually by both police and their chums in the IPCC).

In 2006/07, allegedly according to the IPCC, ONLY 3% of total complaints related to discrimination. However, the 2007 IPCC public confidence survey found 86% of people felt that discrimination is one of the main reasons for making a complaint.

IPCC Chair Nick Hardwick is reported as having said: "As we can see from the research people feel strongly that discriminatory behaviour should be reported, however, the number of actual cases is very low. It is important that the necessary guidelines are in place to address all forms of discrimination if we are to continue to increase the public's confidence in the police complaints system”.

Dear Nick Hardwick,

“YOU FAIL to increase public confidence whilst you continue to blind-eye the interconnected abuse practises, conduct & impact of multiple acts of homophobic impact & abuse carried out, like that of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, not to mention (but we will ) coppers & chain of command who get away with executing people in Tube trains or killing off newspaper salespersons when walking home!”

"Currently a review of IPCC statutory guidance is underway and will include reference to these guidelines and their use."

A consultation process involving IPCC staff, Professional Standards Departments and stakeholders, including Mind and Stonewall, was conducted over a two-year period

...but ignored the experience & opinion of 1st hand victims of IPCC failings.

A review of the guidelines will be conducted in 12 months to monitor their own implementation and use to see if the IPCC & the Police have still managed through “spin & mirrors” to pull the wool over the publics eyes.

Victims of IPCC police bias & favouritism know that IPCC = Ignores Police Complaints Completely

Have a look at the Freedom of Information Act questions being asked about Devon & Cornwall Constabulary complaints REPORTED but IGNORED by BOTH the police & equally corrupt IPCC!

Search:- Devon & Cornwall Constabulary on the FOI website

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com

Hope for the future!!!

There is HOPE for the future!

This child rocks!

Ethan organised (with help) a rally to support same-sex marriage...astounding!
(Whilst those in Cornwall's authorities turn their backs on the plight of gays abused by police & Cornwall county Hall)



What a contrast between young Ethan & our politicians, police & Cornish authorities in the UK!



Take note BIGOTS (in particular those running Devon & Cornwall Constabulary & Cornwall County Council) there are some in the next generation all over the world who will not accept your homophobia!

Ethan for President!

Expenses? Corruption?...Lets look at local Government?

Expenses? Corruption?...Lets look at local Government in Cornwall?




£10,000 paid by mistake?
From the archive of the PACKET NEWSPAPER, first published Wednesday 25th Jan 2006.

Cornwall county councillors, who are paid 50p a mile for driving their own cars to meetings, may be overclaiming thousands of pounds a year more than they are entitled to, a Packet investigation has revealed.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Packet has acquired copies of expenses claim forms submitted by the 82 county councillors over a three-month period last year and these have been analysed by comparing them to AA and RAC mileage data.

The investigation reveals that many councillors are claiming they have travelled more miles than the shortest route mapped for the Packet by either the AA or RAC. If the AA and RAC data is correct, figures for one month alone show that councillors claimed for up to 1,700 miles that they did not travel.

This would have added £853 to the expenses bill of £13,000 for just the one month that the Packet audited. If the figures for this one month are projected over a full year, county councillors are being paid about £156,000 a year in mileage expenses and could be overclaiming by as much as £10,000.

The 50p a mile payments that councillors receive for using their own cars have already been criticised as being over-generous. Last year an unsuccessful attempt was made by some councillors to reduce the mileage rate. They pointed out that motoring organisations say that an average car costs around 38p a mile to run and councillors are therefore making a profit every time they drive to a meeting.

The request to reduce mileage rates prompted a full review of the allowances and expenses paid to councillors. But, instead of producing a saving for Cornwall's taxpayers, the council eventually voted to double the allowances paid to senior members, adding £160,000 a year to costs. The mileage allowance was left untouched at 50p. The expenses claim forms seen by the Packet reveal that David Whalley, leader of the Liberal-Democrat controlled council, claimed for travelling more than 6,000 miles over a three-month period last year.

This means he would have picked up expenses of about £1,000 a month on top of his annual allowance of £19,305 - due to be increased to £32,655 later this year.

The retired head teacher - who receives a local government pension as well as his publicly-funded council allowances and expenses - travels from Bude to attend meetings at County Hall in Truro. He claims 108 miles for each round trip. Using the mileage databases of the AA and RAC the Packet calculated that the shortest distance between Mr Whalley's home and County Hall is only 104 miles, which - if correct - would give him an additional £2 profit on every one of the numerous trips he makes as council leader.

In the one month that the Packet analysed in depth, Mr Whalley also claimed 130 miles for travelling to a meeting at the Tremough university campus in Penryn. The shortest journey between his home and Tremough, according to both the AA and RAC, is a round trip of only 120 miles, giving him an additional £5 over and above the £60 the motoring organisations suggest he should have received.

Mr Whalley also claimed 141 miles for attending a meeting in Hayle - nine miles more than AA and RAC databases give as the distance.

There is no suggestion that Mr Whalley - or any of the other councillors - are deliberately cheating local taxpayers. The mileages they are claiming could be as shown on their own car odometers and the AA and RAC databases could be at fault. It is also possible that they have taken a longer route to avoid traffic or that they have simply made a genuine mistake calculating the mileage.

The findings, however, are likely to prompt calls for a full audit by a government accountant to make sure councillors are not receiving more than they are entitled to.

Besides Mr Whalley, a number of other Liberal Democrat councillors have also claimed for journeys that reveal a greater mileage than shown on the AA and RAC databases.

Bob Emuss claims 90 miles for the round trip between his home at St Cleer, near Liskeard, and County Hall. According to the AA and RAC, the round trip would be 77 miles taking the fastest route but only 71 miles following the shortest route. Assuming that the AA and RAC figures are accurate, he would have been overpaid £95 in one month alone based on the lower mileage.

Adam Paynter, a Liberal Democrat councillor from North Petherwin, near Launceston, was overpaid by £83 in the same month based on the AA and RAC figures. He regularly claims 112 miles for the round trip from his home to County Hall but the shortest route, according to the motoring organisations, is 98 miles. He also appears to have overclaimed for official journeys to Scorrier, Penryn and Gwithian.

Other Liberal Democrat councillors who appear to have claimed more in the one month examined by the Packet than the shortest distance shown by the AA or RAC are: Saltash councillor Mrs Joyce Mepsted, 105 miles; Brian Higman, Roche, 101 miles; Paul Adams, Pelynt, 91 miles; Robert Booker, Week St Mary, 70 miles; Mrs T Lello, Hayle, 71 miles; Andrew Mitchell, St Ives, 59 miles; Bryan Preston, Saltash, 55 miles.

An independent councillor, Tony Nettle. from Callington, claimed 104 miles for each round trip from home to County Hall compared to the AA and RAC mileage of 86, giving a possible over-payment of £45 for the month. Another independent, Neil Burden, from Trebullett, near Launceston, may have overclaimed £44 for the month if the AA and RAC figures are accurate.

Some councillors appear not to have claimed any expenses at all for the month examined in detail by the Packet and many others have claimed almost exactly the mileages shown on the AA and RAC databases. A few have actually claimed less than the distances shown for their journeys on the AA and RAC databases.

Council leader David Whalley told the Packet that he had always claimed 108 miles for the round trip from his home in Bude to County Hall in Truro.

"When I checked it out I found that I actually do 110 miles from my home to County Hall so I have been underclaiming as I still claim 108 miles," he said.

"I set my speedometer for journeys that are irregular. For regular ones to County Hall in Truro I have always used the 108 since I first started. Since then I have found out it is more than I claim."

Mr Whalley added: "To be honest, there have also been occasions when I have gone a longer distance than I would normally do and have put in the normal claim. For example, on the day of the Boscastle disaster it took me seven hours to get home and do 50 to 60 miles further than the normal 108 miles."

Coun Andrew Mitchell said: "I totally dispute the claim that I overcharge. I claim mileage from when I leave my front door to when I get to County Hall. If anything I underclaim.

"If you want to come in the car with me and see what is on my speedometer you are more than welcome. I have no problem with that."

Coun Robert Booker said that often distances on a map were different than the actual distances travelled due to the terrain negotiated in transit.

"It can also make a difference if you have brand new tyres on your car or worn tyres, because of the difference in their diameter. But if, as you say, I have claimed for something which I haven't had then I would like to know."

Coun Bob Emuss said that the reason he was overclaiming was because he was travelling the quickest route to County Hall which took him via Shortlanesend after dropping off his daughter at Liskeard. "The finance officer has picked up on this and I now go the shortest route which means I get stuck in traffic up in Tregolls Road every day. It means I have to leave home much earlier."

Coun Joyce Mepsted said: "The database is just taking a point, I would assume, on a map, from point A to B. What I claim for is the mileage I drive when I get in the car at Saltash and when I get out of the car at County Hall. The RAC haven't got in my car and driven. That's what I do. I claim for what I actually drive - when I get in the car and again going back."

Coun Adam Paynter said: "The quickest route to go from my house, as I live in the middle of nowhere, is to go through a lot of back roads to the A39 to go along the north coast road. That would take about 20 minutes longer than going the quickest route, through Launceston.

"The official claim for members that we have in our handbook for councillors is 98 miles from Launceston to County Hall. I'm seven miles away from Launceston and it takes just over an hour going that way. Although it as a few miles more than the shortest route it would end up taking about 20 minutes longer each way. I just work out what my mileage is on my car and claim that."

Coun Paynter said he also tended to avoid using the A30 in the summer because of the heavy traffic.

The Packet has tried to speak to other councillors whose claims are more than the AA or RAC distances but it has not been possible to contact them all.
.......................................................

Since the above article was published by the Packet, the vile extent of MP expenses abuses has since been exposed.

PS:- David Whalley (Now thankfully retired from Cornwall County Council, Thank God!)was the Cornwall County Council member who obstructed & refused to allow an Independent Ombudsman Enquiry into homophobic abuses carried out by Cornwall Social Services and their failure of 'duty of care' to a KNOWN homeless 15yr old gay youth in Helston, Cornwall.

Please watch the videos:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpwloMfpco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKRJjFOeKMA

Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Official Complaints Record

DEVON & CORNWALL C O N S T A B U L A R Y

RECORD 1

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST NO 140/2009-0484

1.How many complaints were made against Devon & Cornwall Constabulary in the period Jan 2006~Dec 2008?

2. How many of these were assessed at Level 1, and how many at higher levels?

3. How many of those initially assessed at Level 1 were subsequently re-assessed at a higher level?

The Performance and Analysis Department have provided the following information:

1.How many complaints were made against Devon & Cornwall Constabulary in the period Jan 2006~Dec 2008?

There were 2,978 complaints received between Jan 2006 to Dec 2008.

Please note, the assessment is at case level and not complaint / allegation level.

2. How many of these were assessed at Level 1, and how many at higher levels?

Please note, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary have only been recording this data since February of 2008. The assessment process only came into effect on 1 December 2008 under new legislation. However, as a Force we started assessing complaints under the principles of the new legislation early, in February 2008. As it was not a legislative requirement at that time our database did not formally record the assessment or re-assessment. During the February - December period we used various processes for this assessment and the recording of it, this will be articulated on the files themselves but in varying forms as this was a trial period for us prior to the legislation coming into effect.


Therefore we can only provide this data from February to December of 2008:

February 2008 to December 2008:

978 complaints received

215 were assessed at Level 1.

112 were assessed at Level 2.

Please note complaints are assessed according to the severity of the allegation. Where the allegation is not assessed to be Gross Misconduct (Level 2) at the outset the preferred alternative assessment is for the matter to be Locally Resolved. Complaints are only assessed as Misconduct (Level 1) if the Complainant has already declined Local Resolution or if there are other mitigating factors such as supporting evidence. Therefore any discrepancy between the total number of complaints and those assessed as Level 1 or Level 2 will reflect the number of complaints that were assessed as suitable for Local Resolution.

3. How many of those initially assessed at Level 1 were subsequently re-assessed at a higher level?

As detailed above, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary have only been recording the reassessment data since December of 2008, when the measure was introduced by legislation, and therefore we can only provide the figures for that month. Please see the above note regarding discrepancy of numbers.

December 2008:

80 Complaints received

5 were assessed at Level 1

8 were assessed at Level 2

2 re-assessed from Level 1 to Level 2.


Pink Pasty:- Of course what the above also does not show are those complaints where the police IGNORE, BULLY, INTIMIDATE the complaintent from making the complaint in the first place! I KNOW FIRST HAND!

There is absoloutley NO SHADOW of doubt in my mind as to the high level of HOMOPHOBIC scum I have personally encountered STILL working within the Devon & Cornwall constabulary, protected & un-investigated by the blind-eye activities of Chief Constable Stephen Otter who point-blank declines to respond to emails sent to him at Middlemore HQ on these issues!

Until there is HONESTY, INTEGRITY, IMPARTIALITY & TRANSPARENCY of conduct demonstrated by the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary regarding the catalogue of homophobic attitudes & practises, personal abuses & victimisation as carried out by Cornwall police officers, which THEY have buried with the co-operation of the equally corrupt IPCC & Cornwall Police Authority

...then gay people SHOULD continue to live in fear of this CORRUPT HOMOPHOBIC Devon & Cornwall police force commanded by Chief Constable Stephen Otter & NOT trust people like so-called diversity? officer PC Cannon who simply disregard those gay people who do not follow blindly like sheep due too having been abused & violated by his police mates in the plod.

Cornwall Police still remain the primary homophobic abusers & instigators of Hate Crime against gay people in Cornwall.

Cornish Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George & 15yr old Gay Boy

Cornish Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George & 15yr old Gay Boy

A true story of a Cornish Liberal Democrat Member of British Parliament… and Peter Midwood, a previously homeless 15yr old Cornish gay youth

May 13th 2009 The Daily Telegraph newspaper revealed British MP’s EXPLOITING TAXPAYERS THROUGH MP’s EXPENCE CLAIMS

Please watch the video



Daily Telegraph front page exposed how Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St. Ives (in Cornwall, UK), claims £847 per month from UK taxpayers for mortgage interest payments for his luxury London riverside flat

...yet in 2005 Andrew George would not assist a homeless 15yr old boy, a child who was living rough on the streets of Helston, Cornwall. His parents abandoned Peter, moving 400 miles away

Cornwall UK recognised as the poorest economic region in the UK with the lowest rates of pay & high unemployment

…yet Mr George would not assist a homeless 15yr old child in Helston, Cornwall. Refusing to assist Peter get an independent Ombudsman enquiry

Mr George’s London luxury flat said primarily used by his daughter & the insurance policy is in her name

…yet Mr George would not assist a homeless 15yr old child in Helston, Cornwall. Ignoring letters written to Mr George by Peter himself.

Andrew George’s expense claims reveal how MP’s are able to exploit the MP system to obtain properties from which their families benefit

…yet Mr George would not assist a homeless 15yr old child in Helston, Cornwall, but went to the same school which homophobically abused young Peter

Andrew George MP in 2006 using his privileged MP’s 2nd home allowance, he claimed back £1,898 for furnishings which were I fact delivered to his other property in Cornwall

…yet Mr George would not assist a homeless 15yr old child in Helston, Cornwall, but did nothing about refusal of statutory assistance to Peter

However, Andrew George MP, stayed in London at hotels. Eventually buying a flat (used by his daughter) and made a claim for £3,999 for furniture & soft fittings. The figure reduced by the Parliamentary fees office

…yet Mr George would not assist a homeless 15yr old child in Helston, Cornwall, who was sleeping on a sofa of a voluntary support team member

Mr George COMPLAINED bitterly and made a further additional claim for £538 for a futon

…yet Mr George would not assist a homeless 15yr old child in Helston, Cornwall. Turning his back on GLBT people abused & violated by embedded Cornish Institutional homophobia

In 2007-08 Andrew George MP billed the British taxpayer for a further £1,343.81 for household goods & redecoration

…yet Mr George would not assist a homeless 15yr old child in Helston, Cornwall



Andrew George MP has left an unapologetic whingeing response to the Daily Telegraph exposure of British MP’s exploiting the expenses system

Peter Midwood, the former homeless youth will be 20yrs old this year (2009). He will NEVER vote for Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George nor will the public who DID help young Peter

Not that will concern Liberal Democrat Andrew George MP… probably to busy filling in expense claim forms… than help Cornish constituents like young Peter

The tragedy. I am a Liberal Democrat…but I will never vote for Andrew George MP for St. Ives & Helston, who ignored the plight of Peter & the Institutional Homophobia in Cornwall’s Authorities

To see Peter’s own video search “Gay Youth Homophobia” on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCqDEEc_TOw

THANK YOU
The Daily Telegraph…
for exposing those British MP’s with their snouts in the pig trough!

Devon & Cornwall Constabulary continuing Homophobic culture

(Above: What for me is the centre of HOMOPHOBIC culture. The Devon & Cornwall Constabulary headquarters at Middlemore, Exeter)


Devon & Cornwall Constabulary continuing Homophobic culture

Below are some questions recently asked under the Freedom of Information Act
(However, please do not expect ANY honesty on the part of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary in response …because I’m certainly not!)

PC Treloar & PC Fuller of Helston
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/devon_cornwall_constabulary_homo_5

DC Crowe of Camborne
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/devon_cornwall_constabulary_homo

X3 Cornwall Police Officers Flora Day Helston 2006
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/devon_cornwall_constabulary_homo_2

Sgt. Rowe of Helston
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/devon_cornwall_constabulary_homo_3

PC Alexander & PC colleague abuse of gay teenager & pensioner
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/devon_cornwall_constabulary_homo_4

DC Anning of Camborne
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/devon_cornwall_constabulary_homo_8

DC Parker
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/devon_cornwall_constabulary_homo_9

There are other FOI Act complaints & enquiries not listed above regarding named or identifiable Cornwall police officers

Since 2004, I personally have been subjected to a Devon & Cornwall Constabulary homophobic vendetta, which has adversely affected my life & those around me.

I have made legitimate complaints to Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, the Cornwall Police Authority (CPA , what a complete waste of space, time & public money) & the IPCC but many of these complaints have been ignored, covered up or authorities failed (deliberately or through ignorance) to take into consideration inter connected nature & affect of multiple incidents of abuse by different police officers against the same vulnerable group of targeted gay victims of police abuses, police criminality & police failure of duty.

Having personally made complaints of police abuses, dishonesty, failure of duty of care, lack of integrity & impartiality, complaints which have simply been brushed under the carpet & ignored by the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary & numerous other bodies.

Such is the prejudicial, dishonest & corrupt nature of modern policing today.

(NB:- Remember dishonesty & denials of police regarding police brutal execution of Charles De Menezes in the Stockwell tube & the more recent police violent abuses regarding the G20 summit leading to the death of another innocent man.)

The embeded Devon & Cornwall Homophobic Police Corruption & Dishonesty MUST end!

If Chief Constable Steven Otter continues to decline to respond to emails sent to him via his own police Middlemore HQ website regarding police abusers that HE is in effect protecting

…then we surely NEED a new honest, Chief Constable with real integrity, and who is NOT willing to tolerate & cover up HOMOPHOBIC attitudes & protected practises within the Devon & Cornwall police ranks anymore!

It is the apparent opinion of police, my audacity as a member of the public (a ‘f*cking queer’ at that!) in making complaints, has clearly made me a target of further repeated malicious & vindictive police homophobic motivated intimidation & abuses over the past five years.

This Cornwall Police homophobic abuse almost cost me my life! That is why I am so bloody minded & dedicated in continuing this fight against the still protected homophobic attitudes & practises & corruption within the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary!

When a police officer like DC Magnus Scott 3033 & his other homophobic police chums at Camborne & Helston police stations, & Middlemore HQ, are directly responsible for driving you through their police vendetta & homophobia to the desperation of attempting suicide, it sort of has becomes a strong driving force in my trying to obtain change in the protected corruption of Cornwall police force accepted practises.

NB:- The IPCC , Independent Police Complaints Commission, who are grossly biased in favour of police, which is why over one hundred lawyers withdrew their services from the IPCC.

The IPCC in my own experience fail to fully investigate complaints. (They even admit in one report regarding a complaint I made they did not even ‘bother’ to interview x14 named witnesses)

The IPCC fail to investigate interconnected nature of multiple police homophobic abuses, intimidation, violation, misconduct, failure of duty of care, criminality, dishonesty & corruption carried out against targeted gay person by homophobic police practises & attitudes which are still protected by senior rank within the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary

In 2009:- In my experience the most likely person to homophobically initiate abuse, violate, intimidate, traumatise & adversely affect a gay persons life in Cornwall….is a police officer under the command of Chief Constable Steven Otter!

Know the HOMOPHOBIC ENEMY …I do, and they carry a warrant card from Devon & Cornwall Constabulary!

Expensive Police Quango to cover police abuses?

Expensive Police Quango to help cover police homophobic abuses?

I have just learned of a NEW Quango (and quite frankly, seemingly pointless) committee headed up by Chief Constable Steven Otter of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary on ‘diversity & equality’ .

(Many readers will know the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary concerned, is the one who still refuses to reply to emails sent to him at Middleore police HQ regarding continuing police homophobia & who as Chief Constable continues to protect named & identifiable police officers in his constabulary & under his command, who routinely have conducted homophobic attitudes & practises:- see list of abusive police officers elsewhere in blog & on the ‘What do they know’ freedom of information Act website.)

See these detailed links regarding Cornwall police homophobic corruption & abuses!
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/copy_of_documents_concerning_com#comment-1900
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/homophobic_hate_crimes_reported_12#comment-1776
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/complaints_and_investigations_of#comment-1663
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/lgbt_complaints#incoming-10396

Now one of the objectives of this hilarious NEW police pilot project (which is to be adopted across ALL the UK police forces I believe) …is to ‘try’ to increase public confidence of minority groups (GLBT, Ethnic, disabled, etc.) in the police...that is a joke whilst they continue to protect named & identifiable abusive Cornwall police officers in their ranks!!!

Well as a gay person who has personally been repeatedly abused, traumatised, victimised, intimidated & threatened by Cornwall Police officers I can name or identify in the Cornwall police force…I say to this NEW pointless police cover up committee…

…it is very simple to gain the confidence of the (gay) public…

All Chief Constable Steven Otter has to do is HONESTLY investigate & STOP CORRUPTLEY COVERING UP & PROTECTING THE HOMOPHOBIC ATTITUDES AND PRACTISES of Devon & Cornwall police officers (who we can name & identify) who have contributed to so much abuse of gay persons in Cornwall (over the last few years & the impact & abusive affects caused by these Cornwall police officers which is still on going & victimising gay people).

The combined affect abuses carried out by the likes of Insp. Mark Bolt, Insp. Eastern, DC Magnus Scott, DC Anning, DC Parker, DC Crowe, DS Beckerlegge, PC Treloar, PC Fuller, PC Alexander & colleague, the three officer on duty on Helston Flora Day 2006, Sgt. Rowe, and our new local Helston beat officer (who refuses to hear any complaint regarding his corrupt & homophobic colleagues)…and a catalogue of other police instigated events & issues against gay persons in Cornwall in recent years.

Therefore, there really is NO need to waste lots of public money for the Chief Constable to head up & Chair a new costly quango…

All that is really needed is some… honesty, integrity, impartiality & transparency of conduct by the Chief Constable & the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, which regretably is blatantly abscent from this police force when it comes to how the Cornwall police STILL cause abuse to gay persons!

SIMPLY JUST INVESTIGATE THE ABUSES CARRIED OUT BY NAMED & IDENTIFABLE CORNWALL POLICE OFFICERS AGAINST GAY PERSONS over the last few years!

The problem is no matter how many word mongering committees Chief Constable Otter sets up & chairs just to 'appear' as if police are doing something about police 'in house' homophobia ... they are a pointless exercise whilst the Chief Constable Steven Otter continues to blind eye & DO nothing about the legitimate complaints already made about so many of his Cornwall police officers...

...the public are not the primary problem of homophobic hate crime...the attitude & practises of POLICE OFFICERS like those we can NAME & IDENTIFY in Cornwall are!

Come on Chief Constable Otter, get your act together...stop contributing to covering up Cornwall police homophobic attitudes & practises!

PS:- Our youtube channel exposing Cornwall police homophobia & corruption is in the TOP TWENTY most subscribed channels on YOUTUBE!. It has recieved over one and a quarter MILLION views of our videos!

http://www.youtube.com/thepinkpasty