The events in London during the recent G20 demonstration have once again reiterated how little control or accountability there is over `Special Police' Units.
The officer(s) involved in the allegations surrounding the death of one of the demonstrators, Ian Tomlinson, were part of the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Unit.
Mr Tomlinsons death is now part of an Independent Police Complaints Commission enquiry.
Paradoxically over the past five years the Celtic League have raised concerns over the lack of control or scrutiny of `Special Police' units with the Council of Europe. We first wrote to the CoE in 2004 and expressed concerns following events in Britain, Ireland and France.
The latest focus on this issue has prompted us to re-emphasise those concerns (see below).
The lack of accountability of police services in Britain and Ireland and the failure of National oversight bodies (such as the IPCC) and Civil Liberties groups (such as Liberty) to act diligently is also a cause for concern. In different ways both these organisations have become to much a part of the system they are supposed to scrutinise.
«CPT Secretariat Council of Europe F 67075 Strasbourg Cedex France
21 Apr. 09
Dear Sir,
I refer to the tragic death of Mr Ian Tomlinson in London during the G20 demonstration. This death and other incidents are now the subject of investigation by the United Kingdom Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The death of Mr Tomlinson has been attributed to actions allegedly taken by a member of a specialised police unit, the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group.
The Celtic League wrote to the Council of Europe in February 2004 expressing concern about the apparent omission in Council Conventions of a facility to regulate and control `Special Police' units.
In a reply to us in February 2004 Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Directorate General of Human Rights, highlighted steps already taken by the Council of Europe and its programme »Police and Human Rights - Beyond 2000'.
However the Directorate General also assured us that the Leagues concerns have also been transmitted to;
«relevant Council of Europe bodies and departments, including the Secretariat of the CPT within the Directorate General of Human Rights as well as the Division of Criminal Law and Justice within the Directorate of Legal Affairs».
As the CPT was one of the bodies mentioned could you advise what steps that your organisation is taking to regulate the use of `Special Police' or indeed auxiliaries co-opted to assist the Police.
Could we also ask if the CPT will be making any representations to the UK government about the recent policing operations in London which has once again brought the activities of such bodies into prominence?
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt
Director of Information«
»The Rt Hon Terry Davis Secretary General Council of Europe Avenue de l'Europe 67075 Strasbourg Cedex
21 Apr. 09
Dear Sir,
I write further to our query to you of the 10th of October 2008 a copy of which I enclose for ease of reference. A substantive reply is still awaited to this communication.
I also draw your attention to the tragic death of Mr Ian Tomlinson in London during the G20 demonstration. This death and other incidents are now the subject of investigation by the United Kingdom Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The death of Mr Tomlinson has been attributed to actions allegedly taken by a member of a specialised police unit, the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group.
You will see that in our correspondence (of 22 November 2008) the refer to our earlier communication with (in February 2004) when the League wrote to the Secretary General of the Directorate General of Human Rights expressing concern about the apparent omission in Council Conventions of a facility to regulate and control `Special Police' units.
In a reply to us Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Directorate General of Human Rights, highlighted steps already taken by the Council of Europe and its programme «Police and Human Rights - Beyond 2000'.
The Directorate General did assure us that at the time that the Leagues concerns were being transmitted to;
»relevant Council of Europe bodies and departments, including the Secretariat of the CPT within the Directorate General of Human Rights as well as the Division of Criminal Law and Justice within the Directorate of Legal Affairs«.
Can we ask in the light of these most recent developments in respect of policing in London that the Council of Europe provide a greater emphasis to scrutiny and regulation of `Special Police' forces across Europe?
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt
Director of Information»
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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
21/04/09
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