'Orwellian' police in bid to silence ex-boyfriend stalked by youngest magistrate

[Fop 1]

'Orwellian' police in bid to silence ex-boyfriend stalked by youngest magistrate

 

By Ian Gallagher and Alan Rimmer

Last updated at 2:09 AM on 08th June 2008

 

Police have been accused of an 'Orwellian' attempt to silence a man who said he was harassed by Britain's youngest magistrate.

 

In what was viewed by politicians last night as an attack on the freedom of speech, detectives made him sign a statement promising not talk to the Press about the case - after details appeared in The Mail on Sunday.

 

But when asked what grounds they had for their actions, a police spokeswoman refused to comment.

tate

 

Accused: JP Lucy Tate, Britain's youngest magistrate, whose ex said she stalked him

 

The West Yorkshire force also refused to say who had ordered the officers to step in and what offence, if any, they were investigating. The man had accused his former girlfriend, Lucy Tate, who was made a JP at 19, of bombarding him with hundreds of phone calls and texts after he ended their relationship.

 

He also said she abused his new girlfriend, stalked him and hacked into his Friends Reunited entry and announced she had given birth to his baby.

 

Last week, two officers - Detective Sergeant Vanessa Gardner and Detective Constable Steve Williams - visited the 22-year-old civil engineer at his home.

 

The man's father said: 'They said they had been asked to "nip the situation in the bud". But the question is who was asking them to do this? They wanted to stop him speaking further about the case. He went along with the statement because he thought they had the power to do that.

 

'I find the whole thing sinister and Orwellian. It is an inappropriate use of police power.'

 

Concerns were echoed by MPs. Labour's Denis MacShane said: 'It is not the business of the police in a democracy to seek to gag any citizen from giving any information or comment he or she might wish to give to the Press.'

 

Fellow Labour MP Austin Mitchell said: 'The way the police are behaving is simply wrong.'

 

Before the gagging attempt, the man, who does not wish to be named, had already been interviewed by a WPC about his complaint. On one night alone Miss Tate, now 21, a magistrate in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, sent him a 'blizzard' of 57 texts.

 

He later received a letter from police saying: 'We will do all that we can to protect you and to prevent any further incidents. We have written to Miss Tate and warned her that it is police policy to arrest wherever possible'.

 

But after the story was published he had his second police visit. The man's father said: 'I explained that my son wasn't in. They said they had been asked to prevent a "turf war" among the Press paying for the story. I told them that he had received no money for the story and that none had been offered.

 

'My wife contacted my son who came home with his new girlfriend. The police separated the two and said they wanted to interview them separately so as not to "contaminate" their evidence.

 

'They assured me he wasn't being cautioned, so I allowed the process to go ahead. His mother sat in while they interviewed him. The interview lasted about an hour. I waited in the kitchen with his girlfriend. Above all else the detectives told him that he mustn't talk to the Press and then made him go over the whole history of his dealings with Lucy Tate. He repeated everything he had told The Mail on Sunday - and said the story that appeared on May 23 was entirely accurate.'

 

The detectives were also anxious to find out about the source of an email sent to this newspaper, which led to the interview.

 

'My son told them that he did not send it, that he did not know who sent it. But they repeatedly asked him about this and tried to get him to say that it was him or that he knew the source. In fact, it wasn't even the case that my son went to the Press about this.

 

He hadn't even thought about talking publicly until contacted by The Mail on Sunday.

 

'The police took details of his email account and mobile phone number, suggesting that they would make their own checks.

 

'I think this is an inappropriate use of their powers. They had clearly been asked to do this by someone above them.

 

'I said this wouldn't be happening if this didn't involve a magistrate but they didn't answer. I suppose they knew I was right.

 

'The attitude of the police was very formal. They took a three page statement but didn't give my son a copy. I find the whole process deeply disturbing. My son was the victim in this matter.'

 

When initially confronted with her ex's allegations, Miss Tate, now 21 - who is still a JP - denied them. She insisted: 'I've never been spoken to by the police or cautioned in any way about him.'

 

But later, the magistrates' official body, the Judicial Communications Office (JCO), admitted she had been questioned by police. Last night, another JCO spokesman said he knew nothing of the police's gagging attempt.

 

West Yorkshire police said: 'We can confirm that both parties referred to in the previous article have been spoken to by police officers and it is extremely unlikely that there will be further police involvement. It would be inappropriate to comment upon information given by an individual in the course of an investigation.'

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10...magistrate.html

 

I know this is the daily mail, but even so it's appalling (and surely illegal) that the police would try to do this and effectively threaten people and invent a "crime" (it is NOT a crime to talk to the press, send an e-mail to the press or indeed a victim of a crime to sell their story) to try and suppress something.

 

We really need much strong oversight on the police force in this country. Especially as this is for a fairly piffling thing, iimagine what they do for things that they REALLY don't want in the Press.

Edited June 9, 2008 by Fop

[manc-mag 1]

'Orwellian' police in bid to silence ex-boyfriend stalked by youngest magistrate

 

By Ian Gallagher and Alan Rimmer

Last updated at 2:09 AM on 08th June 2008

 

Police have been accused of an 'Orwellian' attempt to silence a man who said he was harassed by Britain's youngest magistrate.

 

In what was viewed by politicians last night as an attack on the freedom of speech, detectives made him sign a statement promising not talk to the Press about the case - after details appeared in The Mail on Sunday.

 

But when asked what grounds they had for their actions, a police spokeswoman refused to comment.

tate

 

Accused: JP Lucy Tate, Britain's youngest magistrate, whose ex said she stalked him

 

The West Yorkshire force also refused to say who had ordered the officers to step in and what offence, if any, they were investigating. The man had accused his former girlfriend, Lucy Tate, who was made a JP at 19, of bombarding him with hundreds of phone calls and texts after he ended their relationship.

 

He also said she abused his new girlfriend, stalked him and hacked into his Friends Reunited entry and announced she had given birth to his baby.

 

Last week, two officers - Detective Sergeant Vanessa Gardner and Detective Constable Steve Williams - visited the 22-year-old civil engineer at his home.

 

The man's father said: 'They said they had been asked to "nip the situation in the bud". But the question is who was asking them to do this? They wanted to stop him speaking further about the case. He went along with the statement because he thought they had the power to do that.

 

'I find the whole thing sinister and Orwellian. It is an inappropriate use of police power.'

 

Concerns were echoed by MPs. Labour's Denis MacShane said: 'It is not the business of the police in a democracy to seek to gag any citizen from giving any information or comment he or she might wish to give to the Press.'

 

Fellow Labour MP Austin Mitchell said: 'The way the police are behaving is simply wrong.'

 

Before the gagging attempt, the man, who does not wish to be named, had already been interviewed by a WPC about his complaint. On one night alone Miss Tate, now 21, a magistrate in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, sent him a 'blizzard' of 57 texts.

 

He later received a letter from police saying: 'We will do all that we can to protect you and to prevent any further incidents. We have written to Miss Tate and warned her that it is police policy to arrest wherever possible'.

 

But after the story was published he had his second police visit. The man's father said: 'I explained that my son wasn't in. They said they had been asked to prevent a "turf war" among the Press paying for the story. I told them that he had received no money for the story and that none had been offered.

 

'My wife contacted my son who came home with his new girlfriend. The police separated the two and said they wanted to interview them separately so as not to "contaminate" their evidence.

 

'They assured me he wasn't being cautioned, so I allowed the process to go ahead. His mother sat in while they interviewed him. The interview lasted about an hour. I waited in the kitchen with his girlfriend. Above all else the detectives told him that he mustn't talk to the Press and then made him go over the whole history of his dealings with Lucy Tate. He repeated everything he had told The Mail on Sunday - and said the story that appeared on May 23 was entirely accurate.'

 

The detectives were also anxious to find out about the source of an email sent to this newspaper, which led to the interview.

 

'My son told them that he did not send it, that he did not know who sent it. But they repeatedly asked him about this and tried to get him to say that it was him or that he knew the source. In fact, it wasn't even the case that my son went to the Press about this.

 

He hadn't even thought about talking publicly until contacted by The Mail on Sunday.

 

'The police took details of his email account and mobile phone number, suggesting that they would make their own checks.

 

'I think this is an inappropriate use of their powers. They had clearly been asked to do this by someone above them.

 

'I said this wouldn't be happening if this didn't involve a magistrate but they didn't answer. I suppose they knew I was right.

 

'The attitude of the police was very formal. They took a three page statement but didn't give my son a copy. I find the whole process deeply disturbing. My son was the victim in this matter.'

 

When initially confronted with her ex's allegations, Miss Tate, now 21 - who is still a JP - denied them. She insisted: 'I've never been spoken to by the police or cautioned in any way about him.'

 

But later, the magistrates' official body, the Judicial Communications Office (JCO), admitted she had been questioned by police. Last night, another JCO spokesman said he knew nothing of the police's gagging attempt.

 

West Yorkshire police said: 'We can confirm that both parties referred to in the previous article have been spoken to by police officers and it is extremely unlikely that there will be further police involvement. It would be inappropriate to comment upon information given by an individual in the course of an investigation.'

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10...magistrate.html

 

I know this is the daily mail, but even so it's appalling (and surely illegal) that the police would try to do this and effectively threaten people and invent a "crime" (it is NOT a crime to talk to the press, send an e-mail to the press or indeed a victim of a crime to sell their story) to try and suppress something.

 

We really need much strong oversight on the police force in this country. Especially as this is for a fairly piffling thing, iimagine what they do for things that they REALLY don't want in the Press.

 

 

No shit, Sherlock?!

 

Well I feel educated, so thanks for that, but what the fuck is your vendetta against the plod? Seriously, it doesn't half come across as though you have some major, festering personal greivance

[Happy Face 29]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

[Fop 1]

No shit, Sherlock?!

 

Well I feel educated, so thanks for that, but what the fuck is your vendetta against the plod? Seriously, it doesn't half come across as though you have some major, festering personal greivance

 

So in your legal opinion are the police acting within their powers to do the above?

 

 

I await the deafening silence as you try to look it up on the internet.

[Fop 1]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

 

Yup that is very typical plod.

 

I especially like the bit where the female officer thought he'd said something vaguely insulting to the male officer (when he'd actually just said "my camera will pick it up better than your ears") as they were desperate to get that fella on ANYTHING by that point even though they were acting completely without cause and saying that some which is legal is not.

 

Both of these examples are the reason why they police have have be controlled and policed vigorously, which just isn't the case.

[Park Life 71]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

 

Yup that is very typical plod.

 

I especially like the bit where the female officer thought he'd said something vaguely insulting to the male officer (when he'd actually just said "my camera will pick it up better than your ears") as they were desperate to get that fella on ANYTHING by that point even though they were acting completely without cause and saying that some which is legal is not.

 

Both of these examples are the reason why they police have have be controlled and policed vigorously, which just isn't the case.

 

Arm the people.

 

See the pair of them would be dead the moment they stepped on his property. NO need for all this tedious back and to chit chat.

[ewerk 30165]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

In that case I think use of a taser of possibly rubber bullets would be fully justified. What a bellend.

[GeordieMessiah 2]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

In that case I think use of a taser of possibly rubber bullets would be fully justified. What a bellend.

 

That pretty much sums up all the stars of that piece of video, tbh. Nobody comes out looking good from that - not even the oppressed brummie, on account of his accent.

 

[The Fish 10671]

Fop, where does you agenda against the police come from?

 

Why do you hate them with such fire?

[Gejon 2]

Villains always hate the police.

[manc-mag 1]

No shit, Sherlock?!

 

Well I feel educated, so thanks for that, but what the fuck is your vendetta against the plod? Seriously, it doesn't half come across as though you have some major, festering personal greivance

 

So in your legal opinion are the police acting within their powers to do the above?

 

 

I await the deafening silence as you try to look it up on the internet.

 

 

Jesus wept, here we go! Where did I say they were acting within their powers? You're beyond belief you are, you just read what you want.

 

It's axiomatic that the police shouldn't act like that, just as it's completely self-evident that those things you were saying were not crimes are not actually crimes. I just find it hilarious that you should feel the need to spell it out to us.

 

But getting back to my point (and Fish's), every right minded person knows that corruption and abuse of office within the police force is utterly wrong, but why do you make that (blindingly and objectively obvious) point with such personally motivated bitterness?

 

PS I'm not expecting a straight answer so don't worry.

[Fop 1]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

In that case I think use of a taser of possibly rubber bullets would be fully justified. What a bellend.

 

That pretty much sums up all the stars of that piece of video, tbh. Nobody comes out looking good from that - not even the oppressed brummie, on account of his accent.

 

 

 

That's the thing, the guy may be an arsehole, but he's an arsehole acting completely legally.

 

If you could be arrested for being an arsehole, then pretty much 100% of politicians and 90%+ of the police force would be currently in prison.

 

 

 

The issue there is the polices behaviour right from the off.

 

Trying to tell someone they are doing something illegal and an "offence" when they are not, just because they don't like it - the police are there to enforce laws, not make them up as they feeling takes them (although I suspect it's more likely as with most police officers they don't actually have a clue what the legal position of most things actually is).

 

What's more worrying is they try to get his name (presumably to see if they can "get" him on anything).

 

Then that the female officer tries to see if she can get anything with his "my camera will pick it up better than his ears" comment.

 

Also they don't give their numbers when he asks for them.

 

 

 

Fact is if that guy had stopped filming he'd probably have been arrested for something (anything basically they thought could make stick) and the camera and film accidentally "lost".

[Fop 1]

Fop, where does you agenda against the police come from?

 

Why do you hate them with such fire?

 

Er.... read what I quoted. Watch that video, if you don't have issues with either then you're less of a hamster and more of a sheep.

 

 

Villains always hate the police.

 

Indeed, well when we can't bribe them to look the other way anyway.

Edited June 8, 2008 by Fop

[Fop 1]

No shit, Sherlock?!

 

Well I feel educated, so thanks for that, but what the fuck is your vendetta against the plod? Seriously, it doesn't half come across as though you have some major, festering personal greivance

 

So in your legal opinion are the police acting within their powers to do the above?

 

 

I await the deafening silence as you try to look it up on the internet.

 

 

Jesus wept, here we go! Where did I say they were acting within their powers? You're beyond belief you are, you just read what you want.

 

It's axiomatic that the police shouldn't act like that, just as it's completely self-evident that those things you were saying were not crimes are not actually crimes. I just find it hilarious that you should feel the need to spell it out to us.

 

But getting back to my point (and Fish's), every right minded person knows that corruption and abuse of office within the police force is utterly wrong, but why do you make that (blindingly and objectively obvious) point with such personally motivated bitterness?

 

PS I'm not expecting a straight answer so don't worry.

 

So basically I'm right, you agree I'm right and you're ignoring everything to try and pick a fight.

 

I don't I just like posting them on here as it winds you lot up no end.

 

I do think the state of the UKs police force is shocking though, and there's few more serious things to be concerned about in life than liberty.

 

 

 

Out of interest out of all your ecounters with the police how many people can actually name a positive one at all (where they caught someone that mugged you/broke into your house etc.)? And what would be your ratio of police encouters +ve/neutral/-ve?

 

 

 

 

Basically it's nice to see that you do agree with me that the police were acting in a totally incorrect manner, even if you think it's fine for them to carry on doing so (so long as they don't do it to YOU personally I guess).

[manc-mag 1]

No shit, Sherlock?!

 

Well I feel educated, so thanks for that, but what the fuck is your vendetta against the plod? Seriously, it doesn't half come across as though you have some major, festering personal greivance

 

So in your legal opinion are the police acting within their powers to do the above?

 

 

I await the deafening silence as you try to look it up on the internet.

 

 

Jesus wept, here we go! Where did I say they were acting within their powers? You're beyond belief you are, you just read what you want.

 

It's axiomatic that the police shouldn't act like that, just as it's completely self-evident that those things you were saying were not crimes are not actually crimes. I just find it hilarious that you should feel the need to spell it out to us.

 

But getting back to my point (and Fish's), every right minded person knows that corruption and abuse of office within the police force is utterly wrong, but why do you make that (blindingly and objectively obvious) point with such personally motivated bitterness?

 

PS I'm not expecting a straight answer so don't worry.

 

So basically I'm right, you agree I'm right and you're ignoring everything to try and pick a fight.

 

I don't I just like posting them on here as it winds you lot up no end.

 

I do think the state of the UKs police force is shocking though, and there's few more serious things to be concerned about in life than liberty.

 

 

 

Out of interest out of all your ecounters with the police how many people can actually name a positive one at all (where they caught someone that mugged you/broke into your house etc.)? And what would be your ratio of police encouters +ve/neutral/-ve?

 

 

 

 

Basically it's nice to see that you do agree with me that the police were acting in a totally incorrect manner, even if you think it's fine for them to carry on doing so (so long as they don't do it to YOU personally I guess).

 

Yeah you're absolutely right and in other news the world is not flat.

 

I think you think you have something interesting or important to say but unfortunately there you are wrong.

 

Love the indignation by the way when you were ignorant enough to totally misread my viewpoint to start with- and then say that i'm trying to pick a fight. There's no fight to be had because you're stating the bleeding obvious.

[peasepud 59]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

In that case I think use of a taser of possibly rubber bullets would be fully justified. What a bellend.

 

That pretty much sums up all the stars of that piece of video, tbh. Nobody comes out looking good from that - not even the oppressed brummie, on account of his accent.

 

 

 

That's the thing, the guy may be an arsehole, but he's an arsehole acting completely legally.

 

If you could be arrested for being an arsehole, then pretty much 100% of politicians and 90%+ of the police force would be currently in prison.

 

It'd be pretty quiet on here too

[Fop 1]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

In that case I think use of a taser of possibly rubber bullets would be fully justified. What a bellend.

 

That pretty much sums up all the stars of that piece of video, tbh. Nobody comes out looking good from that - not even the oppressed brummie, on account of his accent.

 

 

 

That's the thing, the guy may be an arsehole, but he's an arsehole acting completely legally.

 

If you could be arrested for being an arsehole, then pretty much 100% of politicians and 90%+ of the police force would be currently in prison.

 

It'd be pretty quiet on here too

 

Yup Fish and Manc-Mag would have been executed by now.

[Fop 1]

Yeah you're absolutely right and in other news the world is not flat.

 

I think you think you have something interesting or important to say but unfortunately there you are wrong.

 

Love the indignation by the way when you were ignorant enough to totally misread my viewpoint to start with- and then say that i'm trying to pick a fight. There's no fight to be had because you're stating the bleeding obvious.

 

You know you'd make quite a good police officer.

 

You know I'm absolutely right, you know there's nothing you can do about it..........so you just try to pick a fight to "get" me some other way.

[manc-mag 1]

You'll enjoy this Fop...

 

 

In that case I think use of a taser of possibly rubber bullets would be fully justified. What a bellend.

 

That pretty much sums up all the stars of that piece of video, tbh. Nobody comes out looking good from that - not even the oppressed brummie, on account of his accent.

 

 

 

That's the thing, the guy may be an arsehole, but he's an arsehole acting completely legally.

 

If you could be arrested for being an arsehole, then pretty much 100% of politicians and 90%+ of the police force would be currently in prison.

 

It'd be pretty quiet on here too

 

Yup Fish and Manc-Mag would have been executed by now.

 

*chortle*

[Fop 1]

*chortle*

Your personal obsession with moi is quite worrying however, if quite flattering as well.

[manc-mag 1]

Yeah you're absolutely right and in other news the world is not flat.

 

I think you think you have something interesting or important to say but unfortunately there you are wrong.

 

Love the indignation by the way when you were ignorant enough to totally misread my viewpoint to start with- and then say that i'm trying to pick a fight. There's no fight to be had because you're stating the bleeding obvious.

 

You know you'd make quite a good police officer.

 

You know I'm absolutely right, you know there's nothing you can do about it..........so you just try to pick a fight to "get" me some other way.

 

Kudos for being right about something everyone knows to be fact. What story will you break next?

 

PS could have used a bit more bold in that last post. You know, just so we all know that you're right and all (though not at all obsessed with being proved right)

[DanTheMan 0]

Fop remind anyone of Mr Logic in Viz magazine?

[manc-mag 1]

Fop remind anyone of Mr Logic in Viz magazine?

 

 

Hybrid Mr Logic/Grassy Knollington

[Fop 1]

Fop remind anyone of Mr Logic in Viz magazine?

 

 

Yeah you're absolutely right and in other news the world is not flat.

 

I think you think you have something interesting or important to say but unfortunately there you are wrong.

 

Love the indignation by the way when you were ignorant enough to totally misread my viewpoint to start with- and then say that i'm trying to pick a fight. There's no fight to be had because you're stating the bleeding obvious.

 

You know you'd make quite a good police officer.

 

You know I'm absolutely right, you know there's nothing you can do about it..........so you just try to pick a fight to "get" me some other way.

 

Kudos for being right about something everyone knows to be fact. What story will you break next?

 

PS could have used a bit more bold in that last post. You know, just so we all know that you're right and all (though not at all obsessed with being proved right)

 

Still at it I see, keep it up!

[Fop 1]

Fop remind anyone of Mr Logic in Viz magazine?

 

 

Hybrid Mr Logic/Grassy Knollington