STRIP SEARCH NAKED MAN TASERED WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY.

A 23 year old man was tasered while in his cell after he flicked a police officer with his wet underpants. P.C Lee Birch fired at 23 year old Daniel Dove hitting him in the chest. A Bristol crown court jury on Tuesday cleared the officer who fired the Taser, PC Lee Birch, of assault causing actual bodily harm and misconduct in a public office.

CCTV coverage , which was shown in open court, shows  PC Birch ( pictured) hiding the taser behind his back and then shooting Dove who then writhed on the floor in agony. At the end of the trial media organisations asked the trial judge for the CCTV coverage to be released as it would be in the public interest for it to be published. The judge agreed, the defense ,prosecution and Dove himself had no objections to the footage being released. After taking instructions from Patrick Geenty, chief constable of Wiltshire, police representatives said they would be asking the crown prosecution service for the footage not to be released.             

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating five officers in connection with the incident and is also looking at why the Wiltshire force did not inform it about what happened. IPCC associate commissioner Guido Liguori said "We will examine how the professional standards department at Wiltshire Police handled matters following the incident. The IPCC has particular concerns around the use of Taser in confined spaces including police cells, and has asked all forces to notify us where a complaint involving Taser is made. The investigation will consider why the use of Taser wasn't brought to our attention earlier." The IPCC has carried out a review of Taser use in England and Wales which is expected to be published shortly.                                      The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued a prosecution against Dove for assault and being drunk and disorderly on the basis that PC Birch's credibility was under question.                                                                                                                                                             Edit: Friday 2nd May 2014.           Video of Dove being tasered,  http://bit.ly/1pWWMwN        

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DEADLY EBOLA OUTBREAK IN WEST AFRICA.

English: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever fistribution map of outbreaks in Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has killed 101 people in Guinea and neighbouring Liberia. One of the worlds deadliest viruses Ebola has a fatality rate of 90% resulting from haemorrahagic fever and organ failure.  Medicins San Frontieres (MSF) who are attempting to stem the spread of the virus say it could be months before they can halt the spread of the pathogen. Ebola is spread through contact of sweat and other bodily fluids of infected people or animals, although this is not understood in many remote villages where some people believe the virus is caused by witchcraft.                                                              Initial symptoms resemble those of the flu or malaria: Between two and 21 days after becoming infected, patients start to feel weak and experience headaches, muscle aches and chills. They develop high fever paired with diarrhea and nausea. The infected die of severe internal bleeding, in particular of the gastrointestinal tract, spleen and lungs.                                                                          It's the first Ebola outbreak in West Africa which is proving to be a challenge for international aid organizations.                                                                                       "This time, in Guinea, we have cases reported from several localities inside the country which means that we need to put measures in place not in one place that was quite often the case but in several locations" said Tarik Jasarevic spokesman for the World Health Organisation. "It was difficult to come up with enough resources and mobilize partners" he added.                                                                    Hiccups, say doctors, are the final tell tale sign of infection. Patients can be discharged from isolation units soon after their clinical symptoms, such as fever and diarrhoea, disappear.

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NEW BAILIFF LAWS COME INTO FORCE.

Under new laws restrictions will apply when bailiffs come to your door.  From the 6th of april bailiffs will be banned from calling at night and entering premises using physical force. When children are the only people at home enforcement agents will be prevented from entering premises. They will also be prevented from taking essential items such as cookers,fridges,freezers, microwaves and washing machines.Bailiffs will now have to be trained and certified to practice so as to put an end to the bullying and aggressive behaviour of agents attempting to seize property.                                                                                                                                        Chris Grayling, the justice secretary said "People will still have to face up to their debt but they will no longer need to fear their home being raided at night,the threat of violence or having their vital household equipment seized.                      "We are stamping out bad practise and making sure bailiffs play by the rules.       Those who don't will be banned."                                                                                        Other changes mean landlords will not be able to use bailiffs to seize goods for rent debt without going to the courts first, the bailiffs would then also have to go court to explain their means of entry and the amount of force that may be needed before any warrant is granted.                                                                                                   Bailiffs will also have to give 7 days notice before taking possessions unless they have been given specific permission from a court.

Jo Salter, researcher at the think-tank Demos, said its research had shown "aggressive" behaviour by bailiffs played a big part in the emotional harm caused to families by debt.

"Council tax arrears is an example of one type of debt that many said resulted in bailiffs getting involved. The actions of bailiffs could often overwhelm people's rational ability to deal with the debt itself. As a result our research showed that arrears can often be just as harmful to people as payday loans."

The Citizens Advice chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: "We help with 1,000 bailiff problems a week. People have reported bailiffs giving debt letters to their children and threatening violence. These new rules reflect just how out of control the industry is and are a welcome step towards protecting people in debt.

"What is missing from these changes is accountability for bailiff firms. We'd like to see a licensing system that means firms are struck off if bailiffs break the rules."                    

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