HMICFRS – Neil Wilby Media

Safeguarding Minister says ‘No’

As reported elsewhere on Neil Wilby Media earlier today (read more here), the Home Office has written to the Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council (Cllr Howard Sykes MBE is also the Group Leader of the Liberal Democrats) and turned down his request for an independent inquiry into grotesque failings by police and councilContinue reading “Safeguarding Minister says ‘No’”

Freedom of information requests – Greater Manchester Police in Special Measures

To support ongoing journalistic investigations into the well-publicised shortcomings of Greater Manchester Police, two conjoined requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) were made to the Home Office and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue (HMICFRS) on 13th September, 2021 by Neil Wilby. Home Office Please disclose the following information by wayContinue reading “Freedom of information requests – Greater Manchester Police in Special Measures”

Police forces still unwilling to confront institutional racism

A police watchdog has reported, four decades after the introduction of stop and search, that ‘no force fully understands the impact’. Police in England and Wales are unable to explain why their powers are still used disproportionately, and in many cases unlawfully, on suspects from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Her Majesty’s InspectorateContinue reading “Police forces still unwilling to confront institutional racism”

Fourth time lucky?

This is the fourth in a series of six articles that comprise the deepest dive yet into the murder of Diana Garbutt, by her husband Robin, in March 2010. She was bludgeoned to death in the living quarters above Melsonby Village Store and Post Office as she lay sleeping in bed. The first article, headlinedContinue reading “Fourth time lucky?”

Staring into the abyss

As an eight year old lad, I was hit by a car whilst crossing the main road near the tied colliery cottage in Whitwood, Castleford that was my family home at that time (number fifteen, the house with the unkempt gable in the picture). The injuries were not life threatening, but I was detained inContinue reading “Staring into the abyss”