Protect prison officers, says MP (From The Northern Echo)
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Protect prison officers, says MP
8:00am Monday 16th January 2012 in News
AN MP is demanding greater protection for prison officers, after a triple killer who admitted injuring three staff members with a broken chilli bottle was cleared of attempted murder.
Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods spoke out amid growing anger over the case of Kevan Thakrar, who lashed out at officers in Frankland Prison, near Durham City.
Thakrar was cleared of all charges at Newcastle Crown Court in November after a jury heard he was suffering from stress caused by alleged earlier beatings by officers at a prison in Milton Keynes.
Police are investigating whether the trial jury had been influenced in reaching their verdict.
Dr Blackman-Woods has written to the Government calling for a review of the laws protecting prison officers.
After meeting leaders of Frankland Prison and the Prison Officers’ Association, she said Frankland staff felt let down by the Thakrar trial verdict and feared it may make fellow officers more vulnerable.
She said: “Thus far, very little headway has been made by the Government in addressing prison officers’ concerns.
“In particular, I would like consideration of the assault against a prison officer offence to ensure that it cannot be superseded or replaced by lesser charges.”
She said she wanted to work with the Prison Service to ensure officers received greater protection and that assaults against them were dealt with fairly and quickly.
She said: “Prison staff should not be left in the situation where they are afraid of doing their job out of fear that the law will not support them.”
Thakrar, 24, is serving at least 35 years for the drug-related murder of three men and attempted murder of two women in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, with his brother, Miran, in 2007, when he attacked prison officers Craig Wylde, Neil Walker and Claire Lewis in March 2010.
He attacked Mr Wylde and Miss Lewis as she opened his cell door, before turning on Mr Walker.
Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt will discuss the case with Mr Wylde’s brother, Lee, this month.
The Prison Service said violence in prisons was not tolerated and said assaults on prison staff were taken extremely seriously.
Comments(49)
gib123
says...
10:55am Mon 16 Jan 12
AS LONG AS PRISON OFFICERS BEAT AND TORTURE PRISONERS
THEY OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO SEVERE ATTACKS
THE THAKRAR CASE IS THE TURNING POINT WHEN OFFICERS ARE THINKING ABOUT GOING IN TO A CELL TEAM HANDED THEY WILL NOW THINK TWICE
GIBBO
Dean M
says...
1:03pm Mon 16 Jan 12
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I suspect the police are not investigating the trial jury in reaching their verdict in the Stephen Lawrence case. The authorities made sure of that verdict.
Neil Robinson
says...
2:03pm Mon 16 Jan 12
http://www.mojuk.org
.uk/2011/DefenceThak
rar%20copy.html
Mckenzie Friend
says...
8:57pm Mon 16 Jan 12
Mckenzie Friend
says...
9:02pm Mon 16 Jan 12
com
www.mojuk.org.uk
9988776655
says...
6:56am Tue 17 Jan 12
After all, the essential criterion for being a screw oops I meant a prison "officer" is being a right hard case. Violence is a risk that they knew about when they took the job and the money - pretty good for a job that only needs 5 GCSEs with only minimal further training.
solly1960
says...
9:25am Tue 17 Jan 12
First of all assaulting prisoners should never happen. But does that make it right for a psychotic killer ( who incidently inflicted more violence on his victims) to attack people.
And with regards to your ' Justice for Kevan rubbish' Have you ever considered the' Justice for Thakrars victims families.
If this country had the balls to hold a referendum and vote on the death penalty then people like Thakrar and like the like would have more to worry about than ' Alleged beatings'
You're probably aware that Prisoners do occasionally self harm and make false allegations. They also do tell lies.Thats why they go to Prison.
And as for the Idiot with all the numbers for a name. FOOL !!!!!
solly1960
says...
9:26am Tue 17 Jan 12
First of all assaulting prisoners should never happen. But does that make it right for a psychotic killer ( who incidently inflicted more violence on his victims) to attack people.
And with regards to your ' Justice for Kevan rubbish' Have you ever considered the' Justice for Thakrars victims families.
If this country had the balls to hold a referendum and vote on the death penalty then people like Thakrar and like the like would have more to worry about than ' Alleged beatings'
You're probably aware that Prisoners do occasionally self harm and make false allegations. They also do tell lies.Thats why they go to Prison.
And as for the Idiot with all the numbers for a name. FOOL !!!!!
Neil Robinson
says...
6:43pm Tue 17 Jan 12
Strange you do not mention that Kevan Thakrar was convicted under the law of Joint Enterprise if you don't
know what this is example three people are present when a crime is committed the justice system cannot prove who is responsible so they convict all, corrupt justice at it's best.
solly1960
says...
12:02am Wed 18 Jan 12
If the victims family had their way as I suspect the majority of law abiding, tax payers. He would have been sentenced to death instead of being a financial drain on society. If you really want to fight a just cause then pick one that deserves fighting for instead of Animal welfare !!!!!!!
solly1960
says...
12:03am Wed 18 Jan 12
If the victims family had their way as I suspect the majority of law abiding, tax payers. He would have been sentenced to death instead of being a financial drain on society. If you really want to fight a just cause then pick one that deserves fighting for instead of Animal welfare !!!!!!!
Neil Robinson
says...
1:34am Wed 18 Jan 12
Are you a screw at Frankland.
solly1960
says...
10:37am Wed 18 Jan 12
solly1960
says...
10:40am Wed 18 Jan 12
solly1960
says...
10:44am Wed 18 Jan 12
drussy
says...
8:24am Thu 19 Jan 12
antihypocrisy
says...
8:54am Thu 19 Jan 12
Dean M wrote:No Dean, once again you are WRONG, and once again you are showing your true cards by showing sympathy to a pair of racist murderers! Do yourself a favour, pop along to any Crown Court and actually see Justice in action instead of relying on your blinkered beliefs.
"Police are investigating whether the trial jury had been influenced in reaching their verdict". Is that because the authorities didn't like the verdict?
.
I suspect the police are not investigating the trial jury in reaching their verdict in the Stephen Lawrence case. The authorities made sure of that verdict.
leewylde
says...
12:41pm Thu 19 Jan 12
antihypocrisy
says...
1:22pm Thu 19 Jan 12
leewylde wrote:Give it a rest Wylde, we heard you rattle on before..the case has been heard and Thakrar was found NOT GUILTY!, He was tried by a Jury not a Prison Officers kangaroo court so live with it!
as the brother of the officer thakrar tried to murder i have read your comments with interest! firstly not ALL of the evidence was heard......secondly, the supposed injuries that the press wont release (i have seen) show thakrar with a tiny cut lip where he has obviously smeared his face with the blood, he also has posed like some guantanamo bay inmate (look at me the big victim) he said in his own defence that he is an animal, animals with the tendancy to show aggression are put down! unfortunately the death penalty is not in this country........mr robinson i wonder if you sit in you PJ's all day posting comments about this trial, you bore me and a lot of other people too, you should come along to the retrial if one is ordered (and i will fight forever for it)! i hope thakrars pictures are released!! you think there is uproar now, wait until the CCTV is released......
Dean M
says...
1:36pm Thu 19 Jan 12
antihypocrisy wrote:I think you're struggling to read now.
Dean M wrote: "Police are investigating whether the trial jury had been influenced in reaching their verdict". Is that because the authorities didn't like the verdict? . I suspect the police are not investigating the trial jury in reaching their verdict in the Stephen Lawrence case. The authorities made sure of that verdict.No Dean, once again you are WRONG, and once again you are showing your true cards by showing sympathy to a pair of racist murderers! Do yourself a favour, pop along to any Crown Court and actually see Justice in action instead of relying on your blinkered beliefs.
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Police ARE investigating the Thakrar trial jury - this is well known and it's in the article above. So I'm right.
.
Police are NOT investigating the Lawrence trial jury. So I'm right.
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So you are WRONG.
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And I'm showing sympathy to the original verdict in the Thakrar case. He, the last time I looked, is not a white Englishman. So your 'racist' accusation is also wrong, again.
antihypocrisy
says...
4:44pm Thu 19 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
5:56pm Thu 19 Jan 12
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Juries have never convicted on false evidence before then? If you really believe this then I'd suggest you're the STUPID one.
antihypocrisy
says...
6:17pm Thu 19 Jan 12
antihypocrisy
says...
6:25pm Thu 19 Jan 12
Dean M wrote:Show the evidence you have that the Trial of the two racist murderers was fixed by " the authorities" whoever they are?
No fixing of trials? Is that because you say so?
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Juries have never convicted on false evidence before then? If you really believe this then I'd suggest you're the STUPID one.
Thomas Atkins
says...
8:09am Fri 20 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
9:31am Fri 20 Jan 12
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What a ridiculous, stupid statement.
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We could quote examples all day of major cases where people have been sentenced by juries on the back of false statements, false evidence, forced confessions, etc. Not 'conspiracies', but actual cases.
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But fools like 'antihypocrisy' will say that because a jury made the final decision, everything before that point must also be all above board. Doh!
antihypocrisy
says...
9:46am Fri 20 Jan 12
antihypocrisy
says...
9:49am Fri 20 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
11:29am Fri 20 Jan 12
antihypocrisy wrote:Are you a complete fool, boy?
Show actual PROOF that Thakrar's Trial was fixed by " the Authorities" PUT up or SHUT up boy.
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Where have I ever said that Thakrar's trial was fixed by the authorities or anyone else?
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You need to learn to read, BEFORE you make a comment. Or you'll NEVER be taken seriously.
antihypocrisy
says...
1:39pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
3:27pm Fri 20 Jan 12
antihypocrisy wrote:You asked me to show proof that Thakrar's trial was fixed. I've never said Thakrar's trial was fixed, so why are you asking me such a stupid question?
Come down from cloud cuckoo land fool and lets here ANY PROOF that ANY TRIAL was fixed.... that's right you've ignored me twice on that because you have NO PROOF do you? Saying trials are fixed doesn't make it so and even a dullard like yourself MUST surely understand that.
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Challenging someone about something they've never said is totally daft, which just about sums you up.
antihypocrisy
says...
3:56pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Dean M wrote:Short memory Dean, SHOW PROOF THAT THE AUTHORITIES MADE SURE OF THAT VERDICT. I cannot make this any simpler for you sorry. now take your time and see if you can remember typing that (no doubt while you were at work Social Not working)
"Police are investigating whether the trial jury had been influenced in reaching their verdict". Is that because the authorities didn't like the verdict?
.
I suspect the police are not investigating the trial jury in reaching their verdict in the Stephen Lawrence case. The authorities made sure of that verdict.
Dean M
says...
5:16pm Fri 20 Jan 12
antihypocrisy wrote:You can try and avoid growing up and admitting you are wrong, but your question is here, verbatim.
Show actual PROOF that Thakrar's Trial was fixed by " the Authorities" PUT up or SHUT up boy.
.
Now, once again, why are you asking me such a stupid question about the Thakrar trial being fixed, when I've never said or even suggested such a thing?
antihypocrisy
says...
5:52pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
6:20pm Fri 20 Jan 12
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And as for your 'Stephen Lawrence trial was fair and above board'. Is this because you say so, or because a jury said so? It wasn't the same jury that convicted the Birmingham Six, Guildford Four, Stefan Kiszko, etc, etc, was it? The juries all convicted on the evidence before them, so how come they were cleared afterwards?
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You're clueless. Clueless Colin Burns, as ever.
antihypocrisy
says...
6:32pm Fri 20 Jan 12
antihypocrisy
says...
11:39am Sat 21 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
6:33pm Sat 21 Jan 12
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And still avoiding answering for your daft Thakrar question.
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You're a lost cause, and an idiot.
antihypocrisy
says...
7:25pm Sat 21 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
9:07pm Sat 21 Jan 12
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And for a racist idiot to describe someone else as a bigoted fool just has to take the biscuit.
mrvunderbar
says...
11:47am Sun 22 Jan 12
antihypocrisy
says...
5:41pm Sun 22 Jan 12
Dean M
says...
8:14pm Sun 22 Jan 12
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But it just makes you look a kn0b. And clueless. As usual.
antihypocrisy
says...
8:29pm Sun 22 Jan 12
antihypocrisy
says...
9:02pm Sun 22 Jan 12
Mckenzie Friend
says...
8:54pm Wed 25 Jan 12
- Obviously Mr Thakrar would not like to be hurt with a broken chilli bottle - would you? If you were being beaten by prison officers would you just lie there and take it? Perhaps you would- but for how long? A human being can only take so much. Even a caged animal would only take so much before it attacked.
To Lee Wylde:
I have seen the pictures of Mr Thakrar on the internet. No way that is just a cut lip and smeared blood. As for the posing-didn't your fellow prison officers take the pictures? You mention Guantanamo - it seems HMP Frankland treat the inmates as if they were there. There are many more articles to be found on the internet about Frankland with regards to abuse and torture of inmates. These people are paying for their crimes. They are in Prison as a punishment not to be punished. From what the papers say Claire Lewis now suffers from PTSD from one attack from an inmate. Why then should it be hard for you to believe that Mr Thakrar was suffering from PTSD from the beatings he has had from prison officers. This could only be made worse by the fact that he is unable to escape them. From what I read Mr Thakrar was found guilty on hearsay evidence and joint enterprise.Evidence read out in court from statements of "witnesses" who did not appear in court, who did not speak English but somehow managed to make out a "confession" from Kevan's brother using sign language. These statements were later retracted by the "witnesses" who stated that they had been coerced into signing them. I have read the full story on the website www.justiceforkevan.
com
Solly1960: As for the death penalty- the reason for abolishing the death penalty was that many people were found to be innocent after their death. There are many innocent people in prison today. obviously you don't know how the criminal justice system works or you would not be making that statement. Seems rather a violent statement to make.
As for Dean Masters and anthipocrisy- hilarious! I haven't laughed so much in ages.
Mckenzie Friend
says...
8:59pm Wed 25 Jan 12
- Obviously Mr Thakrar would not like to be hurt with a broken chilli bottle - would you? If you were being beaten by prison officers would you just lie there and take it? Perhaps you would- but for how long? A human being can only take so much. Even a caged animal would only take so much before it attacked.
To Lee Wylde:
I have seen the pictures of Mr Thakrar on the internet. No way that is just a cut lip and smeared blood. As for the posing-didn't your fellow prison officers take the pictures? You mention Guantanamo - it seems HMP Frankland treat the inmates as if they were there. There are many more articles to be found on the internet about Frankland with regards to abuse and torture of inmates. These people are paying for their crimes. They are in Prison as a punishment not to be punished. From what the papers say Claire Lewis now suffers from PTSD from one attack from an inmate. Why then should it be hard for you to believe that Mr Thakrar was suffering from PTSD from the beatings he has had from prison officers. This could only be made worse by the fact that he is unable to escape them. From what I read Mr Thakrar was found guilty on hearsay evidence and joint enterprise.Evidence read out in court from statements of "witnesses" who did not appear in court, who did not speak English but somehow managed to make out a "confession" from Kevan's brother using sign language. These statements were later retracted by the "witnesses" who stated that they had been coerced into signing them. I have read the full story on the website www.justiceforkevan.
com
Solly1960: As for the death penalty- the reason for abolishing the death penalty was that many people were found to be innocent after their death. There are many innocent people in prison today. obviously you don't know how the criminal justice system works or you would not be making that statement. Seems rather a violent statement to make.
As for Dean Masters and anthipocrisy- hilarious! I haven't laughed so much in ages.
Mckenzie Friend
says...
9:06pm Wed 25 Jan 12
It really is just sour grapes, or perhaps it's a compensation thing. Thakrar is already serving 35 years from what I hear. What else can you hope to achieve from a retrial apart from wasting taxpayers money.
GeordieB says...
10:34am Mon 16 Jan 12
If they did the Prison Officers should be held to account.
If they didn't, it would give the subsequent Jury investigation a clearer terms of reference.