When dressing in drag could get you arrested
In 1962, dozens were arrested at a drag and trans ball in New York City under laws criminalising gender nonconformity.
The event, now largely forgotten, reflected growing tensions between LGBTQ communities and police - tensions that would erupt later that decade at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.
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Edinburgh Reporter
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Taser call after hourly assaults on police
A POLICE officer was assaulted almost every hour last year as attacks soared to an all-time high with over 7000 cops subjected to violence on duty. Police Scotland say there were 7159 assaults against officers in 2024/25 with 425 more frontline cops attacked compared to the previous year — an increase of 6.3%. It means that on an average 20 cops were attacked each day, with around a quarter suffering varying levels of injuries as a result and hundreds needing hospital treatment. The three most common types of assault against officers by members of the public are being kicked, punched and spat on. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPA), which represents rank and file officers, maintains all frontline officers should be armed with Tasers — non-lethal weapons used to temporarily stun people via a controlled electrical discharge. Police Scotland currently have around 2000 Specially Trained Officers (STOs) who can discharge the guns and are used to de-escalate potentially violent situations, protect officers and ensure the safety of the public. Mr Kennedy said: 'The rise in assaults is unacceptable and underscores the need for better protection for officers. 'Each assault is an officer simply doing their job and being attacked for it – often with lasting physical and mental impact. 'We need greater investment in officer safety, including wider roll-out of protective equipment like Tasers, to ensure colleagues can return safely to their families at the end of each shift.' He added: 'While it's impossible to eliminate all threats, the Scottish Police Federation advocates for comprehensive safety training for officers and we'd want every officer to be given a Taser.' Mr Kennedy said in one weekend officers in Glasgow and Edinburgh suffered injuries including broken finger, lacerated knee, head and facial injuries as well as being bitten. In another incident, a 33-year-old officer in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, was seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle during a routine patrol, while an officer was injured on Halloween after a brick was thrown through the window of her police vehicle in Edinburgh. Police Scotland say they are working to try to reduce assaults and injuries among officers, with additional training being trialed to see if safety can be improved. A force report says: 'Police Scotland continue to try and reduce assaults and injuries of officers/staff and the Operational Safety Training department have delivered a pilot to test if additional training dosage would make officers/staff safer.' The results of the pilot are currently being evaluated. While Police Scotland currently have no plans to issue Tasers to all frontline officers, Chief Constable Jo Farrell has hailed the belated deployment of body worn video cameras as a 'game changer' in terms of helping to improve officer safety. The cameras are regarded as a vital evidence-gathering tool and safeguard against assaults on officers and vexatious complaints. Police Scotland is the second largest force in the UK after the Met and was the only one not to have equipped officers with the vital equipment after a decade of successive delays. Around 750 officers in Tayside were among the first to be equipped with the 'essential' kit in March and within weeks had been used by frontline cops to make 12,796 recordings. Ms Farrell said ensuring officers have the best equipment for the job is 'essential'. She said: 'We are already hearing the cameras are helping to de-escalate incidents, provide an early resolution to police complaints and to record admissions made by an accused, that may have earlier been missed during an incident. 'As the roll out continues over coming months, every frontline uniformed police officer, including Special Constables, will be expected to wear a video camera on their uniform while on duty and to activate it when using police powers, whether conducting a stop and search, arresting a suspect, or executing a search warrant.' Like this: Like Related
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Diddy trial latest: Defence giving closing argument in sex trafficking trial - after prosecution described rapper's 'kingdom'
Closing arguments are being heard in court, after a six-week case against Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The prosecution describes the hip-hop mogul's "kingdom", in which "everyone was there to serve" - while drugs were "essential" to "freak offs". Follow the latest below. 14:48:21 An 'exaggerated trial' charging 'threesomes as racketeering,' the defence say Defence attorney Marc Agnifilo begins his argument by telling the court: 'I have to move around, I can't stay in one place.' He has already been pacing energetically around the court ahead of the jury being seated. He says, 'This trial is a tale of two trials,' saying the first has been told from the mouths of witnesses, from text messages, from videos and from the evidence. Agnifilo says the second trail, given by the prosecutors, 'is very different,' calling it 'a trial of a lifestyle'. He refers to Diddy as having a 'swinger' lifestyle, going on to say the prosecution have charged 'threesomes as racketeering' and calling it an 'exaggerated trial'. 14:28:31 Proceedings slightly delayed The start of the defence's closing argument has been delayed while the court waits for a juror who has had transit issues. 14:17:49 The jury is seated The jury is brought in and Marc Agnifilo tests his microphone while pacing around the lectern. It is just after 9.15am in New York, and this is the final pre-deliberation morning of the trial. 14:04:44 Court is now in session Court has begun for the day, and Diddy enters and gives his family a wave, makes a heart signal with his hands , and gives a thumbs up. The judge is sharing a few words with the court, and asking about today's exhibits, and checking everyone is ready to get started. 13:55:55 Welcome back to our live coverage of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial We're back with live updates of the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial in Manhattan, New York. Yesterday, the prosecution gave its closing arguments, with US attorney Christy Slavik urging the jury to hold Diddy "accountable," concluding her speech by telling the court: "It is time for justice, and it's time to find him guilty." Today, the defence will give their closing argument, led by Diddy's lead council, Marc Agnifilo. It is expected to last around three hours. That will be followed by the government's rebuttal given by Maurene Comey which should last an hour. Finally, Judge Arun Subramanian will deliver the jury charge. 23:59:08 Prosecution gives closing arguments - here's a recap Today, we saw prosecutors give their final argument in the sex-trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. It follows more than six weeks of testimony against the hip-hop mogul, during which we've heard from 34 witnesses. For a full recap, click on the link below... 22:07:42 What should we expect from tomorrow? Today has seen the prosecution round off its case, tomorrow we will hear from the defence. Diddy's lead attorney Marc Agnifilo will give his closing argument tomorrow at 2pm UK time (9am in New York). He has said he intends to speak for around four hours. The defence's closing argument will be followed by the government's rebuttal, which is expected to last one hour. We'll be back live blogging then - join us to follow the closing days of a case that has made headlines around the world. 21:54:36 Court is adjourned for the day The prosecution's closing argument lasted for four hours and 49 minutes, putting the government's case against Diddy on all five charges. Diddy is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex-trafficking, and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has strenuously denied all allegations of sexual abuse. 21:48:37 A time to hold Diddy 'accountable', prosecution says, as it finishes closing arguments Wrapping up the closing arguments, the prosecution's Christy Slavik thanks the court for its focus, admitting, "a lot of the evidence was hard to hear and hard to see". She says Diddy "manipulated, controlled and forced" Cassie, Jane and Mia into sex acts, set Kid Cudi's car on fire and broke into his house. Concluding, she said: "You heard texts, travel records, bank records, audio and video, presenting a clear picture of how he committed crime after crime and how he and his inner circle helped him commit crimes and how far they'd go to cover them." Slavik goes on: "That proves to you he is guilty." She says before today, Diddy "was able to get away with it due to his money, power and influence. But that stops now… "It is time to hold him accountable, it is time for justice, and it's time to find him guilty."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' lawyer delivers closing arguments at sex-trafficking trial
A lawyer representing Sean 'Diddy' Combs began delivering the defense's closing arguments on Friday morning in the music mogul's federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, marking the final chapter in a case that drawn global attention over the last seven weeks. Marc Agnifilo, a defense attorney, is expected to push back against the government's allegations that Combs coerced women into participating in drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers and that he ran a criminal enterprise that engaged in crimes such as sex trafficking, drug distribution, kidnapping, forced labor, arson, and bribery. Combs, who was arrested in September, faces one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted on all counts, Combs could face up to life in prison. Throughout the seven-week trial, Combs's legal team have acknowledged past incidents of domestic violence, but have maintained that all sexual activity was consensual and part of what they described as a 'swingers lifestyle'. They have also denied that any criminal conspiracy existed. The defense has sought to portray two women at the heart of the case, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a woman testifying under the pseudonym 'Jane', as willing and consenting participants in the sex parties, which were often referred to as 'freak offs'. Agnifilo is expected to take roughly four hours to make the defense's closing argument on Friday. Afterward, prosecutors will deliver a one-hour rebuttal before the case goes to the 12-member jury to decide Combs's fate. The government presented its own closing argument on Thursday, with Christy Slavik spending nearly five hours outlining the government's case against the music mogul. The US attorney described Combs as 'the leader of a criminal enterprise' who refused to 'take no for an answer' and as someone who wielded 'power, violence and fear to get what he wanted'. 'The defendant was a very powerful man,' she said. 'But he became more powerful and more dangerous because of the support of his inner circle and his businesses – the enterprise.' Slavik walked the jury through the weeks of testimony and evidence the government presented over the course of seven weeks. 'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence,' she said. 'That stops now. It's time to hold him accountable. It's time for justice. It's time to find the defendant guilty.' Jurors also heard for the first time on Thursday about allegations that Combs engaged in witness tampering and obstruction – part of the broader racketeering charge – with regards to 'Jane' and another woman, who testified under the pseudonym 'Mia'. Several members of Combs's family were in attendance in court on Thursday.
