Police investigate assault on child 'pulled from wheelchair'
"We would ask that people refrain from speculating on the incident or continuing to share the footage to avoid compromising the investigation," a police spokesperson added."Members of the public should be aware that while the footage may be distressing, any reports of threats or abuse towards the families of those involved will be taken seriously and may result in criminal action."
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The Guardian
15 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Playing loose with virtue wins no hearts, and Arsenal should know better
'We are courageous in the pursuit of progress.' 'We champion our community and each other.' 'We do the right thing (even when no one is looking).' The values and culture of Arsenal Football Club, as proclaimed on the club's careers website. Shall we generously call that half a point out of three? Certainly you would struggle to mark Arsenal too highly on courage or intrinsic goodliness right now. But the unhappy case of Thomas Partey illustrates the lengths to which they are willing to go to champion one of their own. You knew. I knew. Rival fans knew, even if their taunting of Partey was always delivered with the sort of gleeful relish that does not exactly scream concern for the alleged victims of sexual violence. And so of course did the staff and board of Arsenal; knew the man with whom they shared a workplace and a dressing room until last week, knew what he was accused of doing. Care, compassion and discretion are of course utterly vital at this point. The charging of Partey on 4 July means the accusations against him will finally be heard in court in early August: five counts of rape, and one of sexual assault, involving three separate women between 2021 and 2022. Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman and Rose, referred in a statement to her client now 'welcoming the opportunity to finally clear his name'. And it is the word 'finally' that stands out here: an acknowledgment of the protracted and often painful three-year process that has brought us to this point, during which Partey was the word English football dared not speak. Wiltshire, of course, is deeply familiar with such matters. She was also employed by the Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy, who was cleared in 2023 of seven charges of rape, one of attempted rape and one of sexual assault. 'She has often achieved positive results for her clients long before the charge stage,' reads her corporate bio. 'This has caused her to be much in demand by high‑profile clients seeking a swift and discreet resolution to what, if made public, would be highly damaging allegations.' All of which is an acknowledgment that there is always a wider consideration to such cases: establishing a verdict and getting to the truth, but also managing the optics and reputations. Partey denies all the charges against him. There is no sense in prejudging the outcome of his case before all the facts come to light. The presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial are important legal principles in this country. But the presumption of shining personal virtue is not, and many of Arsenal's actions over the past three years give the impression of an organisation not simply content to employ Partey, but positively proud of doing so. Who seriously considered – at the urging of coach Mikel Arteta – offering a new contract and extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium beyond last Monday. Who regarded their talented central midfielder not as an alleged rapist but as a man to be lauded and celebrated, perhaps even a kind of victim himself. Three months after being arrested for the first time, and about a year after Arsenal were first made aware of a rape allegation against him, Partey scored a thumping goal against Tottenham in the north London derby. Afterwards, Arteta said: 'For what he's been through, and the injuries, and the effort that he put in this week, to be available for the team, I'm so happy for him. He deserves it.' Over the subsequent years Partey would play more than 100 times for Arsenal. His goals would earn them four points in the Premier League; his defensive work probably earned them many more. His collision with Rodri in which the Spaniard injured knee ligaments may well have had a decisive influence on the 2024‑25 title. Meanwhile Arteta would continually lionise Partey's importance to Arsenal on the pitch, and towards the end of last season reiterated that he wanted Partey to stay. Obviously it would have been legally complex for Arsenal to terminate Partey's contract before criminal charges had been laid. But of course there are steps that it is perfectly reasonable for a club to take against a player that do not require an absolute burden of criminal proof. Richly talented footballers such as Mesut Özil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were quietly moved towards the exit for perceived off-field failings. Last year a kit manager called Mark Bonnick was sacked for social media posts he wrote about Israel. And there were plenty of legally unproblematic options available to Arsenal here that might have offered a certain comfort to the fans now feeling a sense of betrayal at the actions of the club they love. You do not, for example, have to praise him on social media. You do not have to pay tribute to his character or resilience after 'what he's been through'. You do not have to play him 108 times or spend much of June deliberating over whether he is worth a new contract. Who at the club made these calls and why? Who knew what, when? Who spoke out and who did not? And in supporting him so unconditionally, was it in fact Arsenal who are guilty of prejudging Partey's case long before a jury would ever get the chance? Arsenal fans deserve answers, but it appears none are forthcoming for now. 'Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case,' they said in a statement. And perhaps in terms of the PR, this is Arsenal's best strategy right now: say nothing, do nothing, and hope the whole storm passes. There is a new figurehead at the base of midfield, and quite apart from being a better and younger player Martín Zubimendi offers the sensation of renewal, of turning the page, perhaps even a kind of purgation. The women are champions of Europe and will play all their home league games at the Emirates next season. There are always happier, simpler stories to tell, and Arsenal will never get tired of telling those. Naturally we should be wary of singling out Arsenal here. There is, or should be, no room for tribal triumphalism. Many other clubs would have acted similarly in similar circumstances. In a sense Arsenal's business-as-usual stance over the past three years is simply one of the defining characteristics of end-stage capitalism, one in which big companies ruthlessly pursue the bottom line while trumpeting their virtue. We are courageous in the pursuit of progress. We champion our community and each other. We do the right thing (even when no one is looking). This is the moral creed of Arsenal. Their fans are still waiting for them to deliver on it.
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Six arrests made over 'execution-style' killing in Kings Langley
Detectives investigating an "execution-style killing" have made six further arrests in connection to the Jatta was found critically injured by police in Railway Terrace, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, at about 00:33 BST on 17 30-year-old father from Nottingham died shortly afterwards from gunshot injuries. Hertfordshire Police said six people were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday, following seven arrests made since October. Nobody has been charged in connection with the death of Mr Jatta, who officers believed had arranged to meet people in a white Volkswagen Golf."For this reason, we believe the suspects and the victim knew each other and this was an organised shooting," said Det Insp Adam Bridges in car was thought to have "fled the scene at speed" along Railway Terrace and Primrose Hill, before it was discovered on fire in Furtherfield, Abbots Langley - about 2.8 miles (4.5km) away, at about 00:45. Hertfordshire Police said its latest arrests were:Two 20-year-old men from WatfordA 19-year-old man from WatfordAn 18-year-old man from WatfordA 22-year-old man from WatfordA 36-year-old man from LondonDetectives have appealed for anyone who saw the VW Golf in the north Watford area between 7-17 September to get in had a square yellow sticker in the top corner on the driver's side of the windscreen and a blue and white sticker in the top corner on the passenger side of the Insp Bridges, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are actively exploring new lines of inquiry into Mustapha's [death]."Those arrested are on police bail with strict conditions, as inquiries continue into this very active investigation."Crimestoppers has offered a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of anyone involved in Mr Jatta's death. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
PC said force used during mental health crisis was proportionate
An officer involved in the detainment and restraint of a 26-year-old man during a mental health crisis has told an inquest the force used was "proportionate". Kaine Fletcher died at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on the morning of 3 July 2022, hours after he was detained under the Mental Health Act. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard how the father of two, who had not been accused of a crime, was placed in handcuffs, leg restraints and a spit guard, and restrained on a pavement during the Hannah Bodle, who used emergency powers to detain him, told the inquest "every decision that was made at that time was made in the best interests" of Mr Fletcher. The jury inquest began on 30 June and has heard Mr Fletcher had been diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder in 2020. He had also struggled with a drug addiction for several years. Nottinghamshire Police officers attended the young people's charity YMCA, where Mr Fletcher was staying on 3 July, after a family member called 999 over concerns he might be at risk of court heard there was an eight-hour wait for an ambulance that night, so police were asked to attend to carry out a welfare check. In her evidence, PC Bodle said the 26-year-old's room was "in disarray" and described him as "erratic, difficult to understand" and said he "appeared distressed". After initially agreeing to go with the two officers to hospital for a mental assessment, he left the accommodation and got into their police car. However, moments later, Mr Fletcher no longer believed the pair were police officers and became more distressed, the court heard. Her colleague's body-worn camera footage showed PC Bodle used her warrant card to prove her identity, but 23 seconds later, while Mr Fletcher was still unconvinced, she detained him under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act. Section 136 gives police emergency powers that allow them to remove a person to a place of safety if they believe it is necessary. Mr Fletcher resisted being detained, and the inquest heard how a number of other officers attended shortly after. Mr Fletcher was restrained in the police car for 10 minutes with handcuffs and leg restraints. After hitting his head on the inside of the police car, he was removed and further restrained on the pavement, the court heard. Mr Fletcher was eventually lifted into a police van by officers but began hitting his head against the inside of the was then decided he could not be transported to hospital "in that manner".The court heard Mr Fletcher said he was struggling to breathe on two occasions and at one point asked to be taken to Bodle told the inquest Mr Fletcher's physical condition was monitored "throughout" the period of restraint. When asked by coroner Alexandra Pountey whether she would agree the involvement of more officers was likely to "escalate the situation", PC Bodle said "you could argue that". PC Bodle said she believed trying to "contain" Mr Fletcher, who she said was "clearly in a mental health crisis", was the right thing to do to ensure he did not abscond and potentially bring harm to himself."The force that was used was proportionate, I believe," she said. The court heard PC Bodle did not put on her body-worn camera until after the incident had escalated. At one point during his detainment outside the accommodation, the court heard PC Bodle "struck him on the legs" which she did not include in her initial "use of force report", a form used to document physical force used by police against an individual. She told the court: "It was done after a very tiresome, emotional incident - if it wasn't on there it wasn't done deliberately."The inquest you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.
