Latest news with #policeoversight
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kenyan dies in custody after arrest for online post
Kenya's independent police oversight body has launched an investigation into the death of a man who had been detained "for false publication", the police have said. Albert Ojwang was arrested in the western town of Homa Bay and then driven 350km (220 miles) to the capital, Nairobi, his father Meshack Opiyo told journalists. "While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall," a police statement said. He was rushed to hospital "where he was pronounced dead on arrival". The director of the Kenyan branch of rights group Amnesty International told the BBC that the death of Mr Ojwang, described in reports as a teacher and blogger, was "very suspicious". Amnesty said in a statement that his death "raises serious questions that must be urgently, thoroughly, and independently investigated". Senior police officer Stephen Okal is quoted by the Star newspaper as saying what happened in the cell was "an attempted suicide". It is not clear what the charge of "false publication" referred to, but Mr Opiyo told online news site Citizen Digital that the arresting police officer said "Albert had insulted a senior person on X", the social media platform. Referring to the circumstances of his arrest, Amnesty International Kenya director Irungu Houghton said it was "quite shocking" that Mr Ojwang was not booked in at the local police station after being detained, but was instead taken on a long journey. He called on the independent investigators to secure what he described as "the crime scene" at the police station in Nairobi. The police said that Mr Ojwang was "lawfully arrested". His detention and death comes at a time of rising concern about how some government critics are being treated. Last week, software developer Rose Njeri - who created a tool to help people oppose a government finance bill - was charged with violating a cybercrime law. Why Kenya's president has so many nicknames The 'tax collector' president sparking Kenyan anger BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Albert Ojwang: Kenyan dies in custody after arrest for social media post
Kenya's independent police oversight body has launched an investigation into the death of a man who had been detained "for false publication", the police have Ojwang was arrested in the western town of Homa Bay and then driven 350km (220 miles) to the capital, Nairobi, his father Meshack Opiyo told journalists."While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall," a police statement said. He was rushed to hospital "where he was pronounced dead on arrival".The director of the Kenyan branch of rights group Amnesty International told the BBC that the death of Mr Ojwang, described in reports as a teacher and blogger, was "very suspicious". Amnesty said in a statement that his death "raises serious questions that must be urgently, thoroughly, and independently investigated".Senior police officer Stephen Okal is quoted by the Star newspaper as saying what happened in the cell was "an attempted suicide".It is not clear what the charge of "false publication" referred to, but Mr Opiyo told online news site Citizen Digital that the arresting police officer said "Albert had insulted a senior person on X", the social media to the circumstances of his arrest, Amnesty International Kenya director Irungu Houghton said it was "quite shocking" that Mr Ojwang was not booked in at the local police station after being detained, but was instead taken on a long called on the independent investigators to secure what he described as "the crime scene" at the police station in police said that Mr Ojwang was "lawfully arrested".His detention and death comes at a time of rising concern about how some government critics are being treated. Last week, software developer Rose Njeri - who created a tool to help people oppose a government finance bill - was charged with violating a cybercrime law. You may also be interested in: Why Kenya's president has so many nicknamesThe 'tax collector' president sparking Kenyan angerBBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Volunteers sought to scrutinise police custody
Volunteers are being sought to help provide oversight of police custody processes and the welfare of people being detained. The independent custody visitors will hold Durham Constabulary and the Chief Constable to account and help increase trust and confidence in policing services, Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said. During unannounced visits to the new Durham Investigative Hub, near Spennymoor, the volunteers will check detentions standards across custody suits and ensure detainees are receiving the appropriate care. Allen said the volunteers would "play a critical role in driving further improvements". Issues identified will be raised with the custody sergeant and included in a report which is sent to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. "Our new cohort of volunteers will play a critical role in driving further improvements in our processes and procedures to ensure Durham not only delivers the very best quality of care to detainees but is held aloft as a beacon of good practice nationally," Allen said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Custody volunteers: 'We never ask what they've done' Retiring police dogs 'deserve to get pension' 'Rioters did not care if we got home that night' Durham Police and Crime Commissioner's Office
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Durham volunteers sought to scrutinise police custody processes
Volunteers are being sought to help provide oversight of police custody processes and the welfare of people being independent custody visitors will hold Durham Constabulary and the Chief Constable to account and help increase trust and confidence in policing services, Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen unannounced visits to the new Durham Investigative Hub, near Spennymoor, the volunteers will check detentions standards across custody suits and ensure detainees are receiving the appropriate said the volunteers would "play a critical role in driving further improvements". Issues identified will be raised with the custody sergeant and included in a report which is sent to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner."Our new cohort of volunteers will play a critical role in driving further improvements in our processes and procedures to ensure Durham not only delivers the very best quality of care to detainees but is held aloft as a beacon of good practice nationally," Allen said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Fox News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
A Spotlight on Policing
The Trump administration is ending federal oversight of police departments through consent decrees in Minneapolis and Louisville. Those are the locations of the high-profile police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor five years ago that captured the nation's attention on the issue. President Trump's Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon says these consent decrees have been taking policing control away from local communities and turning it over to 'un-elected bureaucrats.' Former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty joins the Rundown to discuss police oversight since the summer of 2020 and the battle over the Trump administration's latest deportation enforcement plans. The unofficial start of the summer travel season is this weekend, but the Federal Aviation Administration predicts that a record number of people will fly on Tuesday. This report comes after prominent travel delays caused by flight issues at Newark Liberty International Airport and the introduction of the REAL ID mandate. Travel expert Lee Abbamonte joins the podcast to share tips on how to prepare for your summer vacation and avoid wasting money. Plus, commentary from the host of the 'Kennedy Saves The World' podcast, Kennedy. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
