Web Chat Suggestion - QC on Rights When Approaching or Being Approached by Police

[MelodyPondsMum]

I'm not sure if this is the right place and you've been tagged in the thread where I originally suggested it but thought I'd put it here too. My original post is in italics and bold.

I wonder if we could get MNHQ to do a webchat with a QC about women's rights concerning arrests/cautions/vexatious complaints, etc - basically any interactions with the police.

The QC could provide a detailed checklist on what to do when faced with a police officer at the door; an officer determined to gain entry; an officer casually referencing sectioning, etc because threads on here show that some posters seem to think random Googles are the same as understanding the law and their rights. It isn't.

Also, is it possible to have a group litigation order against the police? Women need to mobilise collectively around these particular issues with the police.

Women are regularly dismissed when the try to report VAWG, stalking and harassment. The End Violence Against Women Campaign has called for action regarding the wider culture in the police that fails women and enables perpetrators. Women are often dismissed and sent away.

Women are also being disproportionately targeted under Hate Incidents legislation.

Yy there are general rights that all people have when approached by the police or approaching the police. But there are also issues peculiar to women eg

• women are more likely to be care givers so there are issues around childcare (and police threatening mothers with SS involvement to 'watch' their DCs whilst they are at the station);
• there are issues around the weaponising of MH issues and vulnerabilities (threatening with sectioning but not providing appropriate medical supervision or assessment)
• there are issues around searching (both of houses and persons)- taking into account sex, periods, religious beliefs, etc
• there are issues around how to act if you believe the original complaint has been made maliciously
• there are issues around how to get a complaint regarding VAWG taken seriously

I think it would be very beneficial for MNHQ to provide a reliable source of information to ensure women are aware of their rights. I also think a webchat would raise the profile of the issues that women face and how disproportionately the laws are currently applied depending on your sex.

Yy there is lots of information in different places on the web but it would be good to have the information in one place, and for up-to-date advice in light of the changing legal landscape. TIA

Hi all,

We haven't got any updates yet we're afraid.
We'll keep you in the loop!

Good. DrEms arrest was dreadful

@LilyMumsnet could you give us any insight into what the HQ team are thinking regarding this, what sort of things have already been done, who you're waiting to hear back from type thing?

please, sorry forgot my manners.

Hello!

We get many suggestions from users (which is great!) but we do have limited resource and we usually plan stuff quite far in advance. Because of this, we don't have an update on this at the moment.

@LilyMumsnet sorry I don't mean to be rude, i'm just not sure how to put this.

Are you saying this is low on the priority list and you haven't done anything?

Rather than there is no update yet (implying there is one forthcoming), is it more we won't have an update for the foreseeable because we're otherwise engaged and aren't currently actioning this in any way?

Again really not trying to be rude, just not sure how to ask what I'm asking.

The issue MN has, is that their Director is also the Director of the Good Law Project, [the one that just keeps failing in courts].

So...the obvious place to go to would be the Good Law Project. And the Good Law Project hates women, especially Lesbians as it supports people like Mermaids taking the LGB Alliance to court.

They cannot provide this as it would be a conflict of interest to have one half of the Good Law Project advising women of what to do when the other half of the Good Law Project are involved with people who actively are trying to get these women arrested.

It's a conundrum - Shrodinger's Good Law Project in action.

Can we organise something ourselves? Maybe we could ask Harry Miller to do an ama on here?

let it go m8

its not happening

I think a very useful thread could be created on the AMA board, following a small discussion on the FWR board.

There are police officers and spouses of police officers on MN and presumably, KC and spouses thereof. No reason why we can't information share amongst ourselves is there? I know it's difficult because it's not verified but some of us are MNers of old and happy to prove credentials to MN.

Two police officers on here don't even think this is actually happening. So I'd be wary about that to be honest.

Dennis Kavanagh does some excellent You tube videos.

I'd love Dennis to come and give a webchat on here but maybe we could ask him to do one on his you tube channel and direct people to it so he can get some income for it?

Yes. I agree with that. If he comes on here there will be the usual deletion of awkward questions and censorship. He seems like a really approachable person.

Why don't we do a few different things? Invite some people to come and do an AMA. Ask someone to do a youtube video. Maybe compile a list of questions and send them to a bunch of different people?

That sounds like a good idea, if he's willing.
I hadn't realised there was a connection with the Good Law people. That explains a LOT of the stuff that bewilders me about the fwr boards deletions.....

He does!

"The Queen's Speech"

I didn't realise there was a Good Law connection either.

As you say - explains much.

Dennis has posted on MN in the past
@DennisNoelKavanaghOffTwitter
Perhaps he'd be prepared to do an AMA?

Great idea - especially @MelodyPondsMum suggestion to do a series.

I'm lucky enough to be married to a GC police officer 🙂

Ok - I'm a police officer . I'm now posting on the fwr boards .

What would you like to know .
I'll try to help .

I was sceptical- before I'd seen for myself and read what's happening- I was sceptical because I'm blessed enough to work in a force that's not had stonewall or mermaids training, no rainbow lanyard, no dancing the Macarena, common sense still prevails where I work . But having read the injustices that are occurring- I'm here to offer my support , help and advice as a woman , and as a police constable .

Fire away . I'll help where I can .

No offence intended but I wouldn't trust your advice, I've read some of your posts and your replies to me have shown me where your views lie.

I also don't think you were sceptical before so much as are still sceptical.

That's really disappointing but as a PP says explains a lot.