Strip-searching & intimidating minors in custody.

international | crime and justice | other press Tuesday September 02, 2008 22:40 by Fachtna Ahoy.

Manchester Pc Daniel Gaffney was jailed today for 12 weeks for assaulting of 12 year old boy in custody. The kid (who can't be named for "protective" reasons) had been arrested at a children's home where he alledgedly had been drinking vodka. PC Gaffney was bringing him to be strip-searched when feeling "intimidated" he hit the boy so hard that a custody sergeant thought his nose was broken.

This case in Manchester should set alarm bells ringing in every society which has not legislated for the protection of minors or children in custody or even thought about the possibility of children being subjected to cavity searches.

Ireland is one such state.

The Garda Siochana, which constantly seek to extend their authority throughout the state as its "sole law enforcement agency" to the point of abusing resources both within Ireland & far beyond, is an example of a police force which is has not specifically been disallowed invasive searches of children or even restricted to supervised searches (by welfare officers or psychologists or parents) [not parish priests].

PC Gaffney may be released before his 12 week term is up, for good behaviour or because there are too many people in English jails or maybe even because it is thought that putting plod in jail is cruel & unusual punishment & they are at "great risk"

But the issues and ill ease his crime have raised will not go away so quickly.

BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7...1.stm
IMC UK
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2008/....html