November 2012

Volume 1, Issue 12

unProfessional Standards Department

West Yorkshire Police

Investigation into Parkinson shrouded in WYPA mystery

There are not many certainties in life but one of them is that where WYPA Chief Executive, Fraser Sampson, is to be found duplicity and dishonesty are generally close at hand. Close dealings with this extravagantly-paid public servant have produced a catalogue of deceit that has been well chronicled in the pages of previous issues of uPSD.
Temp/CC John Parkinson Black Propaganda Man

A well chronicled catalogue of deceit

Mark Burns-Williamson and Bettison bury the evidence PAGE 1 OF 5

The latest torturous and elongated Freedom of Investigation request still unresolved - has produced the revelation that Temporary Chief Constable John Parkinson is currently under investigation by an outside police force, following a complaint by a member of the public. uPSDs investigative journalist, Neil Wilby, can exclusively confirm that the complaints relate to matters raised on its front page of issue 8 where Parkinson was named as West Yorkshire Polices own black propaganda specialist. At a Special Committee meeting of the Police Authority on 10th October a decision was taken to record a complaint and appoint an investigator. In spite of this, Apple of Chiefs eye the Police Temp ACC Ingrid Lee Authority promoted Parkinson to the highest rank in their Force without troubling to inform the public of the integrity issues behind the scenes. In contravention of IPCC Statutory Guidance, Sampson has not provided the complainant with the name of the investigator, his terms of reference or anticipated timescale of the investigation. An update every 28 days has also not been provided and, we understand, no victim statement taken. Parkinson and Sampson are also at the centre of another massive integrity challenge by retired Detective Superintendent Trevor Fordy concerning perjury and perverting the course of justice relating to theft of software by WYP. There are at least four software companies involved and the criminal allegations relate to the subsequent poorly engineered cover-up efforts by

two senior Professional Standards detectives, ex-Supt Trevor Kerry and ex-DI Malcolm Whiteley. Sampson admitted to Mr Fordy at a recent meeting that he considered that the evidence did amount to criminal offences having been committed by PSD officers. Parkinson also made statements to the press that he knew to be false following the well publicised civil case that WYP lost against one of the software companies at the High Court in London. That one case has so far cost the West Yorkshire taxpayer over 500,000 and rising. Sampson had the final say as to whether the case proceeded to Court or not. Two offers to settle the case by the software company in the fortnight leading up to the case were, astonishingly, refused. Yet another Parkinson/Sampson subterfuge has also been laid bare: uPSD have obtained a copy of the document by which WYPA sought to avoid investigating the anonymous police email complaint made by uPSDs Felicity Stewart-Smith. The application to the IPCC to dispense with the complaint borders on the fantastical and is a barely concealed attempt to smear investigative journalist Neil Wilby. WYPA, for reasons known only to Sampson, have broadened the complaint to include Parkinson, and the current apple of his eye, the newly promoted Ingrid Lee, when the complaint documentation makes no accusations against those two, whatsoever. Sampson has still, after four months, failed to produce one scrap of evidence that Parkinson was involved in sending the email. It remains uPSDs confident assertion that the email was sent either by, or on behalf of, Supt Alan Lees or DCI Osman Khan. The IPCC refused WYPAs application to dispense with the investigation, so the saga continues when a simple apology three months ago would have more than sufficed.

unProfessional Standards Department

West Yorkshire Police

Sampson at the heart of Bettison resignation furore

Fraser Sampson, whose cost to the West Yorkshire taxpayer uPSD estimates to be at least 165,000 per year, is also at the centre of the storm surrounding the resignation of under-siege Sir Norman Bettison. Once again, the Sampson smokescreen is at full height as WYPA steadfastly refuse to comply with a FoI request to produce the minutes of their Special Committee of 24th October. Three emails have all produced the same minutes are not yet finalised reply from WYPAs Clare Wildie. What? All four pages of them, five weeks after the meeting concluded? Minutes already disclosed to uPSD reveal that Bettison made a disturbing call to Sampson before the start of the Special Committee on 15th September. The precise contents of that conversation are not known and have been redacted under a s31 Freedom of Information exemption. FoI s31 is a Qualified exemption and in the absence of explanation by WYPA is, in this case, believed to be related to WYPA Chief Executive the exercise Fraser Sampson of ascertaining whether any person is guilty of improper conduct or breaking the law. It requires a public interest test to be met prior to disclosure and that is currently being sought. It is clear the Bettison/Sampson exchange was not of the Have a nice weekend, Fraser, and hope the meeting goes well variety. It plainly had more sinister and threatening undertones and it is imperative that the content is broadcast publicly sooner rather than later. This is, after all, Wakefield not Moscow and the subject matter is the Hillsborough Disaster, not the WYPA staff Christmas party. With regard to Bettison, our WYPA source tells us that the IPCC ruled on 19th October that a complaint against him for exerting undue influence (ie threatening Fraser Sampson) would amount to gross misconduct if proved. The Special Committee meeting of 24th was called to suspend him and he pre-empted that by retiring. What puzzles most professionals on the edge of this saga is what happened between the exerting undue influence

allegations being discussed at the first Special Committee on 15th September and the matter being referred to the IPCC by Sampson almost four weeks later? Especially, in the light of a TV interview given by the Chair of the WYPA on 25th September in which he stated that it was business as usual for the Chief Constable and that the Chief retained the full confidence of the Police Authority. Really? As stated earlier, the meeting of 24th is still on FoI by a member of the uPSD team, but we are led to believe that Bettisons solicitors have served notice on the IPCC opposing the exerting undue Disgraced ex-Chief influence Constable Bettison allegations which is why the original outcome not been made public, so far. As far as the main black propaganda allegations against Bettison are concerned, uPSD understands that interviews will not commence until Jan 2013. It is not known whether Bettison will be in first batch, but uPSD are aware of a number of additional witnesses that have come forward to offer testimony against him. These accounts were not included in the 450,000 documents that were examined by the Hillsborough Independent Enquiry Panel. The IPCCs Deborah Glass, herself the subject of current criminal allegations, has confirmed uPSDs previous assertions that not all relevant Hillsborough documents were disclosed to the Panel. 1,444 police officers were referred by South Yorkshire Police to the IPCC in October. It is understand there may be up to 1,000 more. Six senior officers in West Yorkshire Police were serving with SYP at the time of the disaster. All must have been very well aware of the force wide cover-up by SYP.

Investigative journalist and smear victim Neil Wilby

of 24th Oct meeting not yet finalised

Minutes

Contact us
If you have a story or a complaint against the police please email us confidentially at unprofessionalstandards-wyp@yahoo. co.uk We are on Twitter @uPSDWYP and our dedicated complaint website is coming soon. If you require sight of back issues visit www.scribd.com/PoliceCorruption or email us.
PAGE 2 OF 5

Deborah Glass IPCCs Hillsborough lead

unProfessional Standards Department

West Yorkshire Police

Quests for CCTV justice marked by second police assault

If this headline recorded just a single episode it would be highly newsworthy. The fact that it has happened to two West Yorkshire businessmen in separate incidents, a couple of weeks apart, signals a police force with a serious culture issue: A point uPSD has been making for many months. The latest case of assault concerns Steve Bradbury Fearless fighter for justice Wakefield businessman Tony Ramsden who first came into contact with WYP when he suffered an attackt by two police officers who were part of a public order serial at Elland Rd football ground in August 2011. Since the original assault Mr Ramsden suffered two appalling and essentially dishonest investigations by the Forces Professional Standards department in which a wide ranging cover-up has been perpetrated. At the heart of the issue is the failure by police to disclose CCTV evidence, which settles the matter one way or another. On 9th November Mr Ramsden presented himself at his local police station in Wood St, Wakefield. In a perfectly reasonable and completely calm manner he asked to speak to either the Forces Legal Services Manager or a supervisory officer. Both requests were brusquely rebuffed and in short time he was confronted by arguably WYPs biggest officer, the man mountain PC Sabir Mechbal. Mr Ramsden was told he would be arrested under the Public Order Act if he did not remove himself from the station. PC Mechbal, acting on the specific instructions of A/PS Matt Watson, did not specify an offence (Section 4 or 5) or follow any other PACE procedures before manhandling Mr Ramsden, who was probably conceding 15 inches in height and about 50kg in weight. Fortunately, Mr Ramsden had the presence of mind to check that the CCTV at Wood St was fully operational and the entire incident was recorded. A formal complaint against PC Mechbal and PS Watson has been lodged with the IPCC and Mr Ramsden is waiting for a decision from the police as to how they propose to proceed with investigating this second assault complaint. The quest for the release of the crucial Huddersfield Police station CCTV continues via Mr Ramsdens where Mr Bradbury was assaulted solicitor and the professionally negligent

Two appalling and essentially dishonest investigations

Mike Percival, the Forces legal stonewalling expert. Percival is now facing no less than three SRA complaints concerning his unlawful conduct in a number of civil proceedings. The second case of intimidation and brute force inflicted on a visitor to police premises concerns Huddersfield businessman, Steve Bradbury. He too is in a long running quest to try to secure CCTV footage that proves he was assaulted by PC Simon Marshall outside Huddersfield Police station in July 2012 Like Mr Ramsden, Mr Bradbury has become completely exasperated by the downright deceit and dodging of simple questions that are the investigative hallmark of WYP. In order to find someone in authority who could give him some answers to perfectly reasonable and lawful enquiries he presented himself at WYPs HQ in Laburnum Rd Wakefield. He wanted to speak with Mr Percival as he was keen to understand the Police Band connections of PC Marshall and Mr Percival and whether this was a key factor in the CCTV proving Marshalls assault going missing or faulty.

Mike Percival is a stalwart member of the police band

Again, there is no-one in WYP who appears to be able to match Mr Bradburys intellect, and ability to articulate his points quietly and effectively. The only response WYP have is violence. For a police force allegedly suffering the effects of budget cuts it managed, within three minutes, to rustle up eight officers with nothing better to do than take a small, slightly built man to the ground, assault him, handcuff him, take him to Wood St police station, detain him on suspicion of obstruction and then release him without charge several hours later. The latest assault on Mr Bradbury will be the subject of a further complaint and legal action once CCTV of this incident

PAGE 3 OF 5

unProfessional Standards Department

has been produced by WYP. So far the procedure has not been progressing smoothly. Film has been produced from only one of the four cameras believed to be operational and within range. Even then that film is faulty: A further deliberate deceit and delay tactic by WYP, which is becoming so familiar. There is a depressingly long list of other WYP cases where undisclosed, allegedly missing or conveniently destroyed evidence feature large. Leading the list is the nationally known miscarriage of justice case of ex-PC Danny Major, wrongly imprisoned for an assault committed by another police officer. Apart from the 13 hours of CCTV not disclosed leading up to his trial which go a very long way to proving his innocence there is the issue of the blood spattered uniform belonging to disgraced ex-PC Kevin Liston which WYP steadfastly refuse to disclose, despite pressure from Mr Majors legal team. All three of the cases mentioned so far feature Professional Standards detective Damian Carr, whose incompetence and willingness to lie is becoming Chloe and Tony legendary. It is Ramsden understood that Mr Ramsden is prepared to take out a private prosecution against Carr if WYP and the IPCC are not prepared to remove this thoroughly dishonest officer from their ranks. Another highly publicised case of CCTV shenanigans followed by intimidation and violence concerns the case of Bradford good Samaritan, Anwar Gillespie. After being run around the houses for two years with another two appalling Professional Standards efforts at investigation, Mr Gillespie had the good fortune to engage a leading police complaints solicitor, Iain Gould, who forced the release of the CCTV that proved Mr Gillespies case. Even then, the CCTV was faulty and the soundtrack had been obliterated. That tactic lowered the amount of compensation that WYP eventually paid to Mr Gillespie when their rigorous defence of the civil claim suddenly collapsed. The sting in the tale for Mr Gillespie and his two young children was a 1am visit by six machine gun toting WYP armed response officers. They were executing a search warrant at the wrong address. This incident is now also subject to further complaint action against WYP. A fifth CCTV incident involves a Wakefield taxi driver whose defence against a motoring charge was fatally weakened when the tape had been tampered with by WYP. Technology and evidence issues are not confined to CCTV : A complaint and civil case involving Leeds man Justin Allen was severely undermined when a crucial section of Killingbeck Comms Room tape was faulty, covering the calls that would prove Mr Allens case: Working fine before his particular incident and in good working order afterwards. This leaves our investigators wondering just what lengths this police force is prepared to go to corrupt evidence. The Professional Standards investigating officer was uPSD regular DI Peter Howarth who was allowed to retire earlier this month despite a number of dishonesty/misconduct allegations against him still unresolved. Another tape recording mystery brings in Halifax man, Frank Yeo, who has battled for seven years to right a dreadful case of wrongful arrest, assault and false imprisonment. Mr Yeo recently told Leeds High Court that the arresting officer, PC OGrady, was foaming at the mouth during a taped interview at Halifax police station. The same officer also wanted to remand Mr Yeo in custody on Section 2 Harassment without violence allegations (sending emails to an ex-WYP Detective Chief Inspector Tony Herridge). After years of attempting to obtain the interview tape Mr Yeo was told by WYPs Legal Services that it had been destroyed. West Yorkshire Police is a large organisation and, of course, things will go wrong - or missing - from time to time. It is a fact of public, or business, life. But any reasonable person looking at the cases highlighted here has to conclude something else: WYP is an organisation that is prepared to commit criminal acts to frustrate civil claims. Repeatedly. That is a grave charge, and not one made lightly, but we look back over six months and 12 issues of uPSD and see things getting worse, not better. A change at the very top is very urgently needed.
PAGE 4 OF 5

West Yorkshire Police

John Robins ACC i/c WYP PSD

The only response WYP have is violence

Wood St police station where Mr Ramsden was assaulted

unProfessional Standards Department

West Yorkshire Police

November 2012
Volume 1, Issue 12

The House of Fraser

WYPA Chair Carter loses his cool at Public Question Time

The summer-long furore over public interest questions that West Yorkshire Police Authority would rather not be asked erupted into a heated argument between investigative journalist Neil Wilby and the Authoritys acting Chair, Les Carter. The incident took place at the Authoritys last ever meeting held at their Wakefield HQ on 9th November 2012.
Mr Wilby had submitted four questions to WYPA and was invited to put three of them to Members of the Authority in open meeting. But the question that was refused outraged Mr Wilby as this concerned a matter in which he has invested hundreds of hours of free time in reading and research: The Hillsborough Disaster. The refused question, although highly relevant, was innocuous enough but the Authority refused to allow it to be put as they considered it outside their ethos. 96 people died at least 41 of whom could have been saved and Fraser Sampson and Les Carter wanted to debate ethos, This, after harbouring the man strongly suspected as being central to a police and establishment cover-up. The very officer, Sir Norman Bettison, who made a menacing phone call to the self same Sampson - and they want to talk ethos? Mr Wilby said: I was incensed and still am. You have a room full of professional meeting-attendees whom the Home Office and the Policing Minister have both described as weak and invisible. Having now attended a WYPA meeting and seen what goes on, I would say that they were an utter and complete waste of space and money. Mr Carter completely lost his composure during the exchange with Mr Wilby and resorted to personal insults. The incident did, however, end on a lighter note as the stunned silence that followed Carters outburst was interrupted by his mobile phone ringing out. Textbook stuff! The very existence of the uPSD newssheets is owed to the intransigence of the Authority in seeking to avoid their dark secrets being exposed to public light. The very first question concerned paedophiles that the Authority were happy to conceal in police ranks and, back in June 2012, who was to know that the Leeds-based Jimmy Savile was to bring sustained and outraged nationwide publicity to the whole child abuse issue. Mr Carter shouted out he had been a Councillor for 40 years but the Leeds City Council website says 30 but, whichever is correct, it is believed he knew Savile well. A North Yorkshire investigative journalist has also received reports that West Yorkshire officers were taking bribes from Savile. Was Carter aware of that? More to follow on those points. From the first issue of uPSD, the Authority have set out to denigrate Mr Wilby and obstruct every reasonable enquiry concerning the workings and extravagant public cost of the Authority. Jimmy Savile What has been Infamous paedophile discovered is an unedifying spectacle of dishonesty and double dealing that will ultimately be exposed to a wider audience than the uPSD newssheets can deliver and the perpetrators, and those for whom they cover up, will be brought to book.

Les Carter Made two false legal declarations

Carter makes false legal declarations

Following a tip-off from a member of the public, enquiries into Les Carters business dealings were made by uPSDs finance specialist. It was a surprise to find that a man so given to self-aggrandisement and excessive pomposity, was potentially breaking the law in failing to comply with the Localism Act 2011. He has failed to declare that he was a Director of Leeds computer company SAASMountain Ltd. uPSD enquiries into his other computer and finance business interests are continuing. PI Richard Coldwell of West Yorkshire Polices NPT team at Otley has investigated appropriately and referred the matter to the Head of Governance at Leeds City Council. The Councils press office, however, declined to comment on the matter. This affair is made all the more remarkable by the furore surrounding Wakefield-born, North Yorkshire Police Authority Chair, Jane Kenyon, who was also found to be in breach of regulations covering a series of mis-declarations. Kenyon has very close ties to both Carter and Fraser Sampson. The moral being is that if you hold high position on Police Authorities the law doesnt apply to you and sod the public.

Stunned silence broken by Carters mobile phone ringing

Jane Kenyon Made a number of false declarations PAGE 5 OF 5