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Sussex Police Act first, Cover up Later!

Ross MacPherson | 12.09.2014 12:04

On the 05.12.13 I was stopped by Sussex Police for a variety of reasons. 1. Using a public telephone box (suspicious behaviour apparently) 2. A known associate had been in the area earlier that day. 3. Suspicion that my bicycle was stolen (it has been proved that this was incorrect) 4.I am a priority target for Sussex Police and will be stopped every time that they see me (a clear breach of the Police and Criminal Evidence act 1984 code of practice 'C' and tantamount to harassment).

All four of these reasons were given by the same officer at my trial that took place between the 2nd-6th June 2014 at Woolwich Crown Court. After being what I can only describe as 'kettled' between two phone boxes I walked away from the police and was followed and then pepper-sprayed (apparently I was being aggressive and violent whilst 'walking away') One officer drew his police baton and dropped it, I picked it up so that he wouldn't be able to strike me with it and ran off up the road (having been pepper-sprayed this seemed like the best idea)

The police allege that I was chasing them, it's a bit hard to chase someone if you can barely see anything. As I was running I was tackled by another officer who I didn't even see, the police allege that I ran up to this officer and struck him full force with the baton several times. He suffered a very minor scratch behind his ear most likely caused by a finger nail during the ensuing melee either by myself or one of his colleagues, it was certainly not caused by me hitting him several times at full force with a solid steal police baton. A picture was taken only a couple of hours after the incident and you can see there are no lumps or bruising, he didn't even go straight to the hospital, but instead made his way to Worthing Police station, whilst on his way he received a phone call from other officers telling him to go to Durrington Custody Centre to make his statement with his colleagues so they could collude no doubt.

In total I had three cans of pepper-spray used on me, two sets of leg straps, handcuffs and a 'spit-hood' (basically a black bag placed over my head) moreover whilst I was pinned down to the floor and being subjected to the above measures I was told in no uncertain terms that if I tried to run away (as if) I'd be Tasered (Taser officers arrived on the scene after I was attacked, thank God)

A female officer (PC Saunders) then said to another officer that she wished that she had got there sooner so that she could 'Taser' me, whilst a male officer asked if there was any cameras in the van (No prizes for guessing why)

Subsequently as a result of police lies and cover-ups I was convicted of attempted GBH and affray and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Sussex Police have a cavalier attitude in regards to the use of Pepper-spray and Tasers, they stop at nothing to cover-up their own wrong doings. It is not just people like myself (a convicted criminal) who suffer at the hands of police cover-ups and brutality 'man pepper-sprayed by Sussex Police drowns' (BBC news, 20.05.14) and 'innocent man pepper-sprayed to death by (Sussex) police' (Dearden, The Independent) The man in the case reported by the Independent was also Tasered twice, his crime having an epileptic fit! There are so many cases out there like this and judging by these two I got off lightly, but how many more cases are going to follow before Sussex Police are held accountable for their actions?

Ross MacPherson
A6791AD
HMP Belmarsh
Western Way
Thamesmead
SE28 0EB

Ross MacPherson

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