Cornwall Police Watch II

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http://cornwall-police-watch-ii.blogspot.com/

Tony Leamon released from bail!

CPW have been celebrating following Tony Leamon’s release from bail on Wednesday 31st July 2008.

As readers will know, Tony was due to answer police bail for the fifth time at Camborne police station last Wednesday, almost 11 months since he was first arrested. However, on the Wednesday morning, police visited Tony at his home as on two previous occasions and informed him that his bail had been delayed yet again. However later on in the day, Tony was told that his bail would be dropped and no charges brought against him.

CPW would like to thank all those who supported Tony over the last 11 months, especially Mike Chappel, whose commitment and dedication to Tony’s cause has been an inspiration to us all, Tony’s supporters in the USA and the Celtic League. Tony has experienced at first hand the injustice of the UK’s Terrorism Act and the overly enthusiastic response by the police to act with insensitivity under the Act. Without his support base Tony may well have found himself in jail and been another forgotten victim of police state criminal justice abuse - just another statistic in police eagerness to meet targets and make arrests.

CPW are taking a well deserved holiday, but will be back in September 2008 to highlight Devon and Cornwall police injustice.

A Cornwall police badge?

An interesting idea has been mooted on a Cornish forum for officers of the Devon and Cornwall police force to wear police badges that state ‘Cornwall’ on them.

However, there is no reason why the words Kernow should not be added too. As will be seen on the Celtic League pages (CPW recommend doing a search)a campaign has been running by the League asking police constabularies in the Celtic countries, what their linguistic and cultural commitment is to the respective Celtic countries they serve. As will seen from the League’s news items here, Chief Constable Stephen Otter has already been sent several letters by the League on his constabularies commitment to the Cornish language and culture.

Other replies by various chief police officers from the different constabularies in the Celtic countries, found on the site, have been largely positive, but no reply from Otter has been shown. Either he has ignored the League’s questions or his response was so dismissive and short that the League didn’t think it worthy of posting up on their site.

For those readers who are interested, Cornwall did have its own police badge until the Cornwall County Constabulary was discontinued in 1967. Many of Cornwall’s police officers who worked through the change, stubbornly and rightly continued to wear their Cornwall police badge with pride for many years after, even though another (Devon and Cornwall) badge had been issued.

Also of interest is the fact that Cornwall (with the exception of Breizh/Brittany) is unique of the Celtic countries in that it is serviced by a police force that is based outside its territorial boundaries.

Both the above issues should be remedied and it is hoped that the League (and others) will take it upon themselves to campaign for these particular issues of concern some time soon.

The Cornwall 24 forum provides some interesting material for those interested in Cornish issues and occasionally discusses issues related to police activity. CPW however, cannot find the link to the Cornwall police badge discussion and would appreciate it if a reader could provide one in the comments section.

Celtic League Branch meets, as Tony prepares to answer his bail for fifth time

The Kernow Branch of the Celtic League will meet today inWadebridge, East Cornwall to discuss, among other things, the situation of Tony Leamon, who is due, once again, to answer his bail at Camborne police station on Thursday 31st July.

It is expected that the branch will be organising a demonstration outside Camborne police station on the Tuesday. Those who are able to participate should watch this space for up to date information, in case Tony’s bail is delayed yet again, in which case the demonstration is likely to be cancelled.

This will be the Tony fifth time that Tony is due to answer his police bail and as on previous occasions, supporters are requested to write/phone to Devon and Cornwall police station to register their concerns (police.Enquiries@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk or 7 0044 84527744 from abroad or 084527744 from the UK Ask to be put through to Camborne police station for a non urgent call). Supporters are also requested to copy emails to Ginette Harris (gharris@c-dm.co.uk) of the West Briton newspaper in Cornwall.

Campaigners respond to newspaper articles

Campaigners on behalf of Tony Leamon have taken up the inaccurate portrayal of his case in two newspapers following his bail delay earlier this month. The first is from the ever reliable Celtic League who have been campaigning on Tony’s behalf from the outset. The League’s General Secretary made a complaint to the ‘Western Morning News’ newspaper, who made a series of errors in their article on 3rd July 2008, which was featured on this site. The second complaint is from a campaigner in the USA, who took issue with The Sun’s sensationalist and highly patronising news item about Tony, so commonly associated with that particular newspaper.

The Celtic League’s response can be found here and the US campaigner’s response can be found below. Well done both!

I am writing to you … regarding the article that appeared in the July 4 edition of the Sun about Tony Leamon.

While you are to be commended for featuring the article, I must say that your lack of confirmed facts leaves much to be desired.
I've a few questions concerning the article.

1. "The Cornish National Liberation Army, dubbed the Ooh-Arr A, wanted to back a member answering bail on a gun charge." It's my understanding that membership in the Cornish National Liberation Army is in itself a criminal offense.
If Mr. Leamon is a member of the CNLA (which he is most certainly not), why has he not been charged as a terrorist?

2. "The organisation boasted on websites that supporters from Mexico the US and Australia would support Tony Leamon, 58, at Camborne police station. But when he arrived the only follower was student Jezz Evans."
Having been involved with this thing since September of 2007, I can honestly say that I know of no supporters from "Mexico". I am also unaware of anyone from the US or Australia who planned to show up at the Camborne police station. It is also my understanding (and I heard this from Tony Leamon himself) that a policeman arrived at Tony's house at 11:30 AM the day his bail hearing was scheduled to tell Tony that it had been moved back to July 31.
So, when did Mr. Leamon "arrive"?
Was any research put into finding out why only one person showed up to offer support for Mr. Leamon?
Could that have been because Mr. Leamon took the time to contact people and tell them about the rescheduling of his bail hearing?
Where are the "websites" that your article mentions?
Are these websites maintained by the CNLA?

3. But the cops said they were "not aware of any calls relating to the inquiry."
"Cops" were quoted, but no one by name.
I was waiting to speak with a "cop" when I received word from Mr. Leamon that his bail hearing had been rescheduled.
Who were these "cops" and why wasn't my telephone call mentioned?
Did any research go into this "lack" of telephone calls.
I am aware of at least three people from New Mexico who attempted to get through to the Camborne police station.

4. I've been told that the so-called gun charge had to do with a World War vintage rifle that has a lead filled barrel and is incapable of firing. I've also been told that the photo of the gun was a full blown practical joke and that Mr. Leamon has provided the paperwork to prove that the gun is worthless as a weapon.
Mentioning a gun charge in an article about anyone could destroy a person's career prospects, this is obviously a petty point for yourself and your newspaper.
Mentioning a gun charge without pointing out all of the facts involved was very reckless and uncaring on your part as well as your editor's.
Was any research put into the gun charge?
Why weren't the facts about the gun mentioned in your article?

5. The Celtic League (which is not affiliated with the CNLA) urged people to send emails to the Devon/Cornwall police in support of Mr. Leamon. I know of at least twelve people in my town other than myself who sent emails expressing concern for the Draconian treatment the Mr. Leamon is receiving from the State.
Why was no mention made in your article of what is truly international support for Mr. Leamon?

6. Your article made a very serious, life impacting accusation by calling Mr. Leamon a member of the CNLA.
Was any time devoted to finding the true facts here?
Did you give any thought at all to what this could do to a person's life?
Was this article published for the good of the community as a whole or as a trite piece of filler for your newpaper?

7. Tony Leamon is a member of the Cornish Branch of the Celtic League and a committed pacifist. He has often asked his supporters to treat the police with kindness and dignity when they make contact.
Was any effort made to contact Tony to hear his side of things?
Was any effort made to contact the Celtic League, which is a well respected group, to get a better understanding of this case?

I will look forward to your reply.

Kindest regards,

Police language – in Cornish!

If Kernow had its own police force and a linguistic requirement of its officers was to speak the Cornish language, below are some words/terms they maybe likely to use. In fact, if there are any police officers or Police community support officers reading this, why not put into practice some of this vocabulary today.

GWIR-VREUS (Justice)

gwir-vreus -- justice
breus -- judgement
sywyans -- result
pysadow -- appeal
daswel -- review
gevyans -- remission
edrek -- remorse
gwith -- custody
apposyans -- examination
gwaytyans -- expectation
ken -- law-suit
arv -- weapon
ladrynsi -- robbery (in general)
ladrans -- robbery (individual act)
ladrans arvek -- armed robbery
ladhva -- murder
kammfydhweyth -- confidence trick
dustuni -- testimony
assay -- attempt
nester -- proximity
privetter -- privacy
bolder -- presumption
bysmer -- contempt
omgemmeryans -- responsibility
daskorrans -- restitution
kammhynseth -- injustice
kowses -- conviction
mewgh -- bail

breusyas -- judge
justis -- magistrate
laghyas / laghyades -- lawyer m/f
prisner / prisnores -- prisoner m/f
galwesik / galwesiges -- professional m/f
gwithyas kres -- policeman
gwithyades kres -- policewoman
darsywyas -- prosecutor
difenner -- defendant
lader -- thief
denledhyas -- murderer
kammfydhwas -- confidence trickster
drogoberer -- criminal
drogoberer avleythys -- hardened criminal
kreslu -- police force
dustunier -- witness
noter -- notary
bayli -- bailiff
perghenn -- owner
tremenyas -- passer-by
mewghyer -- one who stands bail

herwydh an lagha, lafyl, laghel -- lawful
anlaghel -- illegal
digeredh -- excused
kablus po ankablus -- guilty or not guilty
varyes -- insane, deranged
kammhynsek -- unjust
diswar -- reckless

darsywya -- to prosecute
previ, gul prov -- to prove
kildenna -- to reverse
byghanhe -- to reduce
mos dres -- to exceed
gordhyllo -- to expel
gul dhe -- to cause to
gwarnya -- to caution
gul maystri orth -- to exercise control over
dilea -- to expunge
mewghya -- to stand bail
kammdremena -- transgress, trespass
kammvreusi – misjudge

How about some slang!

to bag – sagha
to pinch - pynchya
to rumble - grommya
to sequester – argeles
to snare – krogennya ?
to book – ragerghi
to catch – kachya
to haul in – tenna, halya
to seize – dalghenna, sesya

gorra yn gwith -- to place in custody (arrest?)

Campaign activity

Check out the link below for an example of further campaign work. Mike Chappell, who wrote the letter in the link has been campaigning activley on behalf of Tony for many months, despite heavy criticism from some unionist quarters in Cornwall, for reasons unknown.

Unfortunately it seems that the more active one becomes in pushing the the Cornish cause forward, the more people will come out of the woodwork and try to damage your reputation and credibility. It has happened before and continues to occur today. Well done Mr Chappell for standing up for what you believe in - CPW wish there were more like you.

Keep the communications going.

Campaign news: Tony Leamon