Women's Views on News |
| Undercover police saga: back in court Posted: 14 Jan 2016 01:23 PM PST
There will be a Police Spies Out of Lives solidarity demo at the High Court in London on 15 January, ahead of Kate Wilson's latest hearing in her four-year legal battle to hold the Metropolitan police (the Met) to account. Because on 15 January 2016 a legal case over undercover police relationships will return to the High Court, in a renewed battle to force the police to follow normal court procedure and issue disclosure documents in the case. This hearing comes two months since the – historic – apology issued by the Met, after which calls began for officers' cover names to be released so that others who were affected can know the truth about disruption to their lives. The group of eight women issued a statement ahead of the hearing, in which they said: "Despite the apology and very public settlement of seven of our eight claims, the police have so far refused to disclose any information to any of us about the files held on us, the extent of the intrusion into our lives, or the motivations behind the abusive police operations we were subjected to." The hearing on 15 January will be a case management conference to clarify the timetable for disclosure and related matters. The claims arise from the deception of women into long-term intimate relationships by five police officers who had infiltrated social and environmental justice campaigns. The common law claims relating to the 15 January hearing include deceit, assault, misfeasance in public office and negligence. The eight women bringing this legal action are doing so to highlight and prevent the continuation of psychological, emotional and sexual abuse of campaigners and others by undercover police officers. In their 'Where we stand' statement the women said: 'We come from different backgrounds and have a range of political beliefs and interests, and we are united in believing that every woman, and every person, has a right to participate in the struggle for social and environmental justice, without fear of persecution, objectification, or interference in their lives.' As part of an out-of-court settlement for seven out of the eight claims, the Metropolitan Police issued a comprehensive apology in November 2015 – their first admission that the relationships had taken place and had caused significant damage. And a public inquiry has also been launched. But Kate Wilson's case continues, as do other civil cases being brought against the police over undercover policing. Wilson had a two-year relationship with Mark Kennedy, who was working for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) using the cover name Mark Stone, between 2003 and 2005. She said: "The police claim they had no knowledge of my relationship with Mark, although he lived with me for more than a year of his undercover operation. "I have yet to see any documents or authorisations that explain his intrusion into my life or the lives of my parents and friends. "I don't know if I was targeted for my political beliefs and they are lying and withholding the documentation to cover it up; or if I was simply so-called 'collateral intrusion' in a secret operation against political dissent, that side-lined my life, my family, my body and myself, and the police did not even consider it worthy of a mention in an operational authorisation. And: "I would like to see the true nature of Britain's political policing fully exposed, and I believe everyone affected by these abusive undercover units should be given free access to their files." The solidarity demo will take place at 1pm at the Royal Courts of Justice, London, on 15 January 2016. For details, click here.  |
| Barrier bosses prevent equality progress Posted: 14 Jan 2016 05:11 AM PST
According to a survey of over 8,000 people commissioned by leading feminist campaigning charity, the Fawcett Society, to mark its 150th year, men believe that equality between the sexes would be better for the UK economy and themselves, However, despite showing there is a clear desire for equality, the forthcoming 'Sex Equality – State of the Nation' report, due out at the end of this week, also reveals that there are still significant barriers to progress that still need to be overcome. This was Fawcett's biggest ever survey. Carried out by Survation, it found that not only did 7 out of 10 men believe a more equal society between women and men would be better for the UK economy, but that – significantly – more than a third (39 per cent) of men surveyed believe it would be better for them personally. Only 7 per cent of men think they would lose out if we had a more equal society. Sam Smethers, the Fawcett Society's chief executive, said: "We won't achieve equality without engaging and persuading men. "There is now an overwhelming majority [of men] who believe it would be better for the economy, for the women in their lives and a significant number who also see it as better for themselves. "We have never had a better opportunity to create a more equal society. "But despite this stubborn barriers remain." The survey identified two major barriers to progress – firstly a small but powerful group of 'barrier bosses' responsible for recruitment decisions, and secondly the fact that most people believe that men at the top won't voluntarily move over for women. The poll included 1,422 people who are recruitment decision-makers and it is the responses from them that reveal cause for concern. This group, which included women and men, is less likely to believe in equality of opportunity. Indeed this group is more than twice as likely (16 per cent) as the overall population (7 per cent) to be against equality of opportunity for the sexes and more likely to believe they would personally lose out if women and men were more equal. A quarter of this group believes that a more equal society would not be better for the economy, compared to just 13 per cent of people UK-wide. Fourteen per cent believe they would lose out if men and women were more equal; that's more than three and a half times the proportion of those not involved in recruitment (4 per cent). Smethers continued: "A significant minority of managers – the 'barrier bosses' – are holding us back. "They are the ones with the power over recruitment and their decisions are likely to be informed by their attitudes to equality. "There are many progressive employers who are working hard to drive change, but if they are wondering what is holding up progress in their organisation this may explain why." "Whether it is conscious or unconscious bias, this is discrimination in action. "These are the people responsible for implementing equal opportunities policies, yet 16 per cent say they are opposed to the idea." "This is bad for individual employers, because they are not recruiting or promoting the best people, and bad for the economy as they are holding women back, failing to use [women's] skills and expertise." Significantly the survey also found that 6 in 10 people believe that men in top jobs won't make room for women unless they have to, with 64 per cent of women and over half (55 per cent) of men stating this. Half (49 per cent) of recruitment decision-makers also shared this view. "This is at the heart of it," Smethers pointed out. "Despite the fact that men are overwhelmingly pro-equality a majority of people clearly believe that when it comes to the crunch, men won't move over unless they have to. "This is why we need positive action and why quotas would make a difference." "The argument has been won. We all want a more equal society but we also see that it won't happen on its own. We have to make it happen." The Fawcett Society is calling for: Employers to use the opportunity of new equal pay regulations in 2016 requiring the publication of their gender pay gap to take a detailed look at gender equality in their workplace. That includes assessing women's progression at every level of their business; 'Unconscious bias' training for managers; Removal of harmful employment tribunal fees which are a barrier to women bringing sex discrimination claims; Time-limited use of quotas to get more women on boards, together with targets to see more women in executive positions; and a Move to 'flexibility by default' 'flexibility first' – requiring all jobs to be advertised on a flexible basis unless there is a good business reason not to. The full 'Sex Equality – State of the Nation' report will be published on 15 January 2016 on the Fawcett Society’s website.  |
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