Read Online Ten Days by Gillian Slovo - Free Book Online Page A

and in the course of this the prisoner developed breathing difficulties. The officer in charge, who has had advanced CPR training, did his best to revive him, unfortunately without success. There’ll be a post mortem of course. It is always possible that a pre-existing condition might have provoked his collapse. At the moment, however, it’s probably sensible to assume that the cause of death will be related to positional asphyxia.’
    â€˜The officers involved have written up their reports?’
    â€˜Naturally.’
    â€˜And I assume their bodycams will confirm their written statements?’
    â€˜The IPCC has all the footage, sir. They’ll match the reports with it. Although it is worth saying that several of the bodycams were malfunctioning, and, as well, in moments of such confusion the footage does not always illuminate.’
    All of which was true. Why, then, did it sound like a series of excuses?
    â€˜Check that they covered the earlier incident as well, will you? And pull the records of all the officers involved. I’d like to know if any of them have been subject to any disciplinary action for misconduct. Just in case.’
    â€˜Certainly, sir. If you think that’s necessary.’ The edge to Chahda’s voice might have indicated that he wasn’t best pleased by Joshua’s interference, but his smile belied this.
    â€˜I gather Chief Superintendent Gaby Wright is in charge there?’
    â€˜She is. A recent appointment as Acting Commander.’
    â€˜I had a look at her stats. I see there’s been a spike in Section 60 stops since she took over?’
    â€˜That’s correct and in my opinion unavoidable. The Lovelace has never been easy to police, and word of its closure has been met by a rise in antisocial behaviour and crime. If I was in CS Wright’s shoes, I would have done the same thing. She’s a good officer. Tough but fair.’
    â€˜No doubt. But given the circumstances, don’t you think it might be worth her going a bit easier?’
    â€˜It might, sir, if she had the numbers. A visible presence on the street would ease things. But she doesn’t have the officers. I put a report on your desk about this.’ Chahda glanced at the high pile of buff folders – priority reading for the new Commissioner. ‘In it, CS Wright makes a special-case argument for more resources. She needs greater visibility and the ability to intervene to head off trouble. Without that, she’s had to resort to the increased use of Section 60.’
    â€˜I see.’ Must read faster, he thought, knowing, though, that if he did, he would find a score of other such requests from other boroughs.
    â€˜I spoke to her this morning, and she has done everything I would have wanted her to. The emergency services have been instructed to attend flashpoints in Rockham only after due authorisation; officers of the TSG will keep a low profile so as not to aggravate the situation; there will be no independent contractors in the Lovelace monitoring tagged offenders; and there is a stay on the execution of arrest warrants in Rockham until further notice. Local officers have also been instructed to display special sensitivity when addressing the question.’
    â€˜Sounds competent.’
    â€˜She is a good officer, sir. I’m confident that everything will go smoothly.’ A pause before: ‘Is there anything else, sir?’
    You had to admire the man: he was thorough and to the point. ‘There is something,’ Joshua said. ‘Get somebody to pull out the records of any stops under Section 4 of the RTA 1988 in the central London area for me. Any incident reported in the last three weeks.’
    â€˜May I ask why?’
    â€˜Something I need to check. If you wouldn’t mind?’
    â€˜Of course. I’ll see it done.’
    â€˜Thanks, Anil. And there are also a couple more things. Set up a press conference to brief on the