• Leave no stone unturned in the hunt for Lucky's killers
    On Wednesday 27 July at around 10pm an eight-year-old cocker spaniel named Lucky was taken from her garden in Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Some hours later the much-loved family pet was found with more than 70% burns to her body in the village of Lanchester, about 10 miles away from her home. She was rushed to a local vet before being transferred to a veterinary specialist. Harrowing photographs showed Lucky with a burnt pink nose, a blistered ear and a red eye, and her paws covered in bandages. Due to the extent of her injuries and poor prognosis for survival, her heartbroken owner - a woman in her mid-50s - had to make the difficult decision to have her pet put to sleep. Five suspects were quickly identified and questioned by police. They have been released under investigation. A month on, there is growing concern that no one will ever be prosecuted for Lucky's death. It has been widely reported that the attack on Lucky was an act of revenge by a group of men with a grudge against members of her family following a 'war of words' on social media. By directing their anger at a defenceless and innocent animal whose only crime was to be owned by an 'enemy', we believe that these so-called gangsters have crossed a boundary, however. If unpunished for this, they will undoubtedly feel empowered to commit more violent crime, racking up more and more victims. A CLIMATE OF FEAR Lucky's callous killing has repulsed and outraged right-thinking members of the local and wider County Durham community. There is, however, a reluctance to come forward with information due to fear of retribution. Witnesses are effectively being intimidated or even terrorised into silence by a handful of dangerous offenders. This is inexcusable in a civilised society. OUR EXPECTATIONS The purpose of this petition is to ask the Durham PCC to ensure that every effort is made to bring Lucky's killers to justice especially as there is a wider issue at play here. It's time to send violent criminals a message that their behaviour will not be tolerated and that they will be prosecuted and punished for their wrong-doings. At the same time, the wider community needs reassurance that they will be protected from retaliation when they speak up. Durham Constabulary have clamped down hard on the criminal fraternity in the past and that tactic has proved very effective both in terms of criminal justice and in bolstering public confidence. We would like to see that approach revisited now. Lucky the dog was the innocent victim of an act of pure unmitigated evil by a group of men with a grudge. Anyone capable of that level of senseless cruelty will be a danger to everyone. By signing this petition, you will send a clear message to Durham Constabulary that you want her killers prosecuted and put behind bars. Monsters like these need to be off the streets.
    3,179 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by UK Animal Cruelty Files Picture
  • Act fast to properly tackle fraud
    More than £1.3bn was stolen by con artists last year, where victims were tricked into making payments and this rose sharply as pandemic restrictions eased. And less than half of those victims were refunded. More needs to be done to tackle this crime. Introducing a new Fraud Minister to lead the fight against fraudsters and making banks refund all victims would offer consumers greater protection and peace of mind. The Government must act now to stop more people being affected by fraud.
    48,490 of 50,000 Signatures
    Created by Megan Bentall
  • Clean up the toxic culture of harassment in Westminster
    MP Peter Bone is facing suspension after an investigation found the MP had bullied and was sexually inappropriate around a former parliamentary staff member. This is just the latest example of misconduct within parliament. In June 2023, MP Geraint Davies was accused of multiple incidents of inappropriate behaviour towards junior female colleagues. The toxic culture in the House of Commons needs to be cleaned up. We need hundreds of thousands of us to show those in charge that the public demands they clean up the toxic culture within Westminster and ensure our politicians are fit for service.
    105,547 of 200,000 Signatures
  • Government Apology to Families of 414 British PoW Murdered in Untried & Concealed War Crime in 1943
    #suezmaruapology campaign: In 1949, as the decades-long hunt to convict Nazi war criminals was only four years old, and inexplicably far-east war crime trials would be closed within months, a Japanese soldier, Y. Kashiki, wrote to Allied war crime investigators. He outlined a previously unknown war crime of such barbarity it retains the power to shock and repulse today. Kashiki described, "The fact[s] of prisoners murder case, [aboard] the S. S. Suez-Maru, a Japanese transport ship, which...sailed from Ambon,...She was torpedoed and sunk... at...9.30 a.m. 29th Nov. 1943. [and] prisoners, about 270 or 280,... were killed on the reason that they could not be rescued. But, we, about 200 Japanese, who were on board the ship, were all rescued..." In fact, between 250-300 defenceless British and Dutch prisoners of war, who had already suffered nearly two years of barbaric treatment, survived the sinking of their 'hellship' transport, then spent some seven hours clinging to flotsam in the open Pacific, only to be systematically machine-gunned and shot by rifle-fire in cold blood, by c.20 named gunnery crew (headed by D. Yatsuka), aboard their Japanese naval escort, the minesweeper, W12. The W12 commander (O.Kawano) and war crime perpetrators (M. Iketani et al.), then conspired to falsify war records, and concealed the atrocity, until revealed by Kashiki, in 1949. A full investigation ensued, calling over 22 individuals for questioning, resulting in SCAP conclusion that, "It is considered that there is sufficient evidence to constitute a prima facie case against Kawano, Iketani, Yatsuka, and other[s]... officers and crew of minesweeper W12,... and to bring these participants to trial." This was no little-known war crime that accidentally 'fell between the cracks', this case was presented to the highest levels of the British Government. Significantly, the British Lord Chancellor, Jowitt, on exposure to the Suez Maru case, responded with horror, saying, “ ... the case of the Suez Maru atrocity is a particularly nasty one, and one which would arouse great feeling in this country as it concerns so many Allied men murdered at sea...” The British Foreign Secretary, Bevin, stated, "...there must inevitably be a strong moral case for bringing war-criminals to this kind of trial,...” and the British Secretary of State for War, Shinwell*, wrote that, "... the relatives of the murdered prisoners of war might well cause questions to be asked if they heard that those responsible would never be brought to justice.” The fact that this war crime was presented to the highest levels of the very Government elected to pursue justice for British subjects, that the right moral and legal decision was entirely within the gift of that Government, and that, in fact, the case had already been recommended to proceed to trial, and that the moment of justice was noted and ignored and thereby allowed to pass our loved ones by, and further, that the entirety of the Suez Maru case and the potential trial was then deliberately concealed from the very families of the men killed, is the reason for this campaign and petition.
    337 of 400 Signatures
    Created by Jacquelyn Frith Picture
  • Help Derek Get a Home
    Derek is one of the politest friendliest men I’ve come across, I’ve walked past him every morning on the way to work for years and he greets everyone with a happy good morning, no matter what has happened to him the night before or how cold the morning is. No one should be on the streets for one night, let alone how long Derek has been there. He’s beyond struggling to get housed and is being rejected left right and centre. The nights are only getting colder, and the streets are getting more dangerous at night for him. Please sign the petition so Derek can take it to the Council and other avenues of housing to show what a positive impact he has on the people in Ipswich. The man asks for nothing, he had started this petition on paper and got hundreds of signatures until some inhumane person ripped it up in front of him. Let’s get Derek out of the cold this winter ❤️
    336 of 400 Signatures
    Created by Charley Wynn
  • Keep parental alienation in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Guidance Notes
    Parental alienation is a global issue and many enlightened countries like Switzerland, Israel, Brazil and Gibraltar have rightly made it unlawful. As child safety campaigners, Good Egg Safety CIC commissioned research which generated over 1500 respondents in the UK. The findings, interrogated at source by a leading academic ( Professor) and highly qualified Child Psychologist) evidenced one of the worst child safety issues we have ever encountered in two decades of campaigning. Each individual story where children have been prevented from maintaining a close bond with a much loved parent following parental separation, is a tragedy. Adults who were alienated as children talk about their extreme trauma which resulted in: Suicide ideation Low self worth Extreme guilt Anxiety Drug / alcohol abuse Promiscuity Difficulty in future relationships Lack of trust. This is the appalling legacy parental alienation bequeaths children who are forced to choose which parent to love. It is their inalienable human right to be loved by both their parents, when it is safe for them to do so. According to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (2019) over half (52%) of family court enforcement orders had no safeguarding issues. No existing domestic abuse. Countless others where safeguarding issues were raised, were based on false allegations. We can evidence this and we ask you to consider it carefully, in order to protect all victims from harm and, most especially, their children. Thank you.
    894 of 1,000 Signatures
    Created by Janis James
  • Improving Communications and Investigations for Victims of Crime
    Every year millions of crimes take place in the UK and the impact of a crime is long lasting for victims. Becoming a victim of crime is a highly distressing time. The Police do their best to provide a professional and caring service during an investigation, but their efforts are limited by the technology and other resources currently at their disposal. Victims are often left wondering what is happening and whether anyone is taking their case seriously. Improving the communications and connections between investigating officers and victims of crimes is very much needed. Every day technology could be used very effectively to achieve this by providing a means for victims and investigating officers to keep in touch and up to date. Something as simple as a mobile phone app could be used to give victims and witnesses a better experience, keeping them up to date on progress and allowing them to communicate more effectively with the Police. Being able to message the officer in charge directly in an instant, read and sign statements and documents from their phone and see updates on the investigation as it develops, without the inconvenience of having to call officers who may be off duty or otherwise occupied, would give victims a far more satisfying experience than they get today. Building trust and having a feeling of involvement in their own crimes using such an approach, will not only help victims during investigations. Establishing relationships with officers on a personal level will mean both the police and victims can work more closely to reach the desired results. Having the flexibility to carry out investigations through online methods could significantly speed up investigations and bring perpetrators to justice faster. Using technology in the form of a mobile app could create other opportunities to improve victim experience. It could have significant benefits for those who are hard of hearing, could be used to break language barriers for those whose first language is not English and support people who suffer from mental health issues and find it difficult speaking on the phone or face to face. It would be a simple step to add links to charities and support organisations that can help victims rebuild their lives and bring life back to normal.
    116 of 200 Signatures
    Created by zamanoor rahman
  • To name a road after PC Kenneth Grout
    To remember a much loved man who made a difference to a lot of people whilst in public office. It's fitting seeing that he served for many decades in Cosham Police station.
    258 of 300 Signatures
    Created by John Marshallsay
  • BRORA Estate residents
    To block access surrounding the outter part of the estate and stop people from entering factoring forestry land, breaking the plants and trees and being able to vandalise people's homes.
    106 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Marnie Bowes
  • Coppice Farm wants CCTV security!
    Residents & taxpayers have a right to feel safe within their own homes & community. The local authority has a duty of care to help in these matters.
    225 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Stephen Moreton
  • PROTECT THE BRITISH PUBLIC FROM ONLINE FRAUD!
    The new online safety laws being proposed by the Government will give Ofcom power to crackdown on social media companies - but will fail to cover online scams. This means that millions of people across the UK are at risk of scammers committing financial fraud. With all of us increasingly being forced to turn online, it’s now more important than ever that the government does all it can to protect us from online fraud. That’s why we, the British public, are calling on you to tackle the quickly escalating problem of online fraud in the government’s upcoming Online Safety Bill.
    58,314 of 75,000 Signatures
  • PROTECT YOUR FREEDOM TO PROTEST
    Police chiefs and government ministers are seeking new powers to clamp down protests that may cause disruption and, in particular, that involve direct action and civil disobedience. These changes are an unnecessary attack on the freedom to protest. Netpol's Charter for Freedom of Assembly Rights calls on the National Police Chiefs Council (the national body for Chief Constables) to accept greater transparency and accountability for the way protests are policed, based on international human rights standards. See https://netpol.org/2021/03/15/thousands-support-charter/ There have already been repeated attempts to convince senior officers to publish their own guidelines. Despite promises to do so, they have been reluctant to explain how police will protect, not restrict, the right to protest. With new restrictions planned, we are tired of waiting. Backed by a coalition of other organisations, the Charter for Freedom of Assembly Rights sets out what people taking part in protests can expect from the police. It calls for: * Proper protections – not more restrictions – for the right to protest. This includes an end to treating direct action and civil disobedience as an excuse to shut down protests completely. * An end to routine surveillance of protesters. This includes strict limitations on the use of police video recording, use of facial recognition, and surveillance of social media sites used by campaigners. * An end to the excessive use of force and the targeting of organisers for arrest, surveillance and punishment. Black-led protests in particular disproportionately face excessive and violent interventions by police. * An end to targeting the most vulnerable. The police have a particular duty to protect the rights of young people, vulnerable and disabled people wishing to exercise their rights to freedom of assembly Support the campaign by signing and sharing the petition. If you’re part of a group or organisation, you can also endorse the Charter. Contact info[at]netpol.org to add your name.
    217,581 of 300,000 Signatures
    Created by Netpol Campaigns Picture