In a concerning turn of events at the Youth Court in Stratford Magistrates’ on Wednesday, May 1st, defence solicitor Dele Johnson found himself in a distressing altercation with court security personnel. Johnson, recounting the harrowing experience to The Law Society Gazette, described being restrained by multiple guards despite his pleas of struggling to breathe.
The incident unfolded after Johnson refused a security search request to remove his shoes upon his return from a cigarette break. Johnson, 37, vividly compared the ordeal to the tragic demise of George Floyd, whose death sparked the global Black Lives Matter movement, stating, “I never thought I’d also be saying ‘I can’t breathe’. I was just trying to do my job.”
The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association voiced apprehensions, suggesting a potential boycott of the court if the guards allegedly involved in the altercation are not suspended promptly by the private security firm, OCS.
Johnson’s account detailed how the confrontation escalated as he attempted to re-enter the building, culminating in a distressing physical altercation with several security personnel. Despite his protests, Johnson found himself restrained on the ground, struggling to breathe due to his asthma.
This incident follows recent revelations by defence solicitor Katie McFadden regarding invasive pat-down searches conducted by court security at the same venue. McFadden’s disclosure, shared on social media platform X.com, highlighted instances where security personnel allegedly conducted intrusive searches, including feeling under her dress.
The controversy surrounding the conduct of security staff at Stratford Magistrates’ Court has drawn significant attention, with reports likening their behavior to “nightclub bouncers.” Female lawyers, in particular, have expressed discontent over highly invasive searches, prompting discussions of potential boycotts among legal practitioners.
Responding to the escalating situation, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, assured that they are taking the complaints seriously, with urgent investigations underway. Emphasizing the paramount importance of security measures while acknowledging the need for continual review, the agency pledged to address the concerns raised by legal professionals.
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