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Police investigated woman after she questioned handling of mother’s death Police investigated woman after she questioned handling of mother’s death
(about 1 hour later)
Police investigated the political beliefs of a grieving woman – including her views on human rights and the war in Afghanistan – after she complained about the police’s handling of the death of her mother.Police investigated the political beliefs of a grieving woman – including her views on human rights and the war in Afghanistan – after she complained about the police’s handling of the death of her mother.
The police also claimed that the woman appeared to be mentally ill and placed her on an official register for vulnerable adults without consulting any medical professionals. They later conceded that she was not mentally ill.The police also claimed that the woman appeared to be mentally ill and placed her on an official register for vulnerable adults without consulting any medical professionals. They later conceded that she was not mentally ill.
Internal police documents reveal how Sussex police compiled a 14-page secret report on Eccy de Jonge, a philosophy academic, shortly after her 83-year-old mother died in a road accident.Internal police documents reveal how Sussex police compiled a 14-page secret report on Eccy de Jonge, a philosophy academic, shortly after her 83-year-old mother died in a road accident.
The police carried out “full intelligence checks” on de Jonge and gathered comments she had posted on media sites.The police carried out “full intelligence checks” on de Jonge and gathered comments she had posted on media sites.
They scrutinised how she spoke up “a lot about a lot of things” and regularly commented on “news articles and blogs, with common themes including social welfare, human rights and the large number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan”.They scrutinised how she spoke up “a lot about a lot of things” and regularly commented on “news articles and blogs, with common themes including social welfare, human rights and the large number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan”.
Her apparent opposition to the merger of two London colleges in 2002 was also recorded.Her apparent opposition to the merger of two London colleges in 2002 was also recorded.
According to the documents, officers said the investigation was necessary to establish if de Jonge, 50, had “anti-police feelings”, was mentally unstable or posed a threat to their safety.According to the documents, officers said the investigation was necessary to establish if de Jonge, 50, had “anti-police feelings”, was mentally unstable or posed a threat to their safety.
The officers concluded that, while some of de Jonge’s comments implied “a negativity towards the government/political figures”, no evidence had been found that she was “anti-police”.The officers concluded that, while some of de Jonge’s comments implied “a negativity towards the government/political figures”, no evidence had been found that she was “anti-police”.
They had also gathered information on her taste in paintings and philosophy books she had published.They had also gathered information on her taste in paintings and philosophy books she had published.
De Jonge said Toni Rolls, her mother, was “her best friend” and used to speak to each other daily before she died after she was hit by a car outside Seaford on November 20 last year. De Jonge said Toni Rolls, her mother, was “her best friend” and that they used to speak to each other daily before she died after she was hit by a car outside Seaford on November 20 last year.
De Jonge has used the data protection act to obtain internal police documents about her case. De Jonge has used the Data Protection Act to obtain internal police documents about her case.
In what has since developed into a protracted dispute leaving police in their own words “exhausted by this lady and her issues”, she has lodged complaints alleging failures by the police over the investigation into her mother’s death. In what has since developed into a protracted dispute, leaving police, in their own words “exhausted by this lady and her issues”, she has lodged complaints alleging failures by the police over the investigation into her mother’s death.
She said: “Instead of investigating my mother’s death, the police have used their resources to discredit my character”.She said: “Instead of investigating my mother’s death, the police have used their resources to discredit my character”.
The accusation has been rejected by Sussex Police who told the Guardian: “There are objectively no credible grounds on which to base an allegation of police officers being engaged in secret operations against the complainant or seeking to protect any officer involved in the tragic road traffic collision. The accusation has been rejected by Sussex police, which told the Guardian: “There are objectively no credible grounds on which to base an allegation of police officers being engaged in secret operations against the complainant or seeking to protect any officer involved in the tragic road traffic collision.
“In fact, we have done everything to seek to resolve allegations in a fair and proportionate way and attempt to act in the complainant’s best interests.“In fact, we have done everything to seek to resolve allegations in a fair and proportionate way and attempt to act in the complainant’s best interests.
“Officers are entitled or expected to have discussions as to how to address complaints, make decisions, or how to attempt to make progress with fatal road traffic collision victim’s relatives – this is not evidence of nefarious dossiers, collusion, or protectionism.”“Officers are entitled or expected to have discussions as to how to address complaints, make decisions, or how to attempt to make progress with fatal road traffic collision victim’s relatives – this is not evidence of nefarious dossiers, collusion, or protectionism.”
De Jonge first complained a week after Sussex police officers had accompanied her to see her mother’s body at the mortuary, alleging that they had behaved insensitively.De Jonge first complained a week after Sussex police officers had accompanied her to see her mother’s body at the mortuary, alleging that they had behaved insensitively.
In what she described as a humiliating “nightmare”, she said the officers “laughed and joked” in a nearby room as she viewed the body.In what she described as a humiliating “nightmare”, she said the officers “laughed and joked” in a nearby room as she viewed the body.
She alleged that the police had “failed to be upfront and clear with her” about the extent of her mother’s injuries and the role of an officer assigned to liaise with her.She alleged that the police had “failed to be upfront and clear with her” about the extent of her mother’s injuries and the role of an officer assigned to liaise with her.
Within days, an officer noted de Jonge was “becoming difficult to manage” and did not accept anything she was told and was interfering with witnesses and making complaints against everyone.Within days, an officer noted de Jonge was “becoming difficult to manage” and did not accept anything she was told and was interfering with witnesses and making complaints against everyone.
De Jonge says she asked two people what they saw at the accident but denies that this amounted to interference.De Jonge says she asked two people what they saw at the accident but denies that this amounted to interference.
The officer in charge of the investigation said she was concerned that a colleague should attend a meeting with de Jonge on his own as she had “lied to us about several things” and her behaviour and attitudes had been “very unpredictable”.The officer in charge of the investigation said she was concerned that a colleague should attend a meeting with de Jonge on his own as she had “lied to us about several things” and her behaviour and attitudes had been “very unpredictable”.
De Jonge denies that she told any lies. Police apparently believed that she had concealed the existence of a sister, although de Jonge says that she had not met the estranged sister for three decades and thought she was dead.De Jonge denies that she told any lies. Police apparently believed that she had concealed the existence of a sister, although de Jonge says that she had not met the estranged sister for three decades and thought she was dead.
On December 3, a supervising officer requested “full intelligence checks on the next of kin” – de Jonge – “for risk assessment purposes”. On 3 December, a supervising officer requested “full intelligence checks on the next of kin” – de Jonge – “for risk assessment purposes”.
An analyst in Sussex police’s intelligence branch was told: “The focus of the search is mental health/anti-police feeling. This is an officer/corporate safety issue.”An analyst in Sussex police’s intelligence branch was told: “The focus of the search is mental health/anti-police feeling. This is an officer/corporate safety issue.”
Four days later, an officer confirmed that the colleague in charge of the investigation had asked for the checks “as a precaution due to a strong potential for interference in the investigation/police complaints etc”.Four days later, an officer confirmed that the colleague in charge of the investigation had asked for the checks “as a precaution due to a strong potential for interference in the investigation/police complaints etc”.
On December 13, an officer circulated the 14-page report – marked “restricted” – on de Jonge, noting that it was “long and has some relevance in that she speaks up a lot about a lot of things. Nothing relevant to the police or this enquiry that I can see at this time.” On 13 December, an officer circulated the 14-page report – marked “restricted” – on de Jonge, noting that it was “long and has some relevance in that she speaks up a lot about a lot of things. Nothing relevant to the police or this enquiry that I can see at this time.”
The report contained the results of searches of police intelligence databases and catalogued comments de Jonge had posted about political issues on websites of media outlets. Thirteen comments were recorded using screenshots.The report contained the results of searches of police intelligence databases and catalogued comments de Jonge had posted about political issues on websites of media outlets. Thirteen comments were recorded using screenshots.
These included her opinions : These included her opinions:
– on holding a free festival soon after the July 7 bombing on an Guardian article in 2005; • on holding a free festival soon after the 7 July bombing on an Guardian article in 2005;
– on the environmental consequences of the war in Afghanistan and obesity on the Independent website in 2008 and 2010; • on the environmental consequences of the war in Afghanistan and obesity on the Independent website in 2008 and 2010;
– about the large number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan on the blog of Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow in July 2010; • about the large number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan on the blog of Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow in July 2010;
– about private landlords on the radical Indymedia website in 2007. • about private landlords on the radical Indymedia website in 2007.
Sussex police believe that they had worked out a nickname she used online and suggested that she seemed to have contributed to discussions of 38 Degrees, the campaigning organisation, about knife crime and housing benefit. Sussex police believe that they had worked out a username she used online and suggested that she seemed to have contributed to discussions of 38 Degrees, the campaigning organisation, about knife crime and housing benefit.
They wrote that the person using this nickname had commented that he or she had experienced mental health issues when younger. They wrote that the person using this username had commented that he or she had experienced mental health issues when younger.
They believed that she had used the same nickname on Flickr, the photo-sharing website, and logged how she had posted “numerous” pictures of her paintings on it. They believed that she had used the same username on Flickr, the photo-sharing website, and logged how she had posted “numerous” pictures of her paintings on it.
The police also examined her professional work, recording that she was “an academic specialising in deep ecology and philosophy”.The police also examined her professional work, recording that she was “an academic specialising in deep ecology and philosophy”.
By January, there was no meaningful communication between de Jonge and police, and her complaints about their conduct grew.By January, there was no meaningful communication between de Jonge and police, and her complaints about their conduct grew.
That month, police placed her on the official register that was set up to record details of vulnerable adults. That month, police placed her on the official register that was set up to record details of vulnerable adults. Officers said de Jonge appeared to be experiencing “some mental health concerns” and “some compulsive/obsessive behaviour”.
Officers said de Jonge appeared to be experiencing “some mental health concerns” and “some compulsive/obsessive behaviour”.
After an internal investigation, police concluded last month that there was no evidence that de Jonge was mentally ill, but rejected her request to have her name removed from the register.After an internal investigation, police concluded last month that there was no evidence that de Jonge was mentally ill, but rejected her request to have her name removed from the register.
Police maintained that it was not unreasonable for them to “consider the possibility that there were some mental health concerns” as they were worried for her welfare.Police maintained that it was not unreasonable for them to “consider the possibility that there were some mental health concerns” as they were worried for her welfare.
Sussex Police added that Katy Bourne, the force’s police commissioner, had “oversight to ensure that all action taken by Sussex Police had been appropriate and proportionate in attempting to resolve the complaints”. Sussex police added that Katy Bourne, the force’s police commissioner, had “oversight to ensure that all action taken by Sussex police had been appropriate and proportionate in attempting to resolve the complaints”.