There's been an interesting update in the Southport story...
Key reporter Charlie Astor-Bentley broke her two-month-long silence today.
Revelations and context:
https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/southports-latest-twist?r=el4t7&
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Key reporter Charlie Astor-Bentley broke her two-month-long silence today.
Revelations and context:
https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/southports-latest-twist?r=el4t7&
@TheStarkNakedBrief
news.starknakedbrief.co.uk
Southport’s Latest Twist
Reporter Charlie Astor-Bentley breaks her two-month-long silence.
Just received a reply to the FOI request I sent to West Midlands Police earlier this week, asking how many individuals had been visited by officers over their online speech activity...
Cutting the story short:
They stonewalled—just as many suspected.
But their swift response was telling.
After they rejected a wider request, I set very clear parameters of incident reports in a new request including visits not involving citizens suspected of committing speech-related offences but from concerns that those citizens might commit an offence in the future (or warned that their speech was close to committing an offence).
It followed the story of Helen Jones, a grandmother who was visited by two Greater Manchester police officers over a harassment complaint after she criticised local Labour councillors on Facebook.
Police knew no crime was committed but knocked on Jones' door anyway.
(Yep, that really happened. And no, it’s not isolated—dozens of similar incidents have emerged across the UK in recent years.)
West Midlands Police replied first by claiming the request would take too much time to process. Then, when the request was narrowed, they said they don’t store the relevant data in a way that’s easily accessible.
Two points:
1. If they're not archiving the reason or
motive for actions such as visits in an accessible way, how they can identify, track, and investigate cases appropriately themselves. Or, indeed, justify the visits.
2. If this is taken to the Information Commissioner’s Office—and they also stonewall, as they’ve done repeatedly for police and government departments before—it effectively gives law enforcement free pass to reject any FOI request they decide is too “time-consuming."
Certainly makes life easier for West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford (pictured).
For context: in January, The Telegraph revealed that police forces across the UK are collecting less data on key crimes than at any time in the past 15 years.
One striking example:
Between 2010 and 2024, the percentage of convicted child sex offenders whose ethnicity went unrecorded more than doubled—from 11.6% to 28.7%.
Question is... when does this stop being incompetence and start becoming criminal negligence?
Will keep trying and refining and altering requests to get the data. Still waiting on 5 other police forces to respond to same request.
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Cutting the story short:
They stonewalled—just as many suspected.
But their swift response was telling.
After they rejected a wider request, I set very clear parameters of incident reports in a new request including visits not involving citizens suspected of committing speech-related offences but from concerns that those citizens might commit an offence in the future (or warned that their speech was close to committing an offence).
It followed the story of Helen Jones, a grandmother who was visited by two Greater Manchester police officers over a harassment complaint after she criticised local Labour councillors on Facebook.
Police knew no crime was committed but knocked on Jones' door anyway.
(Yep, that really happened. And no, it’s not isolated—dozens of similar incidents have emerged across the UK in recent years.)
West Midlands Police replied first by claiming the request would take too much time to process. Then, when the request was narrowed, they said they don’t store the relevant data in a way that’s easily accessible.
Two points:
1. If they're not archiving the reason or
motive for actions such as visits in an accessible way, how they can identify, track, and investigate cases appropriately themselves. Or, indeed, justify the visits.
2. If this is taken to the Information Commissioner’s Office—and they also stonewall, as they’ve done repeatedly for police and government departments before—it effectively gives law enforcement free pass to reject any FOI request they decide is too “time-consuming."
Certainly makes life easier for West Midlands Police Chief Craig Guildford (pictured).
For context: in January, The Telegraph revealed that police forces across the UK are collecting less data on key crimes than at any time in the past 15 years.
One striking example:
Between 2010 and 2024, the percentage of convicted child sex offenders whose ethnicity went unrecorded more than doubled—from 11.6% to 28.7%.
Question is... when does this stop being incompetence and start becoming criminal negligence?
Will keep trying and refining and altering requests to get the data. Still waiting on 5 other police forces to respond to same request.
@TheStarkNakedBrief
❤1
Academic publishing is in crisis...
Now a multi-billion dollar industry where researchers pay journals to publish their papers, the old guarantees of quality and accuracy have been stripped away.
via https://dailysceptic.org/2025/03/25/publish-or-be-damned/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Now a multi-billion dollar industry where researchers pay journals to publish their papers, the old guarantees of quality and accuracy have been stripped away.
via https://dailysceptic.org/2025/03/25/publish-or-be-damned/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
The Daily Sceptic
Publish or Be Damned – The Daily Sceptic
Academic publishing is in crisis. Now a multi-billion dollar industry where researchers pay journals to publish their papers, the old guarantees of quality and accuracy have been stripped away, says John MacNab.
The CEO of Ofcom Melanie Dawes—a former "diversity champion" and Patchwork Foundation contributor—whose been firing off legal demands to various platforms and websites this week to combat "harmful" content under The Online Safety Act.
She been empowered like never before.
By result, these sites have been geo-blocking or shutting down completely. So us Brits can see less, do less, hear less.
It's censorship in the guise of safety. And it's likely only going to get worse...
@TheStarkNakedBrief
She been empowered like never before.
By result, these sites have been geo-blocking or shutting down completely. So us Brits can see less, do less, hear less.
It's censorship in the guise of safety. And it's likely only going to get worse...
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Also recently submitted a FOI request to Ofcom—the UK’s media regulator—about how it handles complaints across UK’s 8 biggest broadcasters.
Including:
BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky News, GB News, LBC, and TalkTV.
Info requested for each broadcaster:
- The total number of public complaints submitted to Ofcom.
- The number of complaints actually investigated under the Broadcasting Code.
- The number that resulted in a breach finding.
- And the number that led to a fine or financial penalty.
With Ofcom acting as the main enforcement body under the new Online Safety Act, the question of the extent of their bias couldn't be more urgent.
They’ve got the standard 20 working days to respond.
If the numbers show a pattern—tough on some outlets, lenient on others—it’ll be hard to argue that Ofcom is the neutral, apolitical regulator it claims to be.
For context, the Chief Executive of Ofcom, Melanie Dawes has already come under fire for bias regulation in recent years.
The former Permanent Secretary Champion for Diversity and Inclusion and Patchwork Foundation contributor has been accused of imposing inconsistent and selective fines for some outlets and unfairly dismissing complaints for others.
Could be very revealing.
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Including:
BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky News, GB News, LBC, and TalkTV.
Info requested for each broadcaster:
- The total number of public complaints submitted to Ofcom.
- The number of complaints actually investigated under the Broadcasting Code.
- The number that resulted in a breach finding.
- And the number that led to a fine or financial penalty.
With Ofcom acting as the main enforcement body under the new Online Safety Act, the question of the extent of their bias couldn't be more urgent.
They’ve got the standard 20 working days to respond.
If the numbers show a pattern—tough on some outlets, lenient on others—it’ll be hard to argue that Ofcom is the neutral, apolitical regulator it claims to be.
For context, the Chief Executive of Ofcom, Melanie Dawes has already come under fire for bias regulation in recent years.
The former Permanent Secretary Champion for Diversity and Inclusion and Patchwork Foundation contributor has been accused of imposing inconsistent and selective fines for some outlets and unfairly dismissing complaints for others.
Could be very revealing.
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Now the Sentencing Council plans to slash the penalties for illegally entering the UK, making deportations far harder. It's almost as though the judiciary has been captured by an unaccountable Leftist cabal.
via https://dailysceptic.org/2025/03/27/now-the-sentencing-council-waters-down-penalties-for-illegally-entering-the-uk-making-deportations-far-harder/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
via https://dailysceptic.org/2025/03/27/now-the-sentencing-council-waters-down-penalties-for-illegally-entering-the-uk-making-deportations-far-harder/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
The Daily Sceptic
Now the Sentencing Council Waters Down Penalties for Illegally Entering the UK, Making Deportations Far Harder – The Daily Sceptic
Now the Sentencing Council plans to slash the penalties for illegally entering the UK, making deportations far harder. It's almost as though the judiciary has been captured by an unaccountable Leftist cabal.
These are getting painful to read...
"A convicted Iranian sex offender has avoided deportation because drink and drug use have made him distrust authority.
Judges said the Iranian would be likely to behave in a “hostile” way if questioned by airport immigration officers in Tehran, because of his distrust of officialdom."
via https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/24/sex-offender-avoids-deportation-because-distrusts-authority/
@TheStarkeNakedBrief
"A convicted Iranian sex offender has avoided deportation because drink and drug use have made him distrust authority.
Judges said the Iranian would be likely to behave in a “hostile” way if questioned by airport immigration officers in Tehran, because of his distrust of officialdom."
via https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/24/sex-offender-avoids-deportation-because-distrusts-authority/
@TheStarkeNakedBrief
The Telegraph
Sex offender avoids deportation because he ‘distrusts authority’
Judges say the Iranian’s poor mental health might lead him to react negatively if questioned in his home country
Officers enforcing Labour’s workers’ rights overhaul will have the power to enter people’s homes and seize documents and laptops while investigating potential breaches of new laws.
via New workers’ rights bill allows officers to go into homes
https://www.thetimes.com/article/68cc3888-35d4-4c53-8924-9ca9b2c2e733?shareToken=9f7c84cce288ff39ed4aa6a2784ba327
@TheStarkNakedBrief
via New workers’ rights bill allows officers to go into homes
https://www.thetimes.com/article/68cc3888-35d4-4c53-8924-9ca9b2c2e733?shareToken=9f7c84cce288ff39ed4aa6a2784ba327
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Thetimes
New workers’ rights bill allows officers to go into homes
The Fair Work Agency, which will oversee new rights going to the Lords this week, would be granted powers of arrest on a par with the police
People mistakenly identified as Muslims could be victims of Islamophobia under Angela Rayner’s new definition.
via https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/24/non-muslims-victims-islamophobia-angela-rayner-definition/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
via https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/24/non-muslims-victims-islamophobia-angela-rayner-definition/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
The Telegraph
Non-Muslims could be victims of Islamophobia under Angela Rayner’s new terms
Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists could now be victims under definition put forward by Deputy Prime Minister
The Sentencing Council's recent actions caused a storm online and in the press.
Last night, they backtracked.
But it wasn't necessarily the rules that were the most worrying part of the whole saga.
Here's an honest attempt to breakdown the situation.
https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/the-most-interesting-event-in-the-15b
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Last night, they backtracked.
But it wasn't necessarily the rules that were the most worrying part of the whole saga.
Here's an honest attempt to breakdown the situation.
https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/the-most-interesting-event-in-the-15b
@TheStarkNakedBrief
news.starknakedbrief.co.uk
The Stark Naked Brief. | JJ Starky | Substack
Concise, investigative reports on the defining political issues of our time. Showing rather than telling. Former political strategist. Part-time citizen journalist. Based in 🇬🇧. Click to read "The Stark Naked Brief.", by JJ Starky, a Substack publication.
Recent European flooding is "unexceptional" from a historical point of view, a new scientific paper has found. Records show that flooding was far greater in the past, before human CO2 emissions rose, the authors conclude.
via https://dailysceptic.org/2025/04/03/recent-european-flooding-unexceptional-according-to-new-science-findings/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
via https://dailysceptic.org/2025/04/03/recent-european-flooding-unexceptional-according-to-new-science-findings/
@TheStarkNakedBrief
The Daily Sceptic
Recent European Flooding "Unexceptional", According to New Science Findings – The Daily Sceptic
Recent European flooding is "unexceptional" from a historical point of view, a new scientific paper has found. Records show that flooding was far greater in the past, before human CO2 emissions rose, the authors conclude.
While everyone was distracted by the Sentencing Council scandal, another power move had already been made.
Labour Justice Sec Mahmood and her dept quietly implemented a two-tier bail system in January.
And it's been in effect for months now.
Latest piece: https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/so-two-tier-sentencing-bad-but-two
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Labour Justice Sec Mahmood and her dept quietly implemented a two-tier bail system in January.
And it's been in effect for months now.
Latest piece: https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/so-two-tier-sentencing-bad-but-two
@TheStarkNakedBrief
news.starknakedbrief.co.uk
So Two Tier Sentencing Bad But Two Tier Bail Good?—Broken Britain
The Justice Secretary's words don't line up with her actions.
Just a reminder...
The BBC tried to spin the Adolescence saga so hard that they linked Andrew Tate to the Southport child-murders.
Their headline:
"Southport attack parents share Andrew Tate fears"
But 6 lines down from the headline, the author confesses:
"it is not know whether he (Rudakubana) ever viewed material linked to Mr Tate"
Why write an article on it then?
Still no word from them on the reported anti-white content found on Rudakubana’s laptop—which, if they’re willing to use flimsy links to tie Tate to the story, they should be covering as well.
via https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07zyrjrkvro
@TheStarkNakedBrief
The BBC tried to spin the Adolescence saga so hard that they linked Andrew Tate to the Southport child-murders.
Their headline:
"Southport attack parents share Andrew Tate fears"
But 6 lines down from the headline, the author confesses:
"it is not know whether he (Rudakubana) ever viewed material linked to Mr Tate"
Why write an article on it then?
Still no word from them on the reported anti-white content found on Rudakubana’s laptop—which, if they’re willing to use flimsy links to tie Tate to the story, they should be covering as well.
via https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07zyrjrkvro
@TheStarkNakedBrief
BBC News
Southport attack parents share Andrew Tate 'radicalisation' fears
The parents of Child A, who was stabbed 30 times, said preventing knife crime would take "hard work"
Back in January, Labour’s Yvette Cooper promised action on the grooming gang scandal.
Five independent local inquiries were pledged. Certain survivors weren’t fully satisfied—but it was something.
Now, they've quietly "killed" those promises.
via https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/labour-kills-local-grooming-gang
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Five independent local inquiries were pledged. Certain survivors weren’t fully satisfied—but it was something.
Now, they've quietly "killed" those promises.
via https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/labour-kills-local-grooming-gang
@TheStarkNakedBrief
news.starknakedbrief.co.uk
Labour "Kills" Local Grooming Gang Inquiries Before They Can Crawl
Broken promises, broken promises.
UK Police make 30 arrests a day for offensive online messages
Custody data obtained by The Times shows that officers are making about 12,000 arrests a year under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
According to the data obtained by The Times, the force with the highest number of arrests in 2023 was the Metropolitan Police (1,709), the largest force in the UK, followed by West Yorkshire (963) and Thames Valley (939). However, when adjusted for population, Leicestershire police had the highest rate of arrests per 100,000 with 83. Cumbria police was second (58) and Northamptonshire police third (50).
via https://www.thetimes.com/article/e4fce705-2a56-4e4a-aa04-0b55effb5bc0?shareToken=52cc6331b1181999140cd4c756470c19
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Custody data obtained by The Times shows that officers are making about 12,000 arrests a year under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
According to the data obtained by The Times, the force with the highest number of arrests in 2023 was the Metropolitan Police (1,709), the largest force in the UK, followed by West Yorkshire (963) and Thames Valley (939). However, when adjusted for population, Leicestershire police had the highest rate of arrests per 100,000 with 83. Cumbria police was second (58) and Northamptonshire police third (50).
via https://www.thetimes.com/article/e4fce705-2a56-4e4a-aa04-0b55effb5bc0?shareToken=52cc6331b1181999140cd4c756470c19
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Thetimes
Latest news & breaking headlines
The latest breaking UK, US, world, business and sport news from The Times and The Sunday Times. Go beyond today's headlines with in-depth analysis and comment.
Lucy Connolly’s case hasn’t gone away—and neither has the injustice.
Days ago, journalist Allison Pearson interviewed her husband, Ray, who shared previously undisclosed details about Lucy’s ordeal.
Here are some of the most harrowing—with added context.
via https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/lawyers-sickened-by-judiciarys-treatment
@TheStarkNakedBrief
Days ago, journalist Allison Pearson interviewed her husband, Ray, who shared previously undisclosed details about Lucy’s ordeal.
Here are some of the most harrowing—with added context.
via https://news.starknakedbrief.co.uk/p/lawyers-sickened-by-judiciarys-treatment
@TheStarkNakedBrief
news.starknakedbrief.co.uk
Lawyers "Sickened" by Judiciary's Treatment of Lucy Connolly—Non-Violent Southport Protestor Update
Key revelations from Allison Pearson's recent exposè in The Telegraph with some added context.