Frances Crook believes ‘politicians are still stuck in the 1950s’ when it comes to our criminal justice system. For 35 years, she has been at the helm of the Howard League for Penal Reform, trying to innovate and change the UK’s approach. Her time in charge is, this month, coming to an end. She joins Calum McCrae in the latest episode of the Justice Gap Podcast, to look back at
The Times recently reported that over 3 million people have been affected by what has become known as the ‘cladding scandal’. William Martin, a junior doctor and co-founder of the UK Cladding Action Group is one of them. After the devastating fire at Grenfell tower in 2017, it quickly became apparent that a huge number of leaseholders lived in properties that had similar ‘ACM’ cladding, which is now understood, accelerated
‘Kill the Bill’ is the rallying cry of a new movement resisting the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Gracie Bradley, interim director of Liberty, discusses this with Lucy Brisbane in the latest episode of the Justice Gap podcast. They examine why resistance to this Bill, and the broader attack on human rights and civil liberties in this moment, is so urgent and vital. On Mayday 2021, thousands of protesters
As a publication date has been confirmed for the long-awaited report into the unsolved murder of Cwmbran private detective Daniel Morgan, his brother talks to Calum McCrae in the latest episode of the Justice Gap podcast. Alastair Morgan has now been fighting for 34 years to reveal the truth behind one of the murkiest chapters in recent criminal history is reopened. Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has
An inquest is ‘a brutal process’, journalist and campaigner Dr. George Julian tells Calum McCrae in this week’s Justice Gap podcast. Julian shines light on what would otherwise be a hidden part of our justice system. She specialises in live tweeting coronial inquests into the deaths of learning disabled and autistic people. ‘It is very rare for an inquest to deliver “justice”,’ George Julian tells the Justice Gap. ‘Of the
It has taken ten years for Kate Wilson, the environmental campaigner deceived into a relationship with the undercover police officer Mark Kennedy, to have her day in court. This week, a specialist tribunal has been hearing how police bosses allowed and even encouraged officers into sexual relationships with activists that they were sent to spy on. KateWilson talks to Jon Robins in this week’s Justice Gap podcast produced by Calum
Miscarriages of justice cases like that of Oliver Campbell are the reason why we have an independent miscarriage of justice watchdog. In this week’s Justice Gap podcast, we talk to Oliver and his supporters about why they believe that in this case the Criminal Cases Review Commission has been more of a hindrance than a help. Calum McCrae and Jon Robins report Oliver Campbell was convicted of murder in 1991
The dwindling number of prosecutions of rape has led Human rights lawyer Harriet Wistrich to believe we have ‘virtually decriminalised’. Earlier in the year the legal charity that she founded, the Centre for Women’s Justice, brought a challenge in the courts against the Crown Prosecution Service’s rape charge policy on behalf of the End Violence Against Women Coalition. In this week’s episode, the campaigning feminist lawyer tells Calum McCrae why
One early March morning almost four years ago, 15 protestors broke the perimeter fence and entered a remote part of Stansted airport where a Titan aircraft was set to deport migrants to Nigeria and Ghana. The group were trying ‘to prevent deportees being killed’ and spark a debate about the morality of the Home Office’s use of chartered flights. They would end up being charged under legislation intended for terrorists.
Modern slavery is not what you think it is, Emily Kenway tells Jon Robins in this week’s Justice Gap podcast. Her new book begins with a quote from the former prime minister, then Home Secretary, Theresa May in 2016 involving William Wilberforce and setting out her determination to ‘rid our world of this barbaric evil’. The episode is produced by Calum McCrae. May said: ‘Just as it was Britain that
