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PROOF, ISSUE 1

Editors: Jon Robins and Brian Thornton

Designer: Andrew Stocks

Illustrator: Isobel Williams

Photographer: Andrew Aitchison

Subeditor: Guy Skelton

Publisher: Justice Gap

We are very grateful for the following for their generous support. Proof magazine was sponsored by Cardiff Law School’s Innocence Project. It was produced with the Winchester University’s crime and justice research centre. Thanks to QualitySolicitors Jordan.

You can buy here – £15, including P&P

JUSTICE IN A TIME OF MORAL PANIC

The first issue of Proof magazine is a collection of essays on the theme of Justice in a Time of Moral Panic from a range of contributors from a range of backgrounds and different, often contrasting views. Contributors were invited to write for the collection. They were sent a commissioning brief explaining the idea of the collection of essays based around a central theme of ‘justice and moral panic’.

The brief explained:

‘Above all, we want the collection to stimulate a debate about an important and difficult issue. As part of the broader JusticeGap project, we want to raise awareness about the important subject of miscarriages of justice and, in particular, the dangers of a pendulum swing towards the rights of victims at the expense of the rights of the accused.’

 

SALEM COMES TO SALISBURY

Contributors were free to agree, disagree and respond however they wanted to the brief.

From the introduction by David Jessel:

‘I admit that I thought ‘moral panic’ was pushing it a bit, when I was asked to write the introduction for this compilation brought together by the excellent (and indeed prize-winning) Justice Gap.
But as I sit down at the laptop, Radio 4 announces that the police are standing outside Ted Heath’s home and appealing for victims of the former prime minister’s sex crimes to come forward. Salem, it seems, has come to Salisbury. Only this time, the witch-hunt isn’t for the culprits – the search is for victims of crimes which haven’t yet even been alleged.’

 

CONTENTS

Something good has to come of this Simon Warr

In Memoriam Noel Hartnett David Rose

I don’t want to see new myths replace old Alison Saunders

Savile, Bryn Estyn & the danger of modern witch-hunts

Mark Barlow and Mark Newby

Justice cannot be time-limited Richard Scorer

Victim or complainant? Researching historic abuse allegations                      

Mark Smith, Steve Kirkwood, Clare Llewellyn, and Ros Burnett

Innocent until proven dead Susanne Cameron-Blackie

Victimology and ‘justice as therapy’ Barbara Hewson

The abuse pendulum Peter Garsden

Thinking the unthinkable Dennis Eady

‘Jihadi John’: how to make a moral panic Alan Grattan

Telling the truth about the scum Chris Horrie

Institutionalising miscarriages of justice Bob Woffinden

Justice, moral panic and the Irish Paul May

The ricin ‘terror plot’ that never was Fiona Bawdon

Does the press really need to depict kids as monsters? Penelope Gibbs

ISSUE 2, COMING SOON

Proof magazine, issue 2 (Out of sight) will explore the limits of open justice and those parts of the justice system hidden from view.