Analysis and comment on current developments by the Centre's staff, supporters and associates
It was the summer of 2000, and the then largest circulation Sunday newspaper, the News of the World, was in the middle of a high-profile ‘name and shame’ campaign against alleged paedophiles.
Over successive weekends, the newspaper published row after row of pictures of men convicted of child sexual abuse offences. If parents were aware of the paedophiles in their midst, the paper reasoned, they would be better able to protect their children.
Finally the issue of transgender prison policies has become news and can be debated.
It referred to a former prisoner, whose troubled life pitched her in and out of prison, hostels, living on the streets and confined to mental wards, “as serving a life sentence on the instalment plan”.
Reading this telling image prompted me to recall a memorable supervisory experience with Kyle (not his real name) during my time working as a probation officer in London.
The 150 Metropolitan Police officers "investigated over sexual misconduct or racism" relates to officers barred from public-facing roles. Also in the article:
There are over 40,000 police officers and staff in the Met, so the number being investigated is a tiny proportion. One per cent perhaps.
The strategy sets out our purpose: fostering “lively spaces for collaboration and learning, where conventional criminal justice policy agendas are scrutinised and challenged, fresh knowledge and ideas are discussed, and transformational solutions are developed”.
How fair and effective is it perceived to be? How well does sentencing meet the aspirations of the public?
Such were the emotions elicited by reading Peter App’s searing indictment of regulatory failure that resulted in the tragedy of the Grenfell fire of 2017. I also had convergent professional and personal memories evoked by Grenfell Tower that predated the fire, but which occurred within the shadow of the building.
General, Baron, Officer, life peer, David Ramsbotham was someone whose company, generosity, wit and endless passion for life, fairness and consistency I enjoyed over many years.
I'm quoted in the article, noting that “When the police appear unresponsive or indifferent, it corrodes public confidence and feeds cynicism”.
Policing across the UK, as in any country, faces major challenges, including systemic racism and misogyny, violence towards suspects, and corruption.
Speaking to the House of Commons Justice Committee earlier this week, he acknowledged the many problems with this dreadful sentence. He also told the Committee that, had he been an MP at the time the sentence was introduced in 2003, he would not have voted for it.
Perhaps.
Seven months on from our original report, why are we releasing a second edition?
The short answer is because we realised we did not get everything quite right the first time round. And in a subject as opaque and controversial as joint enterprise, clarity is much needed.
