Publication

cjm 82: Violence of the British state

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

British state sanctioned violence is routine, for the most part unaccountable, and continues to wreak havoc on the lives of people in the UK and abroad, according to the authors who offer disturbing accounts of violence permitted under the watch of the British state.

Guest editor for this issue, David Whyte, accuses the British government of hiding behind claims of 'necessity' when defending involvement in a range of violent acts and, for some, creating a Kafkaesque world of trial without any possibility of justice.

In the topical section, David Scott considers the continued marginalisation of prisoners' rights and Julian Roberts reports on the new Sentencing Council.

In this edition

Tammy McGloughlin and Rebecca Roberts introduce this issue of cjm

By Tammy McGloughlin and Rebecca Roberts

David Whyte introduces this themed section and explores how narratives around state violence can be challenged

By David Whyte

Joe Sim explores how idealised constructions of the normal and the pathological legitimate state violence

By Joe Sim

David Whyte discusses why the Chilcot Inquiry will not hear the most readily available and concrete evidence of British government crimes

By David Whyte

Andrew Blick assesses how ‘fit for purpose’ the British constitution is for dealing with crimes of aggression

By Andrew Blick

Bill Rolston reflects on the Saville Inquiry and the PM’s apology

By Bill Rolston

Scott Poynting details the British state's involvement in kidnapping and torture

By Scott Poynting

Vicki Sentas explains how Britain’s proscription regime forecloses rights to self determination, fuels conflicts, and facilitates state terror

By Vicki Sentas

Hazel Cameron explores how an idealised history of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide has provided cover for Britain’s role in violence abroad

By Hazel Cameron

Joanna Gilmore describes a shift towards an increasingly authoritarian style of protest policing in Britain

By Joanna Gilmore

Deborah Coles details an absence of accountability for deaths in police custody

By Deborah Coles

Jon Burnett exposes the medical abuse of children in the immigration detention system

By Jon Burnett

Rebecca Roberts questions the use of language in criminal justice and introduces comments from Frances Crook, Jonathan Simon, Mike Nellis, Lizzie Seal, Simon Pemberton and Nils Christie

By Rebecca Roberts, Frances Crook, Jonathan Simon, Mike Nellis, Lizzie Seal, Simon Pemberton and Nils Christie

David Scott considers the continued marginalisation of prisoner rights

By David Scott

Rachel Herzing and Isaac Ontiveros describe the challenges for activists after the killing of Oscar Grant

By Rachel Herzing and Isaac Ontiveros

Julian Roberts reports on the formation of the new Sentencing Council

By Julian Roberts