In March 2023, Ife Thompson, came to London South Bank University to talk to my international law and human rights students about her work as a community activist and lawyer for change. Ife, who was recently shortlisted as a newcomer of the year in the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards despite still only […]

One in six of the UK adult population is affected by hearing loss according to the British Academy of Audiology.  In jail that can compound problems and lead to the person not only suffering from hearing loss but being punished for related behaviours. I have worked in the past with deaf young people in prison […]

On 27 April 2023 MPs will debate Justice Committee’s report on the IPP sentence in Westminster Hall.  Since the Committee’s landmark report was published last year, one of my long-standing clients, John, has been released on parole. John (not his real name) has given me permission to share his story in the hope it will […]

The Victims and Prisoners Bill was laid on Wednesday 29 March 2023 by Dominic Raab, the former Secretary of State for Justice, just before Easter recess.  Its long title is: “A Bill to Make provision about victims of criminal conduct and others affected by criminal conduct; about the appointment and functions of individuals to act […]

13 December 2022 I have written extensively about the requirements imposed on HMPPS staff not to make recommendations about whether people going though parole should be released or progressed from closed to open conditions.  The changes have been confusing for people going through the process. It is difficult to fully explain the position to clients […]

It has been over three months since the Secretary of State banned his employees from giving recommendations to the Parole Board about whether someone should be released or progress to open conditions.  Various bits of guidance have been issued and published following Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests since then and a legal challenge mounted […]

On 16 November 2022, The Times published a short piece I wrote about prison legal aid lawyers becoming an endangered species, due to being left out of the modest increases in pay that have been made for other criminal legal aid work. This comes at a time when prison lawyers are needed more than ever […]

I recently wrote about changes to the Parole Board rules concerning the evidence it can receive from witnesses on behalf of the prison and probation service. Following an appeal to my freedom of information act request for all the relevant information issued to prison and probation staff, I have now received the document referred to […]

Imagine a court where a witness cannot state their honestly held belief when asked and the question goes to the heart of the case. Now, imagine that the issue the court has to consider is whether someone a court once found dangerous is safe to be out in the community. This is exactly the position […]