Monthly News Bulletin
Email Bulletin February 2012
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?
The 2011 Una Padel Awards - For outstanding contribution and commitment in the field of criminal and social justice
The winner in the individual category was Justin Coleman, of Second Chance, with the highly commended award going to Frank Mullane, at Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse. In the organisational category, the winner was Birth Companions, with the highly commended award going to Ex-Cell Solutions. For more information visit: www.worksforfreedom.org.uk
The British Journal of Criminology (BJC), sentencing for murder: exploring public opinion
Barry Mitchell and Julian V. Roberts, in their paper; Sentencing for murder: Exploring Public knowledge and Public Opinion in England and Wales' test the assumption that anything less than life imprisonment for murder in England and Wales would lead to a loss of public confidence in the criminal justice system. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian's paper on `E-Resistance and Technological In/Security In Everyday Life: The Palestinian Case, analyses the roles played by Information Computer Technologies (ICT) and the internet in areas of conflict, specifically focusing on the Palestinian context in Jerusalem. British Journal of Criminology
OTHER STUFF
In need of a spacious area for holding meetings?
The ground floor meeting space at our Vauxhall office is available to hire at reasonable rates, for like minded organisations in need of a large open plan spacious area with flexible facilities. For more see Meeting Place
COMING UP
CJM seminar: `Riots, pure and simple?' Friday 20 April 2012 - 2pm - 3:30pm
Professor Tim Hope, from the University of Salford, Manchester, will be conducting an in-depth discussion on his themed section: `Riots, pure and simple', featured in the March 2012 CJM on the riots. If you would like to register an interest in attending this seminar please send an email to, Natalie Mazin at:
. Places are expected to fill up very quickly, so prompt registration is essential to ensure a personal invitation. The seminar will take place on the ground floor meeting area of our Vauxhall office at 2 Langley Lane, Vauxhall, London, SW8 1GB.
The Poverty of Punishment all day conference, Friday 30 March, 9am - 5pm, Middlesex University, Hendon Campus, London NW4 4BT
Some CCJS staff will be attending an all day conference at the Crime and Conflict Research Centre, where speakers will be addressing, from many angles, the cultures and philosophies of punishment, which include dreams of socialisation, impulses of revenge, social defence and deterrence. We are hoping to persuade some of them to write for future issues of Criminal Justice Matters. The event is free. For more information regarding this event see here
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS...
The Leveson Inquiry
Paul Dacre reads a quote from Mr Justice Tugendhat and Professor Tim Luckhurst on privacy and freedom of expression. See, The Guardian, (06/02/12)
London and North suffer largest spending cuts
According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), London and the North of England have suffered the most in local public service spending cuts while councils in other regions have `enjoyed witnessing spending increases'.
Brain injury rate is seven times greater amongst those incarcerated in the U.S.
Research has shown that prisoner's are suffering disproportionately from post traumatic brain injuries. To read the full report, see here
Law on harassment and stalking in need of `fundamental reform'
A report by the Justice Union's parliamentary group, has found that `laws on harassment and stalking are "not fit for purpose"'. Follow the link to see the full report
Home Office: Police and Crime Commissioners timeline
The document presents a timeline to show key stages in the police and crime commissioner's process. For more see the Home Office, (14/02/12)
Chris Preddie: From Finsbury Park to Buckingham Palace
Chris Preddie grew up on the fringes of gangs and drugs, and is the cousin of one of Damilola Taylor's killers. Yet, aged 24, he is being awarded an OBE for his youth work. Here, he talks about his past, his name, and his passion for motivating others. To view this interview, see The Guardian, (15/02/12)
The statistical bulletin on the public disorder of 6-9 August 2011
The statistical publication by the Ministry of Justice, provides extensive information on those brought before the courts for the offences relating to the public disorder between 6th-9th August 2011. Follow the link to view the full report
IN THE NEWS...
Daily Mirror time-bomb asbestos campaign
Following the end of a ground-breaking seven year investigation, British victims of dangerous asbestos leaks may feel they have received justice in the 16 year sentencing of the two former owners of the world's largest asbestos firms. Daily Mirror UK website for more see, The Mirror, (15/02/12)
G4S to build and run police station
From this April onwards, private contractors will be building police stations and will have the ultimate decision on staffing. The Financial Times, (13/02/12)
Higher rate of death in custody than official statistics have claimed
According to an investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The Independent (31/01/2012). For more see. Also see `police watchdog admitted system was ineffective. The Independent, (01/02/12)
No compensation for crime victims
Under new cuts, some victims of crime will no longer be awarded compensation. The Daily Mail (31/01/2012).
Also see `Motorists to face an increase in speeding fines to support victims of crime'. The Daily Telegraph, (31/01/12)
Police spies: watchdog calls for safeguards over `intrusive tactics'
A clandestine operation that secretly deployed police spies in political groups for 40 years. The Guardian, (02/02/12)
Police blunders give thousands criminal records for crimes they did not commit
At least 20,000 people have been `wrongly denounced as criminals' or accused of more serious crimes because of blunders by the police and Criminal Records Bureau. The Daily Mail, (02/02/12)
Racist Nation?
According to Bradford Council, 260 out of 334 reported cases of bullying by staff were deemed to be cases of racism. Telegraph & Argus, (30/01/12).
Furthermore `Chelsea captain John Terry will stand trial for alleged racist comments towards QPR Anton Ferdinand', BBC News, (01/02/12).
Also, `The struggle against police racism has got a lot harder', The Independent, (15/02/12) and `Premier League clubs to tackle online racial and homophobic abuse', The Guardian (23/02/2012)
New selective immigration policy
The government are to develop a `highly selective immigration policy' which will only allow `the right kind of migrants' to enter Britain. The Guardian (02/02/2012), also see New government plans to `tighten foreign student rules', The Financial Times (14/02/2012)
Good Ken, Bad Clarke? `Clean slate' plan to help workers with criminal past
Clarke is planning a radical reform of the `1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act' which will see the period during which ex-offenders are required to mention their criminal history to prospective employers, cut dramatically. The Guardian, (03/02/12), however, attempts made by the Justice Secretary to restrict female prisons being given time out of prison to see their children have been dismissed by a High Court judge. The Daily Telegraph (14/02/2012)
Anti-disabled abuse fuelled by benefit cuts
The governments focus on alleged fraud and over claiming to justify cuts in disability benefits has caused an increase in resentment and abuse directed at disabled people. The Guardian, (06/02/12). Also see case study: `I never qualified for disability benefits, yet I'm still called a faker'. The Guardian, (06/02/12)
Police in favour of EU arrest warrants
Scotland Yard have expressed concerns of the risks to policing if the UK chooses to opt out of the European Arrest Warrant. This comes as `Conservative backbenchers are calling for the government to repatriate' this European Union law. The Financial Times (07/02/2012)
Met admits illegally covering up hacking
The Metropolitan police have admitted it has unlawfully failed to tell high-profile individuals of their knowledge that voice messages had been hacked by News of the World. The Independent, (08/02/12)
Also see `police officers `paid £100,000 by Murdoch newspapers'. The Daily Telegraph, (08/02/12) & The Guardian, (08/02/12)
Majority of police job cuts `hit frontline'
According to Labour, 90 per cent of recent job losses in the police have hit frontline officers. The Daily Telegraph (09/02/2012)
Playing it by the book: Ex-con pens a prison guide for the uninitiated
First timer, Frankie Owens has written a book of guidance for the incarcerated and uninitiated, suggesting it is a book that he wishes he had been given to help him survive his time in jail. The Guardian, (15/02/12)
Illegal abortions and ghost patients
An inquiry has been launched by the Department of Health into `claims that some doctors are granting women illegal abortions based solely on the sex of their unborn baby'. The Guardian (23/02/2012), also see `2.5 million "ghost" patients on GP registers', The Daily Mail (23/02/2012)
Rough sleeping rises by 23 per cent
The number of people sleeping rough in England has risen to 2,181 from 1,768 between 2010 and 2011. The Independent, (24/02/12)
COMMENT(S) OF THE MONTH
The opposition to cuts/privatisation is essentially a proxy battle, while the real question is: `how can we move from a divisive, in-egalitarian and stultifying neo-liberalism towards a more equitable and nurturing society? - seems unasked, let alone answered'.
Will Self, The Guardian, (23/02/2012)
Is the US the only country where more men are raped than women?
Jill Filipovic, The Guardian, (21/02/12)
QUOTE(S) OF THE MONTH
John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab): In the light of previous answers, what exactly is the relationship between police numbers and the level of crime?
Mrs May: As we have made absolutely clear, there is no simple relationship between police numbers and the level of crime. The hon. Gentleman only has to look not only at UK examples, but across the world to see examples in which police numbers have gone up and crime has gone up, or police numbers have gone down and crime has gone down. There is no simple relationship.
Parliamentary Business, (06/02/12)
`The Met is devious, and the Met is questionable'
Sir John Prescott, The Independent, (13/02/12)