Absolutely agree concerning jury trial rights. Been here before of course and, e.g.,i was the one who spread the word that Jack Straw had finally decided to restrict the scope of that right to prevent defendants electing trial to take human rights points (sic).
This time round as Sir Stephen Mitchell has identified the aim is to try to deter direct action in campaigns, however nonviolent.
I actually believe in addition that what passes for the establishment these days, including significant elements in the administration have jury trial per se in their sights; for any government, juries can be a thorough nuisance. But then, surely, lawyers and the cjs are there and have a duty to be a nuisance and to challenge ill thought out, self serving excuses for strategy?
As to the review of early release how can Andy B or anyone else even PRETEND to square the circle of over reliance on custody with malodorous, counterproductive and scarce prison spaces?
It’s still a welcome move, and shows a willingness to tackle underlying problems and avoid something which doesn’t solve them and would seriously undermine people’s rights.
Let’s hope Andy takes on board that it isn’t just about ‘Fair Trial’, it’s also about the massive problem of recruiting enough magistrates to cope with the original proposals, based on the stats of previous campaigns.
Absolutely agree concerning jury trial rights. Been here before of course and, e.g.,i was the one who spread the word that Jack Straw had finally decided to restrict the scope of that right to prevent defendants electing trial to take human rights points (sic).
This time round as Sir Stephen Mitchell has identified the aim is to try to deter direct action in campaigns, however nonviolent.
I actually believe in addition that what passes for the establishment these days, including significant elements in the administration have jury trial per se in their sights; for any government, juries can be a thorough nuisance. But then, surely, lawyers and the cjs are there and have a duty to be a nuisance and to challenge ill thought out, self serving excuses for strategy?
As to the review of early release how can Andy B or anyone else even PRETEND to square the circle of over reliance on custody with malodorous, counterproductive and scarce prison spaces?
It’s still a welcome move, and shows a willingness to tackle underlying problems and avoid something which doesn’t solve them and would seriously undermine people’s rights.
It seems as though Burnham is hitting exactly the same problems as Rhun ap Iorwerth, leading the new Welsh government.
Undoing the missteps taken by a previous Labour administration will be difficult and require careful thought and much planning.
Not easy, given the pressure to act quickly that will come from mainstream press.
I wonder if they'll find common cause in this?
Let’s hope Andy takes on board that it isn’t just about ‘Fair Trial’, it’s also about the massive problem of recruiting enough magistrates to cope with the original proposals, based on the stats of previous campaigns.