2018 Contribution Paper from Harriet Wistrich
Read moreWinner of the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2018 for Public Law
© Copyright:Robert Aberman - Photographer
Many congratulations to all the winners, and finalists of the 2018 LALYs. In particular, a massive congratulations to our director Harriet Wistrich for winning the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award. Harriet was recognised for a string of ground-breaking successes in the past year, including a Supreme Court ruling upholding human rights as a remedy for victims, where the police have failed to investigate sexual and violent crimes; and a ruling by the High Court that disclosing the criminal records of women convicted for prostitution offences, when they had been trafficked and groomed into sex work was a breach of their Article 8 rights.
Harriet was described by the compere, broadcaster Anna Jones, as 'a dogged champion of women and an inspiration to women'. We couldn't agree more...
© Copyright:Richard Gray/Rugfoot Industries
© Copyright:Robert Aberman - Photographer
© Copyright:Robert Aberman - Photographer
Mother of 22-Year Old Victim Challenges Decision Not to Prosecute Suspect for Her Death
Legal action issued against Crown Prosecution Service by family of 22-year-old Jourdain John-Baptiste in relation to 2015 balcony death
Read moreIn the news: Vulnerable Women Are Routinely Prosecuted – And Imprisoned – For False Rape Claims In The UK →
Buzzed investigates the real stories behind alleged false rape claims.
Read moreMOJ launches Female Offender Strategy - our statement
The Ministry of Justice has today published is long awaited Female Offender Strategy. Here is our statement on the strategy.
Read moreIn the news: Abandoned by the state: How the police fail survivors of sexual assault →
A study released today revealed that one in five festival goers have been subject to sexual harassment there, with the figure rising to 43% of women under 40. Campaigners say the report should be a wake-up call for the industry to “start treating sexual violence as seriously as other crimes.”
Read moreIn the news: Jourdain John-Baptiste: Legal challenge over death →
Ms John-Baptiste claim the witnesses "felt Jourdain was in fear of her life" and heard her screaming "somebody help me" shortly before her fall.
Read more#JusticeForJourdain
n August 2015, Jourdain died after falling from balcony during an argument with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was arrested at the scene and there followed a detailed police investigation which was referred to the CPS for a decision on charging him. Initially, the CPS said there was not enough evidence for a prosecution. The family were devastated and appealed that decision. The CPS then indicated they would prosecute for manslaughter but then reversed that decision yet again claiming the original decision was correct. Jourdain's mother, Tracey, is lodging a judicial review to challenge the CPS decision not to charge.
Read moreLondon Legal Walk 2018
Many thanks to the volunteers who walked the London Legal Walk with us. ...And a massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored us.
Read moreWomen who kill: Can you help with our research to ascertain whether and how women are discriminated against in the criminal justice system?
Justice for Women, in conjunction with the Centre for Women’s Justice, have commissioned a study examining the criminal justice response to women who kill men who have been abusive to them. The study aims to examine the impacts of the changes instituted in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and to identify the gaps that remain in order that outcomes for women who have killed abusive men can be further improved.
Read moreHelp us get justice for Jourdain →
We have launched a new campaign to challenge the CPS decision not to prosecute despite strong evidence surrounding Jourdain Baptiste’s death…and we need your help.
Read moreThe Times Lawyer of the Week →
Harriet Wistrich is this week’s The Times Lawyer of the Week
Read moreIn the news: Victims of sexual violence are right to fear another John Worboys →
by Harriet Wistrich for The Guardian
When the Parole Board decision to release John Worboyswas reported in the media in early January, I was asked to comment. This was because I was representing two of his victims, DSD and NBV, in a successful challengeof the police investigation under the Human Rights Act.
My clients had not been consulted, and first heard about the decision in the news. They were shocked and horrified. Both were convinced he would offend again and asked if there was anything they could do. Calls from many other victims followed; some had reported him previously but their cases were not prosecuted, others had never come forward before – but now felt compelled to do whatever they could to stop someone they believed remained a danger to women from being freed to offend again.
Full article here
Worboys: High Court rules that the Parole Board decision to release John Radford, formerly known as Worboys, is quashed and that Rule 25 of Parole Board Rules is unlawful
The Divisional Court today handed down judgment following a judicial review challenge brought by two of John Worboys’ victims known as DSD and NBV.
Read moreSex trade survivors win crucial victory : disclosure of soliciting convictions is a "disproportionate interference with private life" and "not in accordance with the law".
The High Court today handed down judgment in a ground breaking judicial review brought by three women formerly involved in prostitution, challenging the Government’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Regulations.
Read moreThe Win Against The Met Police Was Not Just A Victory For Worboys' Victims →
On 21 February 2018, the Supreme Court handed down an historic judgmentin a case brought against the Metropolitan Police by two women who had been victims of the serial sex offender and black taxi driver, John Worboys.
Read moreSupreme Court rule in favour of Worboys survivors
SUPREME COURT CONCLUDES THAT THE POLICE HAVE A LEGAL DUTY UNDER THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT TO EFFECTIVELY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF RAPE AND SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT IN WORBOYS CASE
The Supreme Court has today handed down judgment in a landmark case against the Metropolitan Police Service, brought by two women who were victims of John Worboys, “Black cab rapist”.
Read moreUpdate on 'Why was John Worboys granted parole? His victims need answers.'
Thanks to your amazing support, we have won the very first stage of the Judicial review challenge by achieving a stay on the release of Worboys until an urgent half-day hearing that will be listed between 6 to 8 February.
Read moreUpdate on CrowdJustice: 'Why was John Worboys granted parole? His victims need answers.'
So many thanks again from everyone involved in this case but particularly from DSD and NBV. They have truly been heartened by the support
Read more