The Transform Justice Podcast

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The US has guns, we have knives. Knife crime is often at the centre of our dialogue around crime, public safety, and urban youth culture. But is it on the rise?

In this episode hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Jon Yates, chief executive of the Youth Endowment Fund, and Craig Pinkney, criminologoist and urban youth specialist. They discuss the loaded dialogue around knife crime, why people carry knives, and what could be done to reduce these crimes.

Jon Yates @YouthEndowFund

Read the latest report from the Youth Endowment Fund: https://youthendowmentfund.org.uk/reports/beyond-the-headlines-2024/

Craig Pinkney @RealActionUK

Watch Craig’s TED talk on the roots of youth violence here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=uWNTMmktoCQ

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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With a general election just around the corner, all eyes are on the parties’ plans for a new government. In this special election episode, our hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation to discuss the parties’ plans for justice.

Will more police, more prisons, and harsher punishments fix a justice system on its knees? And will a new government listen to the evidence around what works to reduce crime and prevent reoffending?

This episode was recorded on 6 June 2024, before any manifestos were published.

Rick Muir @rickmuir1

Find our more about Rick’s work at the UK’s policing think tank here: https://www.police-foundation.org.uk/

Further Resources
Lib Dem manifesto: https://www.libdems.org.uk/manifesto

Transform Justice
Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: ⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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Last year, 82 volunteers armed with booklets, pens and a desire to see justice in action took to London's magistrates' courts and observed over 1000 hearings. They diligently recorded what they saw and heard, and provided Transform Justice with a wealth of insights into the often unseen goings-on of the magistrates' courts.

In this episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by passionate volunteer courtwatcher Premila Trivedi and senior lecturer and criminal justice researcher Becky Clarke of Manchester Metropolitan University. Together, they draw on the project findings as well as their own personal experiences to explore some critical questions: what challenges do court observers and defendants face in the magistrates' courts? How efficient and accessible are the courts, and are judgements fair and consistent?

Premila Trivedi

Premila is one of 82 volunteers who attended magistrates' courts around London from July to December 2023 contributed data to the CourtWatch London reports.

Becky Clarke @beckyjoyC

Learn more about Becky's work here:

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/research/groups/the-justice-project-sites-of-resistance

Further Resources

Read and download all three CourtWatch London reports here:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/focus-areas/courtwatch-london/

https://transformjustice.eo.page/courtwatchlondon

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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No one wants to be a victim of a scam, especially in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. Yet, whether it's phishing, benefit fraud, insurance scams, or online romance cons, fraud is only on the rise and now constitutes over 40% of all crime in the UK.

In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by experts Nicola Harding, CEO of We Fight Fraud, and Michael Levi, Professor of Criminology at Cardiff University. Drawing on years of research as well as personal experience, they explore what's causing fraud to skyrocket, and what could be done to curb it.

Dr Nicola Harding @NicolaAHarding

Find out more about Nicola's organisation We Fight Fraud here: https://www.wefightfraud.org/

And explore Nicola's academic research here:

https://www.research.lancs.ac.uk/portal/en/people/nicola-harding(0be522e0-d281-44cf-8250-1d342c5f6bd0)/publications.html

Professor Michael Levi

Explore Michael's academic research here:

https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/levi

Further Resources

CIFAS survey:

https://www.cifas.org.uk/newsroom/fraudbehaviours23

Fair4All Finance and We Fight Fraud report:

https://fair4allfinance.org.uk/resources/as-one-door-closes-report/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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There are now more than 200,000 people on probation across England and Wales. The original duties of a probation officer were clear-cut: 'advise, assist, and befriend.'

But with staff shortages and unmanageable caseloads leading to limited contact time, and power imbalance built into each interaction, are probation officers able to develop meaningful relationships and help people to turn their lives around? Or is the system actually pushing people back into prison?

Joining hosts Rob and Penelope to discuss the ins and outs of probation are writer and speaker David Shipley who spent more than two years on probation, and community justice lecturer and former probation officer Julie Eden-Barnard.

David Shipley @ShipleyWrites

Read David's blog on probation here:

https://probationmatters.blogspot.com/2023/12/being-on-licence.html

And find out more about his work on his website:

https://www.david-shipley.com/

Julie Eden-Barnard @Julie_Eden

See Julie's academic work here: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/academic-staff/health-and-life-sciences/julie-eden-barnard/julie-eden-barnard.aspx

Further Resources

Read our report on the localisation of justice services here:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Close-to-home.pdf

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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With prisons projected to hold 94,000 people by March 2025, and new miscarriages of justice emerging each week, it's clear our justice system is in crisis. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob dive deeper into a handful of the biggest issues facing our criminal justice system today.

Penelope talks us through the single justice procedure, recently brought to mainstream attention in the aftermath of the Post Office scandal. She explains exactly how this system works (or rather - doesn't), how it's failing vulnerable populations, and what can be done about it.

And with multiple justice bills going through parliament, Rob takes a look at exactly what is causing the prison population to keep rising. Is sentencing getting harsher? And what could the Sentencing Council do about it?

Penelope Gibbs @PenelopeGibbs2

Read Penelope's insight on the single justice procedure here:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight/should-those-who-allege-harm-prosecute-crimes-against-them/

Rob Allen @RobRobAllen

Read Rob's Transform Justice report 'The Sentencing Council and criminal justice: leading role or bit part player?' here:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TJ_November_2020_IA_3.pdf

Further resources

Read Tristan Kirk's most recent coverage on the single justice procedure:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/single-justice-procedure-magistrates-minister-mike-freer-unfair-convictions-b1142751.htm

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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It is estimated that over half the prison population is neurodivergent, including people who are autistic or have ADHD or a brain injury. Is society's failure to understand neurodivergence leading to disproportionate criminalisation?

In this episode, Rob and Penelope are joined by MP and former Lord Chancellor Sir Robert Buckland and Angela Kirwin, criminal justice author. They discuss the factors that cause neurodivergent people to come into contact with the justice system, how they experience prison differently, and efforts to promote neuroinclusion across justice.

Sir Robert Buckland @RobertBuckland

Read the inspectorate report commissioned by Sir Robert here: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Neurodiversity-evidence-review-web-2021.pdf

Angela Kirwin @AngelaKirwinUK

Read Angela’s book ‘Criminal’ here: https://geni.us/CriminalPB

Further resources

Read the User Voice Report ‘Not Naughty, Stupid or Bad’ here:

https://www.uservoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/User_Voice_Neurodiversity_Dec_2023.pdf

Read the Transform Justice report on assaults on emergency workers here:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/publication/protecting-the-protectors-do-criminal-sanctions-reduce-violence-against-police-and-nhs-staff/

Read the Transform Justice archive on insights related to neurodiversity here:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight-tag/neurodivergence/

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.

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This episode was recorded in October 2023.

Tens of thousands of people are released from prison each year in England and Wales - but many of them return to the outside world without safe and appropriate housing waiting for them. Some are forced into unsafe living situations, others become homeless, and some may even reoffend in order to return to the relative stability of prison.

In this eye-opening episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by philanthropist and prison reformer Edwina Grosvenor and author, former prisoner and Own Merit co-founder Steve Gallant to discuss how and why the justice system is failing prison leavers. They explain how they are taking matters into their own hands by creating positive and supportive spaces for former prisoners to live in as they work to reintegrate into society.

Edwina Grosvenor @EdwinaGrosvenor

Find out more about Edwina’s organisation One Small Thing here:

https://onesmallthing.org.uk/

And learn more about Hope Street here:

https://onesmallthing.org.uk/hopestreet

Steve Gallant QGM @SteGallant

Find out more about Steve’s organisation Own Merit here:

https://ownmerit.org/

Read Steve’s book The Road to London Bridge here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-road-to-london-bridge/steve-gallant/9781399604857

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Mountford Chambers for use of their space.

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Content warning: this episode discusses reporting and court processes for sexual abuse. No graphic descriptions of sexual abuse are included.

Rape is widely acknowledged as one of the worst crimes someone can commit. So why do so few reports of rape result in a conviction?

In this difficult but important episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by criminologist Betsy Stanko OBE and criminal and human rights barrister Kirsty Brimelow KC dive into the intricacies of the reporting and prosecution of sexual assault in the UK. They discuss whether police, the justice system, or juries are failing victims, and what needs to be done to ensure justice.

Betsy Stanko OBE @BetsyTwicks

Read more about Operation Soteria Bluestone here: https://www.npcc.police.uk/our-work/violence-against-women-and-girls/operation-soteria/

Kirsty Brimelow KC @Kirsty_Brimelow

See Kirsty's bio here: https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers/kirsty-brimelow-kc

Resources

Richard Henriques report: https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/other_information/corporate/mps-publication-chapters-1---3-sir-richard-henriques-report.pdf

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Content is Queen studio.

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Many of our political leaders seem hell-bent on increasing conviction rates as well as sentence lengths for many crimes. But why? In this episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Rory Stewart, former prisons Minister and co-presenter of the Rest is Politics podcast, and Stephen Bush, associate editor at the Financial Times.

We explore how the last few decades of roller-coaster British politics have impacted the criminal justice system, what role the media and public opinion have to play in these contentious issues, and whether criminal justice has become the sacrificial lamb in the long march to Westminster.

This episode was recorded on 8th November 2023.

Rory Stewart @RoryStewartUK

Listen to Rory’s podcast The Rest is Politics with Alistair Campbell here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ysx8g1Iw42gESAtegrFaH

Read Rory’s book here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/442034/politics-on-the-edge-by-stewart-rory/9781787332713

Stephen Bush @stephenkb

Subscribe to Stephen’s award-winning daily newsletter Inside Politics here: https://www.ft.com/stephen-bush

Resources

Justice Committee Report on public opinion on sentencing: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmjust/305/report.html

Longford Lecture: https://www.longfordtrust.org/longford-lecture/next-longford-lecture/

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Content is Queen studio.

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The wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson has been making headlines since summer. But did you know that more than 1,500 potential miscarriages of justice are sent to the Criminal Cases Review Commission each year? Even more shockingly, less than 30 of these actually make it back to the Court of Appeal.

In this episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Dr Jon Robins, freelance journalist, and Matt Foot, co-Director of Appeal, to discuss the uphill battle to overturn wrongful convictions, and what happens after someone is confirmed innocent.

Jon Robins @JusticeGap

Read Jon’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guilty-Until-Proven-Innocent-Robins/dp/1785903691

Read more about miscarriages of justice here: https://www.thejusticegap.com/category/miscarriages-of-justice/

Matt Foot @we_are_APPEAL

Read more about Appeal’s work on miscarriage of justice cases: https://appeal.org.uk/andy-malkinson

Cases mentioned:

Andy Malkinson

Victor Nealon

Eddie Gilfoyle

Tony Stock

Omar Benguit

Sam Hallam

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Mountford Chambers for use of their space.

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Problem-solving courts have long been hailed as a progressive alternative to traditional punishment. In theory, these experimental courtrooms recognise and address the root causes of crime and humanise those who come into contact with the criminal justice system. And some research shows they lead to better outcomes. But today we ask: are problem-solving courts the answer, or are they a barrier to putting resources where they really need to be?

Hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Phil Bowen, Director for the Centre for Justice Innovation, and Jocelyn Simonson, Professor at Brooklyn Law School. They discuss why problem-solving courts have continued to attract interest, how they measure up to traditional forms of punishment, and where we should focus our efforts if we want to reduce crime.

Phil Bowen @CJInnovation

Read more about problem-solving courts and Phil’s work here: https://justiceinnovation.org/areas-of-focus/problem-solving-courts

Jocelyn Simonson @j_simonson

Order Jocelyn’s new book ‘Radical Acts of Justice: How Ordinary People Are Dismantling Mass Incarceration’ here: https://thenewpress.com/books/radical-acts-of-justice

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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In this experimental episode of the Transform Justice podcast, hosts Penelope and Rob ask each other questions about their areas of expertise. Covering broad ground from prison overcrowding to the court backlog and digital justice, our hosts paint a picture of a justice system in crisis.

This episode asks why can't our justice system cope? And will current proposals help or hinder progress towards a fairer future for justice?

Sign up for CourtWatch London

https://transformjustice.eo.page/courtwatchlondon

Penelope Gibbs @PenelopeGibbs2

Find Penelope's work on courts and digital justice here: https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/podcast-insights/?news_category=insight

Rob Allen @RobRobAllen

Read Rob's blog here: http://reformingprisons.blogspot.com/

Further resources:

Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP/YOI Norwich:

https://imb.org.uk/document/norwich-2022-23-annual-report/

Less is more – the case for dealing with offences out of court:

https://www.transformjustice.org.uk/publication/less-is-more-the-case-for-dealing-with-offences-out-of-court/

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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Abundant evidence shows that the criminal justice system disproportionately impacts minoritised communities, and many reports have made recommendations to tackle discrimination in the courts. Yet racist treatment of lawyers, defendants, witnesses, and even judges by other court actors persists.

In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Abimbola Johnson, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and Keir Monteith KC of Garden Court Chambers to discuss institutional racism in the criminal justice system and what steps must be taken for the judiciary to become anti-racist.

Abimbola Johnson @BarristerAbi

Learn more about Abimbola's work here: https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers/abimbola-johnson

Keir Monteith KC @gardencourtlaw

Read 'Racial Bias and the Bench', the report Keir co-authored with Professor Eithne Quinn et al, here: https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=64125

Further Resources

Baroness Casey Review: https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/met/about-us/baroness-casey-review/update-march-2023/baroness-casey-review-march-2023a.pdf

The Lammy Review: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643001/lammy-review-final-report.pdf

Transform Justice

Website: ⁠www.transformjustice.org.uk⁠

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: ⁠policy@transformjustice.org.uk⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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PLEASE NOTE: This episode contains detailed and sometimes graphic descriptions of domestic abuse.

Although public awareness of domestic abuse has risen in recent decades, it remains a widespread issue. How the police and courts should respond to cases of domestic abuse is a huge topic of discussion within criminal justice, and many feel current processes do not do enough to support survivors.

In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Janika Cartwright, who survived an attempt on her life by her ex-partner and is a passionate advocate for restorative justice, and Jackie Sebire, retired police officer and co-author of Policing Domestic Abuse.

They discuss the nuances of domestic abuse, why people experiencing it may not go to the police, and what needs to be changed to prevent it where possible, and provide a better response to survivors when it does happen.

Janika Cartwright

Read more about restorative justice for domestic abuse and Why Me? here: https://why-me.org/our-work/our-projects/restorative-justice-for-survivors-of-domestic-and-sexual-violence/

Jackie Sebire

Read Police Domestic Abuse: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Policing-Domestic-Abuse-Routledge-Knowledge/dp/0367684152

Further Resources

Project CARA: https://hamptontrust.org.uk/program/cara/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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Should asking for 50p or feeding pigeons land you in prison? In this episode we discuss anti-social behaviour injunctions, and the harsh outcomes that can occur when they are breached.

Hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Dr Rona Epstein, researcher at Coventry Law School, and James Stark, barrister. They share cases which resulted in disproportionately severe punishment, and question current approaches to anti-social behaviour.

Dr Rona Epstein @CovLawSchool

Read some of Rona’s recent work here: https://www.thejusticegap.com/anti-social-behaviour-law-punishing-the-poor-and-vulnerable/

James Stark @JHASTARKBAR

Read the Civil Justice Council report for which James was on the working party here: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ASBI-final-accessible.pdf

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1 Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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There are wonderful success stories of people using time in prison to pursue education, learn new skills, and even earn degrees. But the reality of prison education is a lot more complex than many realise. Between staff shortages, waitlists, and limited resources, accessing appropriate education on the inside can be a minefield. In this episode, guests David Breakspear, peer mentor at Revolving Doors, and Ian Merrill, CEO of Shannon Trust, discuss the challenges facing prison education and why it is essential for promoting independence and improving opportunities for people in prison.

David Breakspear @RevDoors

Find David's writing, TEDx talk and more here: https://journeyofareformedman.wordpress.com/

Ian Merrill @Shannon_Trust

Learn more about Shannon Trust's programmes and sign up to volunteer here: https://www.shannontrust.org.uk/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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"Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done." Lord Hewart's oft-quoted phrase is just as relevant almost 100 years on. In this episode, we ask how transparent justice processes are in two courts - the Court of Protection and the Family Court.

Hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Sanchia Berg, BBC radio correspondent, and Celia Kitzinger, co-director of the Open Justice Court of Protection Project to discuss if and why some cases need to be shielded from public observation, barriers to accessing court hearings, and what could be improved to ensure that justice truly is seen to be done.

Sanchia Berg @Sanchia7Read Sanchia’s article about the pilot scheme for reporting in the family court: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64411229

Celia Kitzinger @KitzingerCeliaRead the blog post that started the Open Justice Court of Protection Project here: https://transparencyproject.org.uk/remote-justice-a-family-perspective/

Open Justice Court of Protection Project @OpenJusticeCoPhttps://openjusticecourtofprotection.org/about/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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The notorious Post Office scandal saw a thousand people falsely accused of theft or false accounting because of a known computer system bug. The Post Office itself conducted the investigations and prosecutions which left some of its former employees imprisoned or bankrupt. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Paul Marshall, barrister, and Richard Moorhead, Professor of Law at Exeter University to discuss how and why these events unfolded and why it took twenty years to uncover the truth.

Paul Marshall @cornerstonebarr

Read Paul's professional profile here: https://cornerstonebarristers.com/barrister/paul-marshall/

Richard Moorhead @RichardMoorhead

Read more of Richard's thoughts here: https://lawyerwatch.wordpress.com/author/lawyerwatch/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk
Twitter: @TransformJust1
Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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More than 12 million people in England and Wales have a criminal record, many for old or minor offences. The vast majority have already moved on with their lives, but for many their criminal record still haunts them, preventing them from gaining employment or developing in their career. In this episode, our hosts Penelope and Rob bring together campaigning expertise from the UK and US contexts to discuss why the criminal records system is unfair and what needs to change. We hear from Jay Jordan, CEO of the Alliance for Safety and Justice in the US, and Chris Stacey, Director of Support and Development at Clinks, about the reality of living with a criminal record and campaigning efforts to build a fairer system on both sides of the pond.

Jay Jordan @misterjayjordanFind out more about Jay's work and the Time Done campaign here: https://www.timedone.org/

Chris Stacey @ChrisStaceyFind out more about Chris here: https://www.clinks.org/user/117928

Further resourcesJoin the FairChecks campaign for criminal records reform here: https://fairchecks.org.uk/
Follow the campaign on Twitter @FairChecks

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.ukTwitter: @TransformJust1
Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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Most crime has gone down in recent years, but police have been criticised for not resolving more of the crime that does happen. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob ask Richard Horton, retired police officer and prize-winning blogger, and Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation, what is preventing police from solving more crime. We discuss over-reliance on the police in cases better addressed by other public services, exacting recording standards, a changing crime landscape, and whether we should reallocate police funding to social services.

Richard Horton @iofivListen to Richard's Thin Blue Mind podcast here: https://audioboom.com/channels/4785119
View Richard's Night Jack blog archive here: https://web.archive.org/web/20090510125846/http://nightjack.wordpress.com/

Rick Muir @the_police_fdnRead the Police Foundation's strategic review of policing here: https://www.policingreview.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/srpew_final_report.pdf

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.ukTwitter: @TransformJust1
Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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In this episode. we discuss different ways of resolving crime without going to court and ask why these methods are little used or understood despite evidence showing they can have a positive impact on preventing reoffending.

Dr Peter Neyroud @pwneyroudLearn more about Peter’s work at https://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/People/peter-neyroud

Pavan Dhaliwal @RevDoorsVisit the Revolving Doors website for more information and resources https://revolving-doors.org.uk/

Transform Justice

Website:www.transformjustice.org.ukTwitter: @TransformJust1
Email:policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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Should parents be prosecuted when their children miss school? Stories of term-time holidays dominate the news on this subject, but in this episode Rob and Penelope hear from Ellie Costello, Director of Square Peg, and Polly Sweeney of Rook Irwin Sweeney about the reality of persistent absenteeism: chronic illness, waitlists, and impossible attendance expectations. We discuss whether prosecution is the answer when children are frequently absent from school and how law-abiding families can suddenly find themselves facing prosecution while trying to navigate life-changing circumstances such as bereavement and cancer diagnoses.

Ellie Costello @teamsquarepegLearn more about Ellie's work at https://www.teamsquarepeg.org/

Polly Sweeney @polly_sweeneySee Polly's bio at https://rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/?specialist=polly-sweeney

Further ResourcesListen to our dedicated episode on the single justice procedure here: https://anchor.fm/transform-justice/episodes/Ep1-Conveyor-belt-justice-e1jc541/a-a81l1ee

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.ukTwitter: @TransformJust1
Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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Can someone be convicted of murder if they weren't the one who wielded the knife? According to the legal doctrine known as joint enterprise, yes they can. In this episode Rob and Penelope are joined by Jan Cunliffe, Director of campaigning group JENGbA, and Nisha Waller, PhD researcher at the University of Oxford, to explore this controversial common law which can see ten children convicted for a crime carried out by just one of their number. They discuss the types of evidence used to imply guilt in joint enterprise cases, including claims of gang affiliation and lyrics from drill music, and perceived miscarriages of justice resulting from cases which see young boys given life sentences for crimes in which they had little to no involvement.

Jan Cunliffe @Jliffe

Find out more about Jan and the campaigning group JENGbA at https://jointenterprise.co/

Nisha Waller @NishaWaller4

Read more about Nisha's research at https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/people/nisha-waller-0

Further Resources

Read the Centre for Crime and Justice report 'The Usual Suspects' at https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/usual-suspects

Read a summary of the Jogee supreme court ruling at https://justice.org.uk/r-v-jogee-appellant/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.ukTwitter: @TransformJust1
Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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This week rather than talking about people accused or suspected of rule breaking, we ask why most people comply with rules and regulations most of the time. Our hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Tim Newburn, Professor of Criminology and Social Policy at LSE, and Adam Wagner, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers to discuss the prerequisites for social compliance, how norms such as smoking indoors changed over time, and the challenges presented by Covid-19. What can the pandemic tell us about public compliance in the UK?

Professor Tim Newburn @TimNewburn

Tim's book Orderly Britain can be found here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/tim-newburn/orderly-britain/9781472137968/

Adam Wagner @AdamWagner1

Adam's book Emergency State can be found here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/453539/emergency-state-by-wagner-adam/9781847927460

Further Resources

LSE research into Covid-19 compliance following the Dominic Cummings incident: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/public-compliance-covid19-june/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk**Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk**

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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It may sound like the plot of a Dickens novel, but there are children in the UK who are coerced by adults into performing criminal activity every day. In most cases, this involves children being tasked with selling or delivering illegal drugs. In this episode, our hosts are joined by Aika Stephenson, Legal Director of Just for Kids Law, and Dr Grace Robinson, an expert witness in cases involving child criminal exploitation. They discuss the characteristics that typically make children vulnerable to exploitation, how children are coerced into performing illegal activities, and how the justice system responds to such cases.

Aika Stephenson @Justforkidslaw

You can find out more about Aika's work, including a recent briefing exploring the relationship between school exclusions and child criminal exploitation, at www.justforkidslaw.org

Dr Grace Robinson @DrGraceRobinson

You can see some of Grace's recent work, including an article on the impact of Covid-19 on child criminal exploitation, here: https://www.blackboxresearchandconsultancy.com/recent-work

Further Resources

Crest Advisory report, County Lines: Breaking the Cycle bit.ly/CrestReport

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk**Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk**

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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The number of hate crimes recorded by police in England & Wales rose by over a quarter from 2021 to 2022. At the same time, some politicians have expressed concern that police are spending too much time investigating what Liz Truss has referred to as 'Twitter rows and hurt feelings'. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob discuss hate crime and how society should address it with Neil Chakraborti, Professor of Criminology at the University of Leicester, and Tony Burnett, CEO of Kick It Out, an organisation which tackles discrimination in football.

Neil Chakraborti @NeilChakraborti

View Neil's academic profile, including his extensive research on hate crime here: https://le.ac.uk/people/neil-chakraborti

Listen to Neil's Hidden Hate podcast here: https://hiddenhatepodcast.com/

Tony Burnett @kickitout

Learn more about Kick It Out and ways you can help make football a more inclusive sport here: https://www.kickitout.org/

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk**Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk**

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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Most experts agree that decriminalisation of drug possession and more robust social policy are the answer to drug-related harms. In December 2021 the government published a 10-year plan to tackle drug-related crime in the UK, aiming to cut supply and improve treatment options. But a new white paper building on this plan promises harsher-than-ever sanctions for recreational drug use, contrary to all evidence around what works to address this issue. In this episode, Rob and Penelope speak with Alex Stevens, Professor in Criminal Justice at the University of Kent, and Ian Birrell, journalist about the plans and ask whether the government is taking the right approach.

Professor Alex Stevens @AlexStevensKent

Find Alex's work on drugs policy, including his excellent TEDx talk, here: https://www.kent.ac.uk/social-policy-sociology-social-research/people/1536/stevens-alex

Ian Birrell @ianbirrell

See the full list of Ian's writing on drugs here: https://www.ianbirrell.com/category/public-policy/drugs/

Further Resources

The government's 10-year drugs plan: https://bit.ly/HarmToHope

The government's Swift, Certain, Tough white paper: https://bit.ly/SwiftCertainTough

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk**Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk**

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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So far, we've mainly discussed issues relating to people accused of crime. In this episode, we turn the tables and talk about what victims of crime really want. Hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Lucy Jaffé, Director of the charity Why me? and Darryn Frost, who witnessed the terror attack on London Bridge in 2019 and helped restrain the attacker until police arrived. In the context of the government's Victim's Bill - the first of its kind - we discuss the ways in which the justice system fails victims, and what could be done to truly empower people affected by crime, give them a voice in the aftermath, and help resolve the harm they've experienced.

Lucy Jaffé @whymeUK

Learn more about Lucy and find out about restorative justice on Why me?'s website: https://why-me.org/

Darryn Frost @DarrynFrost

Find out about Darryn's work supporting men leaving prison here: https://ownmerit.org/

Further Resources

Read the independent commission into the experience of victims and long term prisoners: https://bit.ly/ICEVLP

Read the government's draft Victims Bill here: https://bit.ly/VictimsBill

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk**Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: policy@transformjustice.org.uk**

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons. With thanks to Burges Salmon LLP for use of their space.

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In 2021 the government announced that it would dedicate £4 billion to building 20,000 new prison places by the mid-2020s. These plans have been faced with opposition from criminal justice experts and local communities. In this episode, Penelope and Rob are joined by Dr Kate Paradine, Chief Executive of Women in Prison and Nick Hardwick, Professor in Criminal Justice at Royal Holloway University of London to discuss why the government is expecting such an increase in the prison population, whether we need more prison places, and if the government can actually deliver on their proposals.

Kate Paradine @klparadine

Women in Prison (@WIP_live) are campaigning to stop new prison places for women. Find out more and join the campaign here.

Professor Nick Hardwick @nicklhardwick2

The Transform Justice Podcast: Recent Episodes

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