The Transform Justice Podcast

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/

Sign up to the CourtWatch mailing list to be informed if volunteer applications open again:

https://transformjustice.eo.page/courtwatchlondon

Transform Justice

Website: www.transformjustice.org.uk

Twitter: @TransformJust1

Email: [email protected]

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

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: [email protected]

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

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: [email protected]

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

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: [email protected]

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

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: [email protected]

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

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: [email protected]

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.

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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

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: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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.

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: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

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.

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: ⁠[email protected]⁠

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.