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*Thread* I think it’s perhaps time to explain what has happened with IoJ and myself – I’ve taken a step away from social media for nearly a year now. The main reason being to fully rebuild a life away from an accusation that hung over me for such a large portion of my life. /1
It does sadden me to say that Annie and I both were consumed with commitments that made it impossible to dedicate the necessary amount of time to continue pushing for change the way we would want. /2
I'd like to take this tweet to do something I should have done at the time. I deeply apologise to those that we have not been able to help during this time. If anyone is looking for assistance in campaigning, I could not speak more highly of Annie who was fantastic throughout. /3
I have focused on a career once leaving university and my partner and I are both happily raising our little daughter who is nearly 5 months old. I'm now at a place where I feel I have a 'normal' life again and have never been happier! /4
But I have always said that when the time is right, I will always come back to campaigning and becoming involved in things again. I had hoped that perhaps things would change for the better whilst I took my break /5
And yet somehow, I feel the state of the Criminal Justice System is looking set to become even worse. So I feel now is a time to start discussing some (probably glaringly obvious) observations. /6
During our conferences I strongly strongly believed (and of course still do), in the campaigns that included or were led by @we_are_APPEAL @CU_Innocence @EddieGilfoyle @mobrien1967 to name but some. One that was strikingly simple was allowing access to evidence. /7
Unsurprisingly, the system (as always) ignored these issues and continued down the path of 'cutting costs' and 'convicting by any means.' We've been exposed to (particularly the police forces) a systemic approach which involves abusing power but failing justice. /8
I'm truly excited to see the exposure that @BarristerSecret's new series on Channel 4, which I am unbelievably sorry to have not taken part as it was just at the time my daughter was born! /9
However, my concern lies in the fact that, of late, the messages flooding my personal social media inbox's are yet again filled with people's stories of injustice. At a rate I have not seen before. I promised I would not give up on this fight. It's a promise I intend to keep /10
We seem to be stepping backward - exhibit A will be the uncertainty of what the removal of the forms for an accusers media data will mean for the accused; is this evidence no longer going to be pressed/will it no longer be considered evidence /11
I personally would have relished the opportunity and many others working on miscarriages of justice I'm sure would too, to have worked with someone like the @VictimsComm to find a solution that makes the investigation fair on all sides. /12
Though I have personally not had any dealings with the @VictimsComm; I remember a while ago there was a reference to protect innocently accused and in fact your predecessor once told me she considered people in our situation as victims. /13
I'll put this bluntly. Not a single word I have read would make me believe this is something you truly acknowledge. I in fact believe that there is a possibility you believe in the war generated by the media that it's the falsely accused vs the victims /14
I've stated this on numerous occasions that this should always be a joint effort. I am more than happy to discuss how this could happen @VictimsComm but should you choose not to respond or make a statement on innocent defendants then I must assume I am correct in my belief /15
@cpsuk @metpoliceuk @ccrcupdate or anyone else; I'd be fascinated if you would be able to point me in the direction of where I might find reports on what is being done now to combat pre and (very much specifically) post conviction disclosure. /16
@DavidLammy I've only ever read positive things and I believe the standpoint you've taken on a number of issues has been highly commendable. As the shadow secretary for justice I'd love the opportunity to discuss such issues with yourself, though I imagine now is not the time /17
@SuellaBraverman and @Michael_Ellis1 - as the attorney and solicitor generals, I would similarly relish the opportunity to discuss such issues; at a roundtable discussion that @IoJustice had previously requested. Again, perhaps time is not on your side but I hope some day /18
Coronavirus seems like it could just push the Justice System further into despair. It seems that the issues with Criminal Justice authorities is constantly pinned onto the US and the UK would never allow this to happen /19
Yet it's already been proven there is systemic racism, miscarriages of justice do happen and the our 'wonderful' system is just as prone to faults as the US system; particularly when funding is drained out of it and those in charge continue to ignore obvious failings /20
The first thing I would like to do - perhaps through a Facebook page to begin with or something similar is a 'knowledge hub.' I am about to sift through around a few hundred messages and I'm not going to know the answers to them all /21
It would be amazing to direct them into one space or ask the questions there myself to pass the information back to these individuals. /22
If any organisations, lawyers or barristers (I can only ask for involvement from people with these credentials for now) are interested in helping create this, please do send me a message and I hope to eventually create one big chat to allow us all to completely interact /23
For now, these are the main things I wanted to say and again I apologise for this time away stretching so long. I particularly wanted to announce that I hope to hear from a lot of organisations, barristers and lawyers soon. I hope everyone is well and thank you for reading! *End*
