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[Stephanie Hall]

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/

[Stephanie Hall]

I want to start a petition to number 10.

It can't go on any longer! Too many innocent men & women are in our prisons whilst the real culprits walk free.

So many are being wrongly accused even though the evidence points away from them. The media, in my opinion of course are not helping in any of this...

I know thousands that will sign said petition and I also know many of these will act on it and come to 10 downing street.

I was hoping this petition could be "generic" in order to help bring everyone together and to cover the vast issues we are all faced with.

Please find a link to number 10's petition site to give you some idea of what others have done.

Any suggestions are welcome...

In the first instance, the victims and their families should not be allowed to have to suffer like they do.

http://petitions.number10

[John Lamberton]

You need to draft the wording for such a Petition, I am sure everyone will help to get a final version.

[Stephanie Hall]

You need to draft the wording for such a Petition, I am sure everyone will help to get a final version.

Found you.. Was hoping for more input from other traffic but not to worry am going to attempt to use the magic of facebook to get more people involved.

One subject that really needs addressing in my opinion is "DISCLOSURE"......

[John Lamberton]

Can I suggest Stephanie that you formulate a draft Petition including everything that you want to be considered and the rest of us can make changes or suggestions to it until we get it right?

You could also attach a tag to your profile so that every time you post elsewhere the reader can click on the tag and access the Petition without searching the Home Page.


Petition - Reform of our Justice System

[John Lamberton]

Can I suggest Stephanie that you formulate a draft Petition including everything that you want to be considered and the rest of us can make changes or suggestions to it until we get it right?

You could also attach a tag to your profile so that every time you post elsewhere the reader can click on the tag and access the Petition without searching the Home Page.


Petition - Reform of our Justice System

[Sandra Lean]

You probably know this, but the petition has to be worded very specifically, otherwise, it won't be addressed in parliament. Mad, but true!!

I'd suggest a focus on speed of remedial action. When it becomes apparent that the case is flawed, there needs to be some sort of fast-track system to have the case re-examined, rather than this endless legal pussyfooting around, tinkering with bits of rules here and there.

The stalling, procrastinating, obstructing, hiding, etc, etc, must be stopped. If the 'justice system' got it wrong in the first place, then it should not be left to the justice system to put it right. We need a completely independent body reviewing cases not on legal technicalities, but on what I suppose we could term 'natural justice.'

It's not good enough to say 'well, the trial was conducted properly, the rules were followed, so there is no miscarriage of justice' if the bloody evidence is all rubbish!

Sorry, but this makes me really, really mad. An independent body, with the power to say, yes, the rules were followed, the trial was conducted properly , but you had the wrong person in the dock.

While we have a system which studiously ignores this central problem, nothing is going to change.

The CCRC is not independent, it is hog tied by the rules imposed on what it can and cannot refer back.
Susan May's news today highlights that both perfectly and disgustingly - the main 'experts' have been discredited, the SIO has been discredited, and still they refuse to refer the case back.

Make the CCRC completely independent, change the terms under which they can refer, and put them as the first port of call after trial for those claiming wrongful conviction.

Just a few thoughts!

[Sandra Lean]

That same body should have both the right and the duty to highlight police misconduct and malpractice as well, ensuring that police officers who indulge in these are promptly and properly dealt with.

After all, the vast majority of wrongful convictions begin with the police getting it all wrong from the off - maybe the certain knowledge of prosecution would make them concentrate more fully on the task in hand?

[John Lamberton]

That same body should have both the right and the duty to highlight police misconduct and malpractice as well, ensuring that police officers who indulge in these are promptly and properly dealt with.

After all, the vast majority of wrongful convictions begin with the police getting it all wrong from the off - maybe the certain knowledge of prosecution would make them concentrate more fully on the task in hand?

I think that if cops knew they would be prosecuted they would make dam sure they got it right the first time.

This should also apply to Lawyers and Advocates, Crown officials, Sheriffs and Judges.


Wasn't there some law, since repealed, whereby you couldn't raise a civil case against an Advocate as they had immunity from prosecution for incompetence??  Can you now raise an action against a Sheriff or a Judge??

I wonder who would hear such a case??   ...one of their pals!!

[Sandra Lean]

So, we now have discolsure and accountability to be included. In Scotland, we also need, absolutely, the right of access to case papers - in Scotland, the case papers "belong" to the solicitor - he can choose what to show his client and what not to show his client, without even telling the client that this is what he is doing.

Also in Scotland, the disgraceful section 14 interviews (detained - as in not attending voluntarily, but no right to have a solicitor present.) In 2010??

Maybe we're going to need 2 petitions, one for England and Wales, and one for Scotland?

[Sandra Lean]

oops, sorry, people - I just remembered this petition is a petition to No 10!!!

[admin]

So, we now have disclosure and accountability to be included. In Scotland, we also need, absolutely, the right of access to case papers - in Scotland, the case papers "belong" to the solicitor - he can choose what to show his client and what not to show his client, without even telling the client that this is what he is doing.

Also in Scotland, the disgraceful section 14 interviews (detained - as in not attending voluntarily, but no right to have a solicitor present.) In 2010??

Maybe we're going to need 2 petitions, one for England and Wales, and one for Scotland?

Well there are differences in the systems and so it stands to reason that any reform will need to address alternative issues in each. Obviously there are some matters which would be the same or at least similar but guilt by majority of 8-7 in Scotland for example doesn't apply to England/Wales or any other developed country for that matter.

Maybe we should have one for No. 10 and one for Holyrood?

[Sandra Lean]

I have just had a message saying that the new government has closed down e-petitions until it "investigates" them. I haven't had time to check out if this is correct or not, and won't have today, but if it's true, then that is utterly ludicrous.

Anyone know anything about this?

[John Lamberton]

With a new Government in place a review is taking place of on-line services, including e-petitions. We are committed to improving the e-petitions process and are looking at ways of ensuring that it functions as part of a cohesive approach to public debate and transparent government. A full announcement on how we plan to use these and other services across Government will be made as soon as this important work is completed.

Existing e-petitions, submitted to the previous administration, will not be carried forward to the new administration as part of this process. E-petitions that were live at the time of the election announcement on 6 April, when the e-petitions system was suspended, will therefore not be reopened for signatures. We will respond to e-petitions that had exceeded the 500 signature threshold as of 6 April 2010.

We will welcome resubmission on issues of concern to the improved e-petitions system when it is launched later in 2010.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/

[Sandra Lean]

Feeling a little silly now...... maybe if I'd read the link in the first place!

Thanks John, sorry everyone - Sandra having a blonde moment!!!