Presentation at Birkbeck on Wednesday 9 May 2012; 7 – 9pm.
Debbie Johnson, a student on Birkbeck’s MA Gender, Sexuality and Culture:
The Joint Enterprise Law
is hailed as the answer to ‘gang crime’ in Britain. However, an
alarming number of teenagers are currently serving life sentences for
being ‘guilty by association,’ or simply being ‘in the wrong place at
the wrong time.’ This includes being imprisoned for crimes they did not
commit, could not have foreseen, had no intention of committing or even
in numerous cases – tried to prevent happening.
JENGbA campaigners Gloria Morrison, Patricia Brown and Karen Horlock
spoke at Birkbeck last Wednesday evening about the implications of the
Joint Enterprise Law (JE) and why we should be concerned about its
current application.
The evening began with a short film detailing the history of JE. It
is a law over 300 years old for the prevention of illegal duels holding
equally culpable all in attendance, not only the combatants but also the
medics or any witnesses – they would all be ‘guilty by association.’
It is this law which has re-emerged as Britain’s answer to ‘gang crime.’
However, its current application is targeting large numbers of working
class families in Britain particularly those from Black, Asian and
Ethnic minority groups. JENGbA are campaigning for the reform of the Joint Enterprise Law.
Karen Horlock spoke first relating how the JE law had devastated her
family. Her son is serving a life sentence for a crime he did not
commit and despite having witnesses to testify that he was not present
at the crime, he was imprisoned because he knew some of the people
involved and by JE law is ‘guilty by association.’ Karen questioned why
her son – a 30 year old married man – has been imprisoned under an
archaic law supposedly used to prevent teenaged gang crime. Karen
further explained the impossibility of the appeal process; it is
inadmissible to use evidence used during the trial, you are required to
find fresh evidence ‘how do you find DNA evidence to prove you weren’t
there?’ said Karen to the stunned audience.
‘It encourages lazy policing,’ said JENGbA campaigner Sharon Spencer
sat in the audience, the police no longer need to find evidence, you are
guilty simply by knowing the person who is involved, ‘people have been
imprisoned for a phone call.’
Patricia Brown then spoke about her son. While walking home from
school with a friend, they were attacked by a much older boy, Patricia’s
son managed to break free, he was 15 years old at the time and ran home
scared. Later it was discovered that his friend had stabbed the older
boy. Patricia’s son was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a crime he
did not commit, was not present at and – as also required by JE law –
had no forethought or knowledge of. Patricia was visibly distressed,
speaking just above a whisper, she like Karen is still grappling with
the enormity, and pain of what has happened to her son.
Campaign Coordinator Gloria Morrison then gave what proved to be a
rousing finale to the evening. Gloria outlined JENGbA’s aim to not only
campaign for the reform of The Joint Enterprise Law but for solidarity
with all miscarriages of justice. Gloria cited many examples of social
injustice against working class people including the deaths in police
custody of Christopher Alder and Anthony Grainger. She invited everyone
present to JENGbA’s fundraiser on Tuesday 26 June 2012 and also an
upcoming presentation on Monday 21 May 2012 to include John Carlos who
performed the iconic black power salute at the 1968 Olympic Games,
Doreen Lawrence the mother of murdered Stephen Lawrence and Janet Alder
the sister of murdered Christopher Alder.
Liz Feteke – Director of Institute of Race Relations:
Room incredibly packed – must be seventy people.
Very diverse audience, age-wise, gender-wise, race-wise a real representative cross section of the population. People in the audience shaking their heads when they hear the sentences of the people convicted under JE.
Karen Horlock explains how JE works and what happened to her son, also the lack of evidence in JE cases, and the long term impact on the health and well being of her family.
Patricia then spoke of her son’s case and the media handling of a high profile case.
More people coming in as Gloria does her ‘state of the nation’ address on JE.
Questions are very challenging. One lady in the audience reveals that her godson has been sentenced for 18 months for a crime he did not commit, and he has gone off the rails now. A lot of focus on the media
Anna Foldvari, Birkbeck MA student:
We heard the voice of the voiceless. Thanks to JENGbA we heard how
frequently in the name of justice and order, injustice occurs in the UK.
The fact about the destruction of the lives of hundreds and thousands
of ordinary and innocent people and their families cannot be hidden
anymore. The horrid experiences of families and innocently imprisoned
people cannot be denied anymore because JENGbA and the amazing people
behind it raise their voice. They are here and they are campaigning
against an outdated, politically charged law which application is so
very often motivated by racism and middle-class anxieties. And because
change is desperately needed, responsible citizens cannot turn their
head away and cannot sit with their hands folded.”
