Joint Enterprise

Debate between Barry Sheerman and Lucy Powell

Thursday 25th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I fully agree with my hon. Friend. We know it is at least that sort of figure—we do not have accurate figures.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. This crucial issue is a priority for the newly formed all-party parliamentary group on miscarriages of justice.

The particular case of Alex Henry is of great importance. I chair the Westminster Commission on Autism, and several people in this ghastly predicament are on the autism spectrum and have been taken totally out of care.

[Lucy Powell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that particular case, and I know the family are here today. The case has many of the hallmarks that we will come on to discuss.

We are now seeing a new generation of joint enterprise lifers in prison. The Supreme Court says it is

“the responsibility of the court to put the law right”.

But many of us have come to the conclusion that the criminal justice system will not right itself, and is not righting itself, in relation to joint enterprise, and that we need to act. That is why Members on both sides of the House have joined together to send a strong signal both to the Government and to prosecutors and others that the way in which we continue to apply the law and the incredibly high bar that has been set for previous unsafe convictions to be reheard need to be redressed.