Joint Enterprise

Debate between Graham Stringer and Lucy Powell

Thursday 25th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[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.

[Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab)]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on bringing this important subject to the Floor of the House. I have had reason to represent one of my constituents, Jace Ryan Smith, who was convicted and sentenced to 31 years under joint enterprise. He was doubly punished recently because he was not allowed to go to his grandmother’s funeral, not because of anything he had done wrong but because Greater Manchester police thought he may become a victim of another gang. Is not the real problem with joint enterprise that people are punished and given long prison sentences of more than 30 years for actions they did not carry out themselves?

[Lucy Powell]

I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend.