Bradford show puts controversies of joint enterprise centre stage
The legal concept of joint enterprise has been used in the UK for decades. It allows a person to be jointly convicted of a crime – even if they didn't take part in the actual act.
It's controversial and many argue that it's used disproportionately against black men and boys.
It's the focus of a new show in Bradford as part of its status as UK City of Culture for 2025.
It sees a cast of rappers and DJs use drill music, grime and bassline to confront discrimination.
In response to some of the criticisms of joint enterprise in that report, the Ministry of Justice told us:
'We are aware of concerns that these prosecutions may disproportionately affect some communities. However, it is important that those who do commit crimes are brought to justice.
'We will continue to keep this matter under review.'
A warning, this report contains flashing lights.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
5 days ago
- ITV News
Michael Steele, triple killer convicted of 'Essex Boys' gangland murders, released from prison
A triple killer convicted of the "Essex Boys" gangland murders has been released from prison, the Ministry of Justice confirmed. Michael Steele was jailed for life in 1998 for the killings of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe, which he and his co-defendant Jack Whomes denied. The three men were found shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon, near Chelmsford, Essex, in 1995. In February, a Parole Board panel decided to free Steele, now in his 80s, because his imprisonment was 'no longer necessary for the protection of the public'. But Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood had challenged the decision and asked for his case to be reviewed again on the grounds the decision was legally irrational. The MoJ confirmed Steele was released in May. A spokesperson for the government department said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Craig Rolfe, Tony Tucker and Pat Tate. 'This decision was made by the independent Parole Board after a thorough risk assessment. 'Michael Steele will be on licence for the rest of his life, with strict conditions and intensive probation supervision. He faces an immediate return to prison if he breaks the rules.' The Parole Board decided Whomes, then aged 59, could be released in 2021. The killings took place after a row over a drug deal, prosecutors said, and the case later inspired the 2000 film Essex Boys, starring Sean Bean. The decision in February to release Steele came in the second review by the Parole Board following the end of his initial minimum term of 23 years' imprisonment. He had not been assessed as suitable for formal risk-reduction interventions while in prison, 'partly through lack of need and partly because he had maintained his innocence of involvement in the murders', the Parole Board's summary said. It added that risk factors for Steele at the time of his offending included his 'criminal lifestyle, involvement with drugs and association with the wrong people'. But the Parole Board also found that Steele's behaviour in prison had shown 'marked improvement' and none of the witnesses considered risks would be imminent if he was released into the community. Strict licence conditions were set out for Steele, including to live at a designated address, be of good behaviour, provide financial and business details, give up his passport, and be subject to electronic tagging and a specified curfew. There were additional restrictions relating to the use of electronic technology, contact with the media or other publications, and not to own a boat, plane or firearm.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Court transcripts: 'I want to know what went on in my rape trial'
A woman from East Sussex says she feels "kept in the dark" as she cannot access free transcripts from a trial in which her ex-partner was acquitted of raping her. Caroline - not her real name - did not attend the trial in person apart from to give evidence and feels a court transcript would help her understand how the jury came to their verdict. Victims of serious sexual assault in England and Wales whose attackers are found guilty no longer have to pay for transcripts of judge's sentencing remarks as part of a pilot scheme launched by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).The MoJ said: "We know the value transcripts can have for victims of rape and sexual offences." It said this was why the Lord Chancellor had confirmed that the pilot would be extended to improve transparency and support for Caroline's ex-partner was acquitted of the alleged rape and therefore did not receive sentencing remarks, she did not qualify for the scheme and would have had to pay £7,000 for the transcript. Caroline believes complainants whose trials do not result in guilty verdicts should also be eligible for a free copy of judge's summing up remarks."I don't know what went on in court," she said. "I don't know how the case was summed up. I don't know what the judge said. I'm completely in the dark about what went on," she said."We want to bring down the cost of transcriptions in criminal courts without compromising on accuracy and are looking at how to use emerging technology to do that," the MoJ spokesperson added. 'A right to choose' Caroline said she was advised by a police officer not to attend the trial, apart from to give evidence as it would "look odd" to the jury to have her sit in the public gallery after she had given evidence behind a of alleged sexual offences usually receive lifelong anonymity, including in court. Caroline felt that if she had attended court she would have had a better understanding of the trial. The Metropolitan Police said it was unable to comment on the claims around this case but it said there was no policy instructing officers to advise victims of rape, sexual or domestic abuse not to attend court after giving added that specially trained officers work with victims of rape, sexual and domestic abuse to ensure they feel safe and understand the process for giving evidence in court.A CPS spokesperson said: "Victims have a right to choose whether to attend the rest of a trial after they have given evidence and there is no CPS policy to advise them otherwise." If you are affected by any of the issues raised, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. Caroline said she felt suicidal at the end of the investigated access to the transcript to help her try and process what had happened but could not afford the £7,000 quoted to be able to read the transcript of the whole trial - less if she were to buy just part of the transcripts pilot was launched for those whose cases were heard at a Crown Court and designed to tackle the financial barrier many survivors face when trying to access information about their month, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would make the scheme permanent, but under review, as part of a package of measures "in pursuit of a justice system that serves victims". Caroline said she was shocked she would have to "get a loan or to pay a lot of money" if she wanted to access the judge's summing up remarks."It just feels wrong," she said. "It feels like a slap in the face."Caroline added that she had not "healed or moved on" because of all the "unanswered questions".
BBC News
30-05-2025
- BBC News
Rise in assaults on Holme House prison staff
Assaults on staff at a prison were "considerably higher" in 2024 than the previous year, inspectors have said. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said staff at HMP Holme House in Stockton were assaulted by prisoners 90 times in 2024, compared to 40 such incidents in said nine of the assaults last year were considered to be "serious". The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has been approached for comment. In a report published on Thursday, the IMB said there were 324 incidents of violence among prisoners in 2024 compared to 298 the previous year. 'Substance misuse' Inspectors also found that force was used by staff on prisoners 856 times in 2024, compared to 468 times in 2023 and 268 occurrences in 2022. They also said seven prisoners were each subject to force on more than 10 occasions that year, with force used on one particular prisoner 21 times that IMB also found a number of prisoners "under the influence of illicit substances" on each day of its inspections. "Substance misuse continues to be a significant problem in the prison," the report any one time, almost half of the prison population is being helped by a non-clinical drug recovery programme, the team report revealed that of the 1,350 prisoners released from the site last year, 112 individuals had no arranged accommodation for the night of their release.
