Latest news with #AsylumAid
Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Judge who let knife-wielding migrant stay in UK was on asylum seeker charity board
A judge who allowed a migrant convicted for drug dealing and sexual assault to stay in the UK is a former executive of a pro-asylum charity, it has been revealed. Judge Fiona Beach ruled that Christian Quadjovie was not a threat to the British public at a hearing last year. French-born Quadjovie has spent a total of 963 days behind bars in UK prisons since arriving in Britain at the age of 10. Quadjovie, who was set to be deported, was granted a reprieve by Judge Beach, an ex-director at Asylum Aid who represented migrants for free on behalf of the Bail for Immigration Detainees charity. The decision has since been overturned after government lawyers claimed her judgment was 'made against the weight of evidence'. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said Judge Beach's apparent conflict of interest 'undermines confidence' in the courts. 'Judges must be independent' He added: 'This is the latest example of an immigration judge with open borders views. 'The similarity between her decisions and the political views she has broadcast totally undermines confidence in the system. Judges must be independent.' Records show Judge Beach was a director of Asylum Aid between September 2004 and February 2007. She is understood to have stepped back from the group in December 2006 when appointed as a part-time judge. Quadjovie's case was first brought before her in April 2024. He was first convicted as a boy of 12 for sexually assaulting a girl under 13. In 2016, he was given a nine-month referral order for carrying a knife in public. Later that year, he was convicted of drug offences. He was detained for 30 months and caught with more drugs after his release. The Home Office tried to deport him, but he argued that he would not be able to reintegrate in France. Judge Beach's stated in the tribunal decision: 'The appellant had some support in the UK in the form of family support, potential access to education and public funds and access to housing assistance, yet found himself involved with gangs and drug dealing. 'The concern would be whether the appellant would slip back into the same way of earning money which he did in the UK, i.e. drug dealing. 'There is a real risk that this would occur again as a young man in France with few ties, no accommodation, no qualifications other than a GCSE in French and no employment experience on which to rely.' 'Not a serious threat to public security' The decision concluded: 'Taking account of all the evidence, I find that the evidence does not show that the appellant is a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to public policy or public security.' However, in October, Home Office lawyers said Ms Beach's judgment was made 'against the weight of evidence' and has since been overturned. A spokesman for the judiciary said: 'In each case, judges make decisions based on the evidence and arguments presented, and apply the law as it stands.' In a letter, seen by the Sun on Sunday, Mr Jenrick made a formal request to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office to probe whether Judge Beach had declared her previous roles. In an interview with The Telegraph last week, Mr Jenrick said it was time to sack what he called 'activist' judges. He said: 'If judges want to enter the political sphere themselves, then they should stop being judges and go into politics. 'We have to have a situation where judges who act politically and bring their own personal politics into their job as a judge are held to account and frankly, can be removed.'
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Judge who allowed knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in UK was on pro-asylum charity
A judge who controversially permitted a knife-wielding drug dealer to remain in Britain was once on the board of a pro-asylum charity. Fiona Beach found that Christian Quadjovie, 26, was not a threat to the public despite a string of convictions including for sexual assault, carrying a knife and repeat drug offences. The French-born criminal has spent a total of 963 days in prison since arriving in the UK in 2009 at the age of ten. But he was granted a reprieve by the judge, who is a former director at Asylum Aid and represented migrants for free on behalf of the Bail for Immigration Detainees charity, the Sun on Sunday reported. The judgement has since been overturned after Government lawyers claimed it was 'made against the weight of evidence.' And shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has made a formal request to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office to investigate whether Judge Beach, 54, had declared her previous roles. He said that the judge's apparent conflict of interest undermined confidence in the courts. 'This is the latest example of an immigration judge with open borders views,' he told the Sun on Sunday. 'The similarity between her decisions and the political views she has broadcast totally undermines confidence in the system. Judges must be independent.' Judge Beach was listed in the 2007 annual report from Bail in Immigration among the barristers who had volunteered their time to represent its clients in court. And records show she was a director of Asylum Aid between September 2004 and February 2007. Judge Beach first heard Quadjovie's case last April. He had first been convicted aged just 12 after sexually assaulting a girl under 13, then was given a nine-month referral order for carrying a knife in public in 2016. Later that same year he was convicted of drug offences, was detained for 30 months then caught with more drugs after he was released. The Home Office attempted to deport Quadjovie but he argued that he would not be able to reintegrate in France. A judiciary spokesman said all judges took an oath to remain impartial. They added: 'In each case, judges make decisions based on the evidence and arguments presented, and apply the law as it stands.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Judge who controversially allowed knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in UK was on pro-asylum charity board
Judge Beach's apparent conflict of interest 'undermines confidence' in the courts MIGRANT 'NO THREAT' Judge who controversially allowed knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in UK was on pro-asylum charity board Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A JUDGE who controversially allowed a knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in the UK was on the board of a pro-asylum charity. Fiona Beach declared Christian Quadjovie, 26, was not a threat to the public. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up The French-born crook had been locked up for a total of 963 days since arriving here aged ten in 2009. But he was granted a reprieve by Judge Beach, an ex-director at Asylum Aid who represented migrants for free on behalf of the Bail for Immigration Detainees charity. The decision has since been overturned after Government lawyers claimed her judgment was 'made against the weight of evidence'. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said Judge Beach's apparent conflict of interest 'undermines confidence' in the courts. He added: 'This is the latest example of an immigration judge with open borders views. 'The similarity between her decisions and the political views she has broadcast totally undermines confidence in the system. Judges must be independent.' Last night, in a letter seen by The Sun on Sunday, Mr Jenrick made a formal request to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office to probe whether Judge Beach, 54, had declared her previous roles. In 2005 and 2007, she was listed in a 'thank you' section of the Bail in Immigration annual report, and named as a barrister volunteering to represent its clients in court. Records show she was a director of Asylum Aid between September 2004 and February 2007. Judicial sources insisted she stepped back from the group in December 2006 when appointed as a part-time judge. Sun probe uncovers asylum seekers in hotels linked to string of rape cases In 2018 she was made a salaried tribunal judge. She first heard Quadjovie's case in April 2024. He was first convicted as a boy of 12 after sexually assaulting a girl under 13. In 2016, he was given a nine-month referral order for carrying a knife in public. Later that year, he was convicted of drug offences. He was detained for 30 months and caught with more drugs after his release. The Home Office tried to deport him but he argued he would not be able to reintegrate in France. A judiciary spokesman said all judges took an oath to remain impartial. He added: 'In each case, judges make decisions based on the evidence and arguments presented, and apply the law as it stands.' 1 A judge declared Christian Quadjovie was not a threat to the public
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Judge who controversially allowed knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in UK was on pro-asylum charity board
Judge Beach's apparent conflict of interest 'undermines confidence' in the courts MIGRANT 'NO THREAT' Judge who controversially allowed knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in UK was on pro-asylum charity board A JUDGE who controversially allowed a knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in the UK was on the board of a pro-asylum charity. Fiona Beach declared Christian Quadjovie, 26, was not a threat to the public. The French-born crook had been locked up for a total of 963 days since arriving here aged ten in 2009. But he was granted a reprieve by Judge Beach, an ex-director at Asylum Aid who represented migrants for free on behalf of the Bail for Immigration Detainees charity. Advertisement The decision has since been overturned after Government lawyers claimed her judgment was 'made against the weight of evidence'. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said Judge Beach's apparent conflict of interest 'undermines confidence' in the courts. He added: 'This is the latest example of an immigration judge with open borders views. 'The similarity between her decisions and the political views she has broadcast totally undermines confidence in the system. Judges must be independent.' Advertisement Last night, in a letter seen by The Sun on Sunday, Mr Jenrick made a formal request to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office to probe whether Judge Beach, 54, had declared her previous roles. In 2005 and 2007, she was listed in a 'thank you' section of the Bail in Immigration annual report, and named as a barrister volunteering to represent its clients in court. Records show she was a director of Asylum Aid between September 2004 and February 2007. Judicial sources insisted she stepped back from the group in December 2006 when appointed as a part-time judge. Advertisement Sun probe uncovers asylum seekers in hotels linked to string of rape cases In 2018 she was made a salaried tribunal judge. She first heard Quadjovie's case in April 2024. He was first convicted as a boy of 12 after sexually assaulting a girl under 13. In 2016, he was given a nine-month referral order for carrying a knife in public. Later that year, he was convicted of drug offences. He was detained for 30 months and caught with more drugs after his release. The Home Office tried to deport him but he argued he would not be able to reintegrate in France. Advertisement A judiciary spokesman said all judges took an oath to remain impartial. He added: 'In each case, judges make decisions based on the evidence and arguments presented, and apply the law as it stands.' 1 A judge declared Christian Quadjovie was not a threat to the public
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Judge who controversially allowed knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in UK was on pro-asylum charity board
A JUDGE who controversially allowed a knife-wielding drug dealer to stay in the UK was on the board of a pro-asylum charity. Fiona Beach declared Christian Quadjovie, 26, was not a threat to the public. The French-born crook had been locked up for a total of 963 days since arriving here aged ten in 2009. But he was granted a reprieve by Judge Beach, an ex-director at Asylum Aid who represented migrants for free on behalf of the Bail for Immigration Detainees charity. The decision has since been overturned after Government lawyers claimed her judgment was 'made against the weight of evidence'. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said Judge Beach's apparent conflict of interest 'undermines confidence' in the courts. He added: 'This is the latest example of an immigration judge with open borders views. 'The similarity between her decisions and the political views she has broadcast totally undermines confidence in the system. Judges must be independent.' Last night, in a letter seen by The Sun on Sunday, Mr Jenrick made a formal request to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office to probe whether Judge Beach, 54, had declared her previous roles. In 2005 and 2007, she was listed in a 'thank you' section of the Bail in Immigration annual report, and named as a barrister volunteering to represent its clients in court. Records show she was a director of Asylum Aid between September 2004 and February 2007. Judicial sources insisted she stepped back from the group in December 2006 when appointed as a part-time judge. In 2018 she was made a salaried tribunal judge. She first heard Quadjovie's case in April 2024. He was first convicted as a boy of 12 after sexually assaulting a girl under 13. In 2016, he was given a nine-month referral order for carrying a knife in public. Later that year, he was convicted of drug offences. He was detained for 30 months and caught with more drugs after his release. The Home Office tried to deport him but he argued he would not be able to reintegrate in France. A judiciary spokesman said all judges took an oath to remain impartial. He added: 'In each case, judges make decisions based on the evidence and arguments presented, and apply the law as it stands.' 1 Channel returns ratings plan axe By Thomas Godfrey HOME Office bosses have scrapped a plan to get a trendy research company to award them marks out of ten for returning asylum seekers — thanks to the Sun on Sunday. The department gave The Social Agency a deal worth almost £250,000 to carry out an 'evaluation of asylum returns policy'. It was agreed shortly after PM Sir Keir Starmer revealed his one-in, one-out deal with France to remove small boat migrants. But after The Sun on Sunday asked for comment on why so much was being spent on the review, bosses axed it. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'This particular contract was not approved at the right level and is therefore being withdrawn.' Contract details emerged as the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats since Labour took power last summer passed 50,000. The Social Agency, based in Hackney, East London, was initially awarded £237,786 over the 32-month deal, which was to run ran from this month until March 2028.
