Latest news with #Bindmans
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Police responses to missing people must change after teenager death, couple say
A couple have said police must change how they deal with missing person reports to better protect those at risk of harm following the suicide of a teenager who was reported missing several hours before he died. Jason Pulman's mother, Emily Pulman, told police her missing son was transgender, had self-harmed, had previously attempted to take his own life and could have boarded a train around 11 hours before he was found dead, aged 15, in Hampden Park, Eastbourne, in April 2022. An inquest into his death later found Sussex Police had responded inadequately to his going missing, one of several failings which contributed to Jason's death. Mrs Pulman and her husband, Mark Pulman, are now taking legal action against the force over an alleged breach of human rights, claiming it should have acted sooner given that Jason posed 'a heightened risk of suicide'. Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Pulman, 50, said he still feared the police had not learned from Jason's case and were too 'stubborn' to change. He said: 'Our police force seems to think 'we'll just pop round, and grab a photo and have a quick look around the bedroom, then we will go back to the station and make a decision on what to do'. 'It's not good enough.' In court documents filed at the High Court by law firm Bindmans, Nick Armstrong KC, for Mr and Mrs Pulman, said that on April 19 2022, Mrs Pulman rang police at around 9.45am and told police the teenager was missing. Jason was graded as 'medium' risk, and the call handler also noted that there was 'no suicide intent believed', contrary to what Mrs Pulman told them, Mr Armstrong said. An officer did not access the report until around 1.30pm, and after Mrs Pulman had contacted police twice more to tell them Jason was believed to be travelling to London, most likely by train. The officer maintained Jason's risk as medium, did not contact British Transport Police (BTP) and 'did not even speak to Mark or Emily or attempt to do so', Mr Armstrong added, with no further actions raised as 'urgent'. While BTP were alerted at around 6.15pm, this was after Jason was spotted by a train guard, who later told an inquest he would have attempted to intervene had he known Jason was at risk. A Sussex Police officer did not attend the family home until around 7.30pm, and around an hour later, Jason was found dead in Hampden Park by a member of the public. Mr Armstrong said calls to Sussex Police are graded by a call handler, with the first officer attending the scene then reassessing the level of risk. He added that the force's policy states the first attending officer plays a 'pivotal role' in setting the pace of the investigation, and that 'golden hour' principles of finding missing people apply. As well as a missing persons policy, Mr Armstrong said a call could be graded as 'grade one' where there 'is, or is likely to be, a risk of danger to life'. Mr Armstrong said: 'Jason was at real and immediate risk of life-threatening harm. 'He exhibited a number of characteristics, and fitted a profile, which the defendant knew or ought to have known represented a heightened risk of suicide.' He continued: 'Generally, there was a serious delay of, in the end, nearly 11 hours, during which little if any effective action was taken. 'The defendant's action was in all respects slow, and strikingly casual, given the scale of the vulnerabilities and risks being reported. 'Had there been a reasonable response, there was a real prospect of a different outcome.' Mr Pulman told Jason's inquest that he made more than 100 calls to organisations, including train operators, hospitals and hostels after Jason went missing, to circulate his details and images. But many organisations would not take the information as he was not a police officer, and it took more than an hour for a hospital to agree to take Jason's description. HE told PA the system used is 'not good enough for people with mental health conditions' as it is 'too black and white'. Mrs Pulman, 39, said that changing how police respond to missing person reports would be an indicator of learning, as missing teenagers currently 'fall through the cracks' and reports are perceived as 'flippant'. She said: 'The beginning of the process is where it all went wrong.' She continued: 'If they are not admitting to the failings that happened for Jason, then they're admitting that there is nothing wrong with their system, which isn't the case.' She added: 'Kids Jason's age have so many markers of worry and stuff they are going through, which systems made all those years ago cannot cater for.' Following Jason's inquest, Sussex Police said it had introduced contingency measures for checking reports are resourced and graded appropriately. It also said that a multi-agency group had been launched to 'put measures in place to ensure vulnerable children with complex mental health needs'. In response to the High Court claim, a spokesperson said: 'Our sincere condolences remain with Jason's family following their tragic loss; however, we are unable to comment further whilst legal proceedings are ongoing.'
Al Jazeera
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
What are the implications of the UK ban on Palestine Action?
The group has been classified as a 'terror organisation' by the UK government. There have been demonstrations against the United Kingdom's ban on the pro-Palestinian protest group Palestine Action and its designation as a 'terrorist group'. The government actions came after members of the group broke into an airbase and vandalised military aircraft. Critics say the ban is excessive and an attack on freedom of speech. So what are the implications? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Tayab Ali – deputy managing partner at Bindmans law firm Quinn McKew – executive director at Article 19 Peter Oborne – political commentator
Business Wire
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Leading law firm launches industry first social justice fund
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bindmans, an award-winning multidisciplinary law firm with a 50-year human rights and social justice record, has today set a new precedent in the legal industry by announcing the launch of its 10% Social Justice Fund (SJF). The fund will allocate 10% of business client fees to support individuals in gaining access to justice. It marks an industry first and serves the joint purpose of helping to improve the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores of Bindmans' corporate clients, enhancing their impact across the value chain through socially responsible legal services. Bindmans has a proud record in human rights and social justice, dedicated to providing legal services to those who need it most. The law firm was founded 50 years ago by one of the greatest Human Rights lawyers in the UK, Sir Geoffrey Bindman (KC). The SJF continues his legacy by bridging funding gaps for those in need and leading by example in the legal industry. The SJF forms a key pillar of the firm's new Corporate and Commercial team, which is headed up by Partner Gabrielle Plews, who created the concept and will spearhead the launch of this industry-first product. Gabrielle commented, 'The 10% Social Justice Fund is a unique concept that allows our business clients to directly impact and positively increase access to social justice while simultaneously achieving their ESG goals. When I envisaged this concept, it was with Bindmans in mind. Only a law firm with their vision and ethos could deliver this kind of change to the business world and legal services market. It's an inspiring achievement and a great journey ahead for our Corporate and Commercial Team.' In its debut year, Bindmans will partner with two registered charities dedicated to social justice, donating 100% of the SJF - without deduction - to supporting the work they do in providing access to legal services for people in need. The Access to Justice Foundation, a Law Society accredited organisation that supports the delivery of free legal advice to the people, places and communities most in need, will receive 50% of year one funds from the SJF. Just4Kids Law will serve as the second beneficiary, receiving 50% of the fund, to support its work providing legal advice and representation to children in the criminal justice system. Clare Carter, Chief Executive Officer at The Access to Justice Foundation says, 'Access to Justice Foundation and Bindmans' 10% Social Justice Fund are a perfect fit with shared track records on access to justice. We will work together to ensure that disadvantaged individuals have access to the life changing legal advice they need.' For more information about the SJF and Bindmans corporate and commercial services visit the website here. Notes to Editors * Source: 'The value of justice for all' report commissioned by the Access to Justice Foundation in partnership with the Bar Council About Bindmans LLP Bindmans is an award-winning multidisciplinary law firm with an exceptional track record offering a wide-range of specialist legal services to our clients, from medium-sized businesses and NGOs to public figures and private individuals. Ranked by The Times as a top 250 law firm, and as a top-tier firm by the legal directories, we pride ourselves on being the opposite of a 'factory firm'. Smaller but mightier than city-based alternatives, we bring deep insight, intelligence, and courage to apply, test, and develop the law. We have a reputation for our cutting-edge work in some of the most complex cases. Our lawyers are among the most knowledgeable in the country, with many nationally recognised as experts in their fields. We use the law to make a difference.
