Archive for the ‘Howard League’ Category

A funny old week

It has been a funny old week.  On Monday I was on my way to a debate at the US embassy (I have never been inside, just outside if you see what I mean) and found I had misread the invite and was an hour early. Listening to the car radio I heard that Bloc [...]

October 31, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments

Charities shouldn’t run prisons

I was shocked to hear about the bids to run prisons by Nacro and other charities.  How naive are they?  They won’t be able to stop their
prisons being overcrowded just like all the others, and what will happen when their staff have to cut down the first young man who hangs himself.  The private sector [...]

September 2, 2008   Posted in: Government policy, Howard League  3 Comments

Lord Parmoor’s funeral

I went to Lord Parmoor’s funeral last week (see Obituary in the Telegraph 25 August).
His was a full life, well lived, but it was still sad to loose someone I was coming to regard as a friend and certainly had great respect for, because of his zest and intellect and humanity.
We had lovely gourmet lunches [...]

August 26, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments

House of Commons reception

We had a lovely reception on the terrace of the House of Commons yesterday with about 200 members and supporters. Our President, Lord Carlile, talked about our legal work helping childen and the campaign we launched this week.
I was particularly pleased that a good sprinkling of senior MPs came along – Nick Herbert, Edward Garnier, [...]

July 4, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments

The Howard League in Europe

(Unofficial) translation into English:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2231/08
By Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (ALDE) to the Commission
Following our research with Defence for Children International to develop a set of indicators that would apply across every EU country to protect children in custody from violence, this exchange took place with the European Commission:
Defence for Children International – The Netherlands has conducted [...]

July 1, 2008   Posted in: Government policy, Howard League  No Comments

Howard Journal of Criminal Justice

The editorial board of the Howard Journal of Criminal Justice has been meeting in our offices today.  Wiley Blackwell has been publishing our journal for nearly 20 years although the journal has been in existence since the 1920s. It is doing amazingly well and I want to have a little brag about it.
There were more [...]

June 30, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments

Pauline Campbell RIP

Everyone is devastated by the loss of Pauline.  We have been flooded with phone calls and emails remembering her and wanting to carry on her campaign.
We are going to have a period of quiet reflection until after her funeral.
We have invited people to send tributes and memories and are putting these on our website.  The [...]

May 16, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments

Jury system: a bulwark of freedom

I’m off to do my civic duty.  Once again I am called to do two weeks’ jury service.  I did it a few years ago and have to admit I was really impressed.  I sat on one case that was completed, and obviously I can’t talk about the details, but I can say that the [...]

May 9, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments

Jury service

The proceedings of the Old Bailey have been put on line and it turns out my great grandfather was sentenced to a year’s hard labour forlarceny in 1905. I had no idea. Solomon Silverhamer, aged 42, was convicted of stealing lace collarettes and ladies’ bishops (does anyone know what they are?). I dont know what [...]

May 7, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments

Thanks to Comic Relief

We are very excited that Comic Relief has given us a really substantial grant to expand our legal team and take on an expert lawyer in mental health and young people.  Look out for the ad next month and if you know someone who might be interested, tell them to check our website.  This is [...]

April 29, 2008   Posted in: Howard League  No Comments