The Times has today announced its Crime & Justice Commission which aims to consider and come up with new solutions to the most urgent issues facing the criminal justice system.
The year-long Commission will draw up recommendations to address challenges facing the police, prisons, courts and victims of crime including in areas such as knife crime, cybercrime, fraud and online harms, court backlogs and problems with legal aid. It is expected to produce a final report in April 2025.
Leading Kingsley Napley Criminal Litigation partner Sandra Paul is one of 18 respected experts who have been asked to join the Commission. She is the only practising solicitor on the panel. Sandra is particularly well known for her expertise in criminal defence relating to sexual offences and youth crime matters and is co-author of Defending Suspects at Police Stations, the go-to textbook for criminal defence lawyers.
Other members of the Times Commission include: Lord Burnett of Maldon (former lord chief justice of England and Wales); Max Hill (former director of public prosecutions); Nick Hardwick (former chief inspector of prisons and former head of Parole Board); Baroness Manningham-Buller (Former head of MI5); Dame Anne Rafferty (a former high court judge); Claire Waxman (independent victims’ commissioner for London) and Sir Tom Winsor (former chief inspector of constabulary). The full list of members can be viewed here.
The Commission is being chaired by Times columnist Rachel Sylvester and will hold fortnightly evidence sessions with witnesses including police officers, victims, judges, lawyers, prison officers, scientists, business leaders and academics.
Sandra Paul comments: “I am honoured and delighted to have been invited to join the Commission, in such eminent company. More importantly, I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the assignment we have been set – coming up with a set of pragmatic and practical solutions to some of the intractable problems the Criminal Justice system is facing today. There are many but if we can help to suggest new ideas or give credence to policy ideas which are in development then this is a prominent platform to promote and advocate for change.”
Previous Times Commissions have had a real impact, with Rishi Sunak taking up the Education Commission’s recommendation for exam reform and Keir Starmer promising to introduce the digital health account which was proposed by the Health Commission. The Crime & Justice Commission will be evidence-based and non-ideological and has been tasked with formulating recommendations that could be taken up by any political party.
The Times announced the new Crime & Justice Commission today here.
ENDS
For press enquiries, please contact Sandra on Spaul@KingsleyNapley.co.uk or via Louise Beeson, Bell Yard Communications: Louise@bell-yard.com/ 07768 956997
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Kingsley Napley
Kingsley Napley LLP is a leading UK based law firm providing expertise for our clients’ business and private lives, when it matters most. We advise in the following areas: corporate, commercial & finance, criminal litigation, dispute resolution, employment, family & divorce, immigration, medical negligence & personal injury, private client, public law, real estate & construction, restructuring & insolvency, and regulatory law. The firm recently received a special recognition award from Best Companies for employers who have consistently invested in their employee experience and culture for 10 years
Sandra Paul leads Kingsley Napley’s General Crime team. She is top ranked in her field by the Legal 500, Spears and Chambers & Partners. Sandra has represented politicians, bankers, musicians, sports personalities and high net worth individuals in some of the most complex and sensitive criminal cases of the last 10 years. She is highly sought after by individuals and corporates for her smart and effective advice in areas such as sexual misconduct, #metoo related allegations, blackmail and youth crime in all its guises. For more information see https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk/our-people/sandra-paul
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