Blog Archives

Race Relations: What's Changed ?

2/8/2015

After reading an article in The Voice and the Liverpool Echo, I watched this film from the 1972 programme on Thames Television "This Week" which featured a report from Johnathon Dimbleby from disturbances between black and white youths in Toxteth Liverpool in 1972.

" Following unrest on the Falkner Housing Estate in Liverpool. This Week investigates incidents of racially motivated violence and tension between communities. Interviews with local residents contain strong language as they relate encounters with skin heads, police discrimination and social deptrivation. The events can be seen as a prelude to not only the Toxteth, but, Brixton and Handsworth Riots which took place nearly a decade later."

It well worth a watch and then ask yourself one question what has changed?
Is it the same or better?
Are attitudes the same or better?
Has the language become more sophisticated?
Do we have real diversity or is there still work to do?
Does and is poverty still playing a role in discrimination?
Has Britain ever really embraced diversity?
Does the current political climate on immigration help issues being highlighted in this film?

Here's the link and you decide: Liverpool 8 A Report by Johnathon Dimbleby "This Week 1972.

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Community Knife Surrender Bin Launching this Friday 7th August at Green Lane Mosque Small Heath Birmingham

2/8/2015

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The continued development of the Communities Working Together initiative and following our recent launch of a New Knife Surrender Bin in Handsworth, a further New Knife Surrender Bin will be unveiled on Friday 7th August 2015 at 10.15am. This will make a total of 9 in Birmingham and 11 in the West Midlands to date, to help make our streets safer.

The Location:
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
20 Green Lane
Small Heath
Birmingham
B9 5DB

Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre, a progressive organisation within the community, has identified the necessity to launch the project in the local Small Heath Community. It will reach out to and encourage community organisations to work together on this vital project. This will lead to a safer environment and a proactive neighbourhood partnership.

It must also noted that Green Lane Masjid has conducted funerals for recent victims of knife incidences.

The Knife Surrender Bin has been supplied by British Ironworks of Owestry and installed by Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre.

Community Activist Desmond Jaddoo of Birmingham Empowerment Forum who has arranged for this new Knife Surrender Bin says: “This is just continuing “Live not Knives” with all communities working together and taking responsibility for making our streets safer for our neighbours, families especially our children in the ever changing face of Birmingham”

Amer Ijaz Centre Manager says:

“Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre believes that it is for each of us to take responsibility for the society in which we live. It is with this in mind that we have joined forces with the Birmingham Empowerment Forum on the Live not Knives project. This initiative will empower individuals and groups to break out of a cycle of violent crime by joining this knife surrender in a trusted location. God willing, such initiatives will pave the way for a new start for those previously involved in crime and will make our communities a safer place for everybody.”

Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito says

“One life taken by the use of a knife is one life too many.

“This is a community-led project in which local people have taken a big step to get knives off our streets.

“For this knife surrender campaign to succeed we all need to encourage the whole community to get behind it and once and for all say no to violence.

“I fully support this initiative and would like to thank all those who have worked so hard to bring this about.”

Detective Inspector Nick Dale, West Midlands Police’s lead for knife crime, says,

“Knife crime continues to fall in the West Midlands despite a slight increase nationally. However, people’s lives are still affected by knife crime every day so we cannot afford to be complacent. Community initiatives like this are extremely important in the fight against knife crime.”

The Knife Surrender Bin is to be unveiled by Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito and Shabana Mahmood MP

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Are IPP Sentences now becoming an Injustice?

2/8/2015

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An IPP sentence (Imprisonment for Public Protection), is a sentence which gives an minimum tariff but does not give the right to automatic parole once completing his tariff owing to a change in legislation under to section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, by the then Home Secretary David Blunkett.

These sentences which were considered to be indeterminate sentences only gave serious consideration by a Parole Board once the probation service were satisfied that the inmate had completed various educational courses as a part of their rehabilitation programme.

However, following a ruling in 2012 by the European Court of Human Rights which found that some inmates rights were being effected under Article 5.1. The Court found that although the sentences were legal, their administration in terms of the availability of courses being very limited and an extensive having a waiting list in many cases was in contravention of the the convention.

These sentences were subsequently abolished by Chris Grayling 2012.

However, despite this various cases are now being brought to my attention of inmates some who have completed double or even triple their tariffs and despite completing all of the agreed courses they are still in Prison with no sign of Parole.

Many have raised issues as to whether or not these matters are being handled in an objective or subjective matter.

Further concerns have been raised recently regarding the various aspects of the Criminal Justice System and it disproportionalities, particularly with the African & Caribbean Community and we are awaiting additional information from the Ministry of Justice with regard to the demographic make up of those still in prison, serving an IPP sentence.

It must be made clear this is not a challenge to the original sentences, however, it is the complete administration of these abolished sentences which is being called into question as clearly, there could be implications under the European Convention of Human Rights again, taking into account the length of many sentences which on average I understand were between two and six years.

In the meantime a letter has been sent to the Secretary of State for Justice Michael Gove MP, highlighting concerns around the administration of IPP sentences; being reviewed as it is hard to understand why over 3000 inmates are still serving a sentence which has been abolished as there are serious concerns of potential Injustice.

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