Riot Cases meeting for defence lawyers

YLAL members who are criminal defence lawyers may wish to go to the following seminar:

Defending Riot Cases

Meeting – Monday 10th October Legal Defence Monitoring Group 6.30pm- 8.30pm Mitre House Chambers 2 CPD accredited hours

The majority of criminal practitioners in London will by now be familiar with the legal issues raised by riot related cases. Most firms will have represented defendants accused of offences arising from the riots and know through experience that their treatment has been far more punitive than would normally be expected, whether through the denial of bail or the imposition of custodial sentences well outside the normal guidelines.

The vast majority of riot related cases have yet to be disposed of and there are doubtless many prosecutions to come. As defence lawyers, we have a crucial role in ensuring that justice is dispensed fairly and consistently and that punishment is proportionate to the wrongdoing alleged. Given the particular challenges raised by riot related cases, it is crucial that defence lawyers have an opportunity to share information and achieve some co-ordination of approach.

Legal Defence Monitoring Group is a voluntary organisation that was set up in 1995 and works closely in liaising with solicitors acting for defendants. The main roles of LDMG are;

  • To monitor police behaviour on demonstrations & pickets.
  • To give unconditional support to anyone arrested or injured.
  • To assist anybody assaulted by the police or wrongly arrested to sue the police.
  • To monitor court cases and provide support to those held on remand.

This event will allow defence lawyers to discuss their experiences of defending riot cases and to agree on a forum for co-ordinating work on such cases in the future. It should also offer practitioners a chance to discuss the Court of Appeal judgment on sentencing riot related cases, which is expected this week.

This event is accredited for 2 CPD hours. Speakers to be confirmed.

To reserve a place, or for further details, please email prem_ahluwalia@yahoo.com

Location details:

Mitre House Chambers, 9 Gower Street, WC1E 6HA, telephone number 0207 307 7100.

Nearest Tubes: Russell Square/Tottenham Court Road/Goodge Street