Richard Garside
@richardjgarside.bsky.social
Director @crimeandjustice | Law and justice | Materialist not idealist | Facts not feelings | My views, not my employer’s
That Starmer “letter to my son” video is just so bad. Who on earth thought it was a good idea?
The Downing Street Comms operation appears to be in full sabotage mode
The Downing Street Comms operation appears to be in full sabotage mode
November 19, 2025 at 7:13 PM
That Starmer “letter to my son” video is just so bad. Who on earth thought it was a good idea?
The Downing Street Comms operation appears to be in full sabotage mode
The Downing Street Comms operation appears to be in full sabotage mode
I spoke to BBC Verify the other day about the silly suggestion by Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, that prisons could check prisoners’ cells to work out if they have been accidentally released
November 14, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I spoke to BBC Verify the other day about the silly suggestion by Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, that prisons could check prisoners’ cells to work out if they have been accidentally released
There are a number of good, hard-working Police and Crime Commissioners
I’ve also never been a fan of the Police and Crime Commissioner model
So this is a welcome development, though let’s see the detail of what is to follow
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
I’ve also never been a fan of the Police and Crime Commissioner model
So this is a welcome development, though let’s see the detail of what is to follow
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
There are a number of good, hard-working Police and Crime Commissioners
I’ve also never been a fan of the Police and Crime Commissioner model
So this is a welcome development, though let’s see the detail of what is to follow
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
I’ve also never been a fan of the Police and Crime Commissioner model
So this is a welcome development, though let’s see the detail of what is to follow
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Yesterday the Prime Minister said the Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of sex in the Equality Act “must be implemented in full and at all levels”
This was in response to a question from Rebecca Paul MP on why male prisoners were still being held in Downview women’s prison
This was in response to a question from Rebecca Paul MP on why male prisoners were still being held in Downview women’s prison
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Yesterday the Prime Minister said the Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of sex in the Equality Act “must be implemented in full and at all levels”
This was in response to a question from Rebecca Paul MP on why male prisoners were still being held in Downview women’s prison
This was in response to a question from Rebecca Paul MP on why male prisoners were still being held in Downview women’s prison
The Sentencing Bill is due for Second Reading in the House of Lords tomorrow (12 Nov)
Second Reading is the first opportunity for the Lords to discuss the purpose and principles behind the Bill
The House of Lords Library has produced this briefing: lordslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Second Reading is the first opportunity for the Lords to discuss the purpose and principles behind the Bill
The House of Lords Library has produced this briefing: lordslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Sentencing Bill: HL Bill 142 of 2024–26
The Sentencing Bill is a government bill that started in the House of Commons. It received its first reading in the House of Lords on 30 October 2025 and is scheduled to have its second reading in the...
lordslibrary.parliament.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:22 AM
The Sentencing Bill is due for Second Reading in the House of Lords tomorrow (12 Nov)
Second Reading is the first opportunity for the Lords to discuss the purpose and principles behind the Bill
The House of Lords Library has produced this briefing: lordslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Second Reading is the first opportunity for the Lords to discuss the purpose and principles behind the Bill
The House of Lords Library has produced this briefing: lordslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
What we tolerate becomes the norm
A thread on #systemschange and our responsibilities to make it happen 🧵🧵🧵
A thread on #systemschange and our responsibilities to make it happen 🧵🧵🧵
October 31, 2025 at 10:17 AM
What we tolerate becomes the norm
A thread on #systemschange and our responsibilities to make it happen 🧵🧵🧵
A thread on #systemschange and our responsibilities to make it happen 🧵🧵🧵
Article in this morning’s Independent on what next for the Prison Service after the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu
I told the paper that individuals should be held accountable for mistakes, but the underlying context is a prison system in crisis
I told the paper that individuals should be held accountable for mistakes, but the underlying context is a prison system in crisis
October 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Article in this morning’s Independent on what next for the Prison Service after the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu
I told the paper that individuals should be held accountable for mistakes, but the underlying context is a prison system in crisis
I told the paper that individuals should be held accountable for mistakes, but the underlying context is a prison system in crisis
Until a few years ago, no serious person would have claimed that it was just too hard to provide separate toilet and changing facilities for men and women, or to prevent men from competing in women’s sport or being held in women’s prisons
Yet here we are
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Yet here we are
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Dozens of Labour MPs warn of chaos for firms over gender recognition advice
Nearly 50 backbenchers write to business secretary over potential costs and legal ‘minefield’ of upcoming guidance
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Until a few years ago, no serious person would have claimed that it was just too hard to provide separate toilet and changing facilities for men and women, or to prevent men from competing in women’s sport or being held in women’s prisons
Yet here we are
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Yet here we are
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Pretty damning report out today from @nao.org.uk today on the terrible state probation is in
@russellwebster.com has done a write-up
www.russellwebster.com/probation-we...
@russellwebster.com has done a write-up
www.russellwebster.com/probation-we...
Probation “weak” and short of 3,150 staff
The National Audit Office finds that since reunification, probation performance has declined, with significant staffing shortfalls and high workloads.
www.russellwebster.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Pretty damning report out today from @nao.org.uk today on the terrible state probation is in
@russellwebster.com has done a write-up
www.russellwebster.com/probation-we...
@russellwebster.com has done a write-up
www.russellwebster.com/probation-we...
What are the laws around public protest and what powers do the police have manage, control and restrict them?
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced this useful briefing
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced this useful briefing
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Police powers: Protests
An overview of legislation, guidance and debates related to the policing of protests.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
October 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
What are the laws around public protest and what powers do the police have manage, control and restrict them?
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced this useful briefing
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced this useful briefing
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
The Sentencing Bill reaches Committee Stage in the House of Commons tomorrow
Committee Stage is when MPs do detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced a briefing on what’s in the Bill
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Committee Stage is when MPs do detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced a briefing on what’s in the Bill
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Sentencing Bill
The Sentencing Bill is had its second reading on 16 September 2025 and is scheduled to be read by a Committee of the whole house on the 21 October 2025.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
The Sentencing Bill reaches Committee Stage in the House of Commons tomorrow
Committee Stage is when MPs do detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced a briefing on what’s in the Bill
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Committee Stage is when MPs do detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk Library has produced a briefing on what’s in the Bill
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
“It is... our strong preference, having been advised at expert level about its scope and accuracy, that the updated draft Code be brought into force as soon as possible to reflect the law as it has now been clarified by the Supreme Court...
October 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
“It is... our strong preference, having been advised at expert level about its scope and accuracy, that the updated draft Code be brought into force as soon as possible to reflect the law as it has now been clarified by the Supreme Court...
A couple recent briefings out from @houseofcommons.parliament.uk and @houseoflords.parliament.uk libraries that caught my eye
October 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
A couple recent briefings out from @houseofcommons.parliament.uk and @houseoflords.parliament.uk libraries that caught my eye
🎯
It is also deeply unhealthy to have local govts who don’t provide many visible/valuable services for most residents (because they lack the resources). Encourages distrust and populism - “what am I paying my council tax for? The council does nothing for me.”
Amazed this is still going ahead - basic and obvious problem is that essentially everything local government does now is for the poor. You can’t move it around without really hurting poor people somewhere!
October 7, 2025 at 1:12 PM
🎯
“This is bonkers... The Sentencing Council has done good work in providing consistency even if it may not be perfect. The [Jenrick] proposal is the cheapest form of politics as he must know it is unimplementable”
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct...
Tory plan to scrap judge-led Sentencing Council criticised as ‘bonkers’
Ex-Conservative ministers denounce Robert Jenrick’s intention to abolish body that develops court guidelines
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:33 AM
“This is bonkers... The Sentencing Council has done good work in providing consistency even if it may not be perfect. The [Jenrick] proposal is the cheapest form of politics as he must know it is unimplementable”
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct...
Let’s not make the racism and misogyny uncovered by the BBC a case of a few ‘rotten apples’ in one police station in central London
There is a more general, and persistent, problem in policing
There are also many good police officers who will be horrified by the revelations
There is a more general, and persistent, problem in policing
There are also many good police officers who will be horrified by the revelations
October 2, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Let’s not make the racism and misogyny uncovered by the BBC a case of a few ‘rotten apples’ in one police station in central London
There is a more general, and persistent, problem in policing
There are also many good police officers who will be horrified by the revelations
There is a more general, and persistent, problem in policing
There are also many good police officers who will be horrified by the revelations
“Both politics and personal feelings don’t impinge scientific truths and that needs to be clearly understood”
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
“Both politics and personal feelings don’t impinge scientific truths and that needs to be clearly understood”
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Richard Garside
💥 #FiLiA2025 speaker news 💥
@jophoenix1.bsky.social Professor of Criminology, author & academic, who has researched sex, gender & justice for more than three decades. Former Trustee of @crimeandjustice.bsky.social
🎟️ filia.org.uk/tickets
#SexNotGender #Brighton #Sisterhood #Solidarity
@jophoenix1.bsky.social Professor of Criminology, author & academic, who has researched sex, gender & justice for more than three decades. Former Trustee of @crimeandjustice.bsky.social
🎟️ filia.org.uk/tickets
#SexNotGender #Brighton #Sisterhood #Solidarity
September 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
💥 #FiLiA2025 speaker news 💥
@jophoenix1.bsky.social Professor of Criminology, author & academic, who has researched sex, gender & justice for more than three decades. Former Trustee of @crimeandjustice.bsky.social
🎟️ filia.org.uk/tickets
#SexNotGender #Brighton #Sisterhood #Solidarity
@jophoenix1.bsky.social Professor of Criminology, author & academic, who has researched sex, gender & justice for more than three decades. Former Trustee of @crimeandjustice.bsky.social
🎟️ filia.org.uk/tickets
#SexNotGender #Brighton #Sisterhood #Solidarity
Important to keep the pressure up on the government on the scandalous #IPP sentence
Well done IPP Committee in Action
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Well done IPP Committee in Action
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
UN to investigate ‘national scandal’ of prisoners trapped on IPP jail terms
Exclusive: A complaint being lodged with the UN claims IPP prisoners are being arbitrarily detained, as a bombshell letter proves David Lammy agrees the jail terms are a ‘grave injustice’
www.independent.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Important to keep the pressure up on the government on the scandalous #IPP sentence
Well done IPP Committee in Action
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Well done IPP Committee in Action
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
“He goes through cycles where he feels just utter despair and it's very hard for us to know how to comfort him, because it is a hopeless situation
“How do you keep somebody hopeful when there is no hope?”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“How do you keep somebody hopeful when there is no hope?”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lifelong sentences can be 'inhuman and degrading', campaigners warn
Concerns have been raised about how orders for lifelong restriction are being implemented in Scotland.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
“He goes through cycles where he feels just utter despair and it's very hard for us to know how to comfort him, because it is a hopeless situation
“How do you keep somebody hopeful when there is no hope?”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“How do you keep somebody hopeful when there is no hope?”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Garside
A further update to the MoJ ministerial line up with Jake Richards & Baroness Levitt added as well as new Lord Chancellor/Justice Sec David Lammy www.russellwebster.com/the-new-just...
The new Justice Ministerial line-up
MoJ Ministerial Team updated 9 September 2025
www.russellwebster.com
September 9, 2025 at 5:43 AM
A further update to the MoJ ministerial line up with Jake Richards & Baroness Levitt added as well as new Lord Chancellor/Justice Sec David Lammy www.russellwebster.com/the-new-just...
We’re currently recruiting for a policy and communications officer
Great job for the right candidate
On the downside, you’ll be working with me quite a bit of the time
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/centre-...
Great job for the right candidate
On the downside, you’ll be working with me quite a bit of the time
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/centre-...
Policy and communications officer | Centre for Crime and Justice Studies | CharityJob
Apply now for Policy and communications officer. , £35,266 per year, find a career with meaning today
www.charityjob.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
We’re currently recruiting for a policy and communications officer
Great job for the right candidate
On the downside, you’ll be working with me quite a bit of the time
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/centre-...
Great job for the right candidate
On the downside, you’ll be working with me quite a bit of the time
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/centre-...
I’ll be giving oral evidence to the @houseoflords.parliament.uk Justice and Home Affairs Committee tomorrow at 11.15 am on criminal justice electronic monitoring/tagging
Watch it here, if that’s what floats your boat
www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Watch it here, if that’s what floats your boat
www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Parliamentlive.tv
Justice and Home Affairs Committee
www.parliamentlive.tv
September 1, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I’ll be giving oral evidence to the @houseoflords.parliament.uk Justice and Home Affairs Committee tomorrow at 11.15 am on criminal justice electronic monitoring/tagging
Watch it here, if that’s what floats your boat
www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Watch it here, if that’s what floats your boat
www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Smart, self-critical and less patronising
Is it time for a rethink on the way criminal justice reformers do criminal justice reform?
My latest commentary on what’s what
www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/smart-self-c...
Is it time for a rethink on the way criminal justice reformers do criminal justice reform?
My latest commentary on what’s what
www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/smart-self-c...
Smart, self-critical and less patronising | Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
www.crimeandjustice.org.uk
August 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Smart, self-critical and less patronising
Is it time for a rethink on the way criminal justice reformers do criminal justice reform?
My latest commentary on what’s what
www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/smart-self-c...
Is it time for a rethink on the way criminal justice reformers do criminal justice reform?
My latest commentary on what’s what
www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/smart-self-c...
“I am not soft on terrorism. But I am a strong believer that you have to know what it looks like”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Peter Hain says UK government ‘digging itself into hole’ over Palestine Action
Peer opposed banning group and says fellow Labour peers and MPs are regretting proscription
www.theguardian.com
August 13, 2025 at 12:26 PM
“I am not soft on terrorism. But I am a strong believer that you have to know what it looks like”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...