UCL Judicial Institute to host new public engagement initiative by Criminal Cases Review Commission

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is launching two new public engagement initiatives for 2018 - a CCRC Lecture Series and a Stakeholder Forum – both of which will be hosted by the UCL Judicial Institute.

CCRC 2018 Lecture Series

In 2018 the new CCRC Lecture Series will include 3 lectures by leading figures in the criminal justice field. The Inaugural CCRC Lecture will be delivered by Sir Brian Leveson, newly appointed Head of Criminal Justice in England and Wales, President of the Queen’s Bench Division and the author of the 2015 Review of Efficiency of Criminal Proceedings. Sir Brian’s will speak on “The Pursuit of Criminal Justice”. The Inaugural CCRC Lecture will take place at 18.00pm on 25 April at UCL Faculty of Laws Bentham House, and will be followed by a Q&A. 

CCRC Commissioner David James Smith said:

'The Commission is delighted that Sir Brian, one of our most senior judges and the new Head of Criminal Justice, has agreed to give the first ever CCRC Lecture. We hope the lecture series will stimulate wider debate about important issues facing the CCRC and the criminal justice system more widely.'

Professor Cheryl Thomas QC (Hon), Co-Director of the UCL Judicial Institute said:

'The UCL Judicial Institute is very pleased to be able to assist the CCRC with these important public engagement initiatives. Our criminal justice system faces a raft of new challenges and growing concerns about new potential miscarriages of justice. At this critical time, there is no one more appropriate to hear from in the Inaugural CCRC Lecture than Sir Brian Leveson, the new Head of Criminal Justice in England and Wales.'

Attendance at the lecture is by invitation and there is limited availability. Anyone wishing to express an interest in attending the lecture is asked to email lectures@ccrc.x.gsi.gov.uk.

CCRC Stakeholder Forum

The CCRC will also hold the first meeting of its new CCRC Stakeholder Forum on 25 April at UCL in the afternoon before the Inaugural Lecture. The forum is designed to promote dialogue and understanding between the Commission and a cross section of its key stakeholders and users.   

Commissioner Smith said:

'I hope this will be the start of a new phase of greater transparency and openness at the CCRC at a critical time for criminal justice. We aim to put the CCRC at the centre of the debate about wrongful convictions. CCRC staff and Commissioners are looking forward to engaging with stakeholders and users at the new forum and we are always receptive to ideas for improved ways of working.'

Commissioner Smith also acknowledged the support of UCL in the new initiatives: 

'Professor Cheryl Thomas of UCL’s Judicial Institute has been an invaluable academic advisor to the CCRC’s Research Committee, and we very much appreciate her and UCL’s support in hosting our new Lecture Series and Stakeholder Forum.'

Future Lectures and Stakeholder Forums

The second lecture, “Joint Enterprise Appeals – have the Courts of England & Wales lost sight of justice?” will be given by Felicity Gerry QC on Thursday, 12 July 2018 at UCL, following the second meeting of the Stakeholder Forum that same afternoon at UCL. A third event will take place at UCL in November 2018.