header-logo header-logo

18 March 2022 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7971 / Categories: Features , Criminal , Profession
printer mail-detail

Joint enterprise: justice denied?

75215
Post-Jogee, the failure of the courts to get to grips with the iniquity of joint enterprise is shocking, says Jon Robins

It has been six years since the highest court in the land ruled that the controversial law of joint enterprise had taken ‘a wrong turn’ in 1984. That anniversary was marked earlier this year with a demonstration outside of the Supreme Court by the campaign group Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association (JENGbA), dressed, as ever, in bright red. Families of those with loved ones convicted under the controversial common law doctrine hoped ‘justice’ would follow the 2016 ruling in the case of R v Jogee [2016] UKSC 8. By contrast, tabloid newspapers worked themselves up into a froth of righteous outrage, with the Daily Mail predicting that ‘more than 500 killers could seek to have their sentences quashed’.

Back in 2016, Lord Neuberger declared it ‘the responsibility of this court to put the law right’. That ruling was seen as a landmark judgment, with the Criminal Bar Association

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
An indemnity costs battle with a £20m gap could reopen an important question: what weight should an approved budget carry?
back-to-top-scroll