Richard Garside
@richardjgarside.bsky.social
Director @crimeandjustice | Law and justice | Materialist not idealist | Facts not feelings | My views, not my employer’s
Pinned
Will only be on this platform intermittently for the foreseeable future and won’t be checking DMs
Email me or find me on LinkedIn
Email me or find me on LinkedIn
Will only be on this platform intermittently for the foreseeable future and won’t be checking DMs
Email me or find me on LinkedIn
Email me or find me on LinkedIn
January 8, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Will only be on this platform intermittently for the foreseeable future and won’t be checking DMs
Email me or find me on LinkedIn
Email me or find me on LinkedIn
Genuine request:
Can anyone share links to credible articles that argue that Maduro *won* the 2024 presidential election?
Trying to get my head round the arguments. Plenty of articles stating he lost the 2024 election, but struggling to find reliable sources suggesting he won
Can anyone share links to credible articles that argue that Maduro *won* the 2024 presidential election?
Trying to get my head round the arguments. Plenty of articles stating he lost the 2024 election, but struggling to find reliable sources suggesting he won
January 3, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Genuine request:
Can anyone share links to credible articles that argue that Maduro *won* the 2024 presidential election?
Trying to get my head round the arguments. Plenty of articles stating he lost the 2024 election, but struggling to find reliable sources suggesting he won
Can anyone share links to credible articles that argue that Maduro *won* the 2024 presidential election?
Trying to get my head round the arguments. Plenty of articles stating he lost the 2024 election, but struggling to find reliable sources suggesting he won
Useful analysis by @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social on the history and legal issues around Shamima Begum’s latest attempt to challenge the removal of her British citizenship
open.substack.com/pub/rozenber...
open.substack.com/pub/rozenber...
Begum tries again
Former ISIS bride says she may have been victim of traffickers
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Useful analysis by @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social on the history and legal issues around Shamima Begum’s latest attempt to challenge the removal of her British citizenship
open.substack.com/pub/rozenber...
open.substack.com/pub/rozenber...
Good to see reports that the European Court of Human Rights is pressing the UK government to justify whether it acted lawfully in stripping Shamima Begum of her British citizenship
December 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Good to see reports that the European Court of Human Rights is pressing the UK government to justify whether it acted lawfully in stripping Shamima Begum of her British citizenship
That we seem to be collectively losing our minds over the granting of citizenship, several years ago, to someone who expressed some awful views on social media more than a decade ago, says something about the state we are in, I think
December 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
That we seem to be collectively losing our minds over the granting of citizenship, several years ago, to someone who expressed some awful views on social media more than a decade ago, says something about the state we are in, I think
The shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, describing a British citizen as a “despicable scumbag” is something of a new low for British politics
December 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, describing a British citizen as a “despicable scumbag” is something of a new low for British politics
“These reports raise serious questions about compliance with international human rights law and standards, including obligations to protect life and prevent cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment... Preventable deaths in custody are never acceptable”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UN experts raise ‘grave concern’ over treatment of Palestine Action-linked hunger strikers
Special rapporteurs say handling of prisoners raises questions over UK’s obligations under human rights laws
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM
“These reports raise serious questions about compliance with international human rights law and standards, including obligations to protect life and prevent cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment... Preventable deaths in custody are never acceptable”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
“The moral burden on healthcare staff should not be underestimated. Following the death of the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands in 1981, his doctor later took his own life”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
A heavy moral burden as Palestine Action hunger strikers risk death | Letters
Letters: Dr David Nicholl and Dr John Kalk discuss medical ethics in relation to the care of prisoners on hunger strike, and Dr Jonathan Fluxman calls on Labour to act now before the worst happens
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
“The moral burden on healthcare staff should not be underestimated. Following the death of the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands in 1981, his doctor later took his own life”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
What does this kind of stunt achieve, apart from adding to the already long list of pointless arrests, prosecutions and potential imprisonment?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Greta Thunberg arrested in London over ‘Palestine Action prisoners’ placard
Two other people held on suspicion of criminal damage after protest at insurance company’s offices
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
What does this kind of stunt achieve, apart from adding to the already long list of pointless arrests, prosecutions and potential imprisonment?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Good news, if confirmed, that one of the six hunger strikers has ended her strike
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Third Palestine Action hunger striker on remand ends protest
A third individual on remand for alleged offences relating to the Palestine Action group has ended a hunger strike after 49 days.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Good news, if confirmed, that one of the six hunger strikers has ended her strike
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Statement from the PCS Union on the hunger strikers, urging the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, “to meet with their legal representatives at the earliest opportunity to discuss matters”
www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
PCS statement on treatment of hunger strikers on remand
PCS is deeply concerned about the developing situation facing eight pro-Palestinian prisoners on remand who are currently on hunger strike.
www.pcs.org.uk
December 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Statement from the PCS Union on the hunger strikers, urging the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, “to meet with their legal representatives at the earliest opportunity to discuss matters”
www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
“She says she dealt with serious criminals including drug dealers and terrorists in her day-to-day duties... She says the job ruined her life as she was traumatised by it, ‘not so much from the prisoners but from the other staff, who were vile’.”
insidetime.org/newsround/pr...
insidetime.org/newsround/pr...
Prison appoints underage girl to officer post
A 17-year-old girl was hired by the Ministry of Justice to work as a prison officer at HMP Erlestoke – despite a rule saying that no-one under 18 can do the job. The recruitment of officers is hand…
insidetime.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
“She says she dealt with serious criminals including drug dealers and terrorists in her day-to-day duties... She says the job ruined her life as she was traumatised by it, ‘not so much from the prisoners but from the other staff, who were vile’.”
insidetime.org/newsround/pr...
insidetime.org/newsround/pr...
Does the government believe that it has more to gain from inaction over six young, unconvicted prisoners currently starving themselves to death, than it does from acting to prevent an avoidable tragedy?
A thread
A thread
December 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Does the government believe that it has more to gain from inaction over six young, unconvicted prisoners currently starving themselves to death, than it does from acting to prevent an avoidable tragedy?
A thread
A thread
This, from @chetanbhatt.bsky.social’s “The Revolutionary Road to Me”, on home workers subsidising their employer’s failure to provide office space (and the broader commodification of their lives) is spot on I think
December 9, 2025 at 8:35 AM
This, from @chetanbhatt.bsky.social’s “The Revolutionary Road to Me”, on home workers subsidising their employer’s failure to provide office space (and the broader commodification of their lives) is spot on I think
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...