Richard Thomson
@richiethomson.bsky.social
Supporter of evidence based justice policy. Involved with Resilience Learning Partnership & BRAG Enterprises. Grateful to have wonderful people in my life and a dug. Scotland.
Reposted by Richard Thomson
How Brexit drained the Tories’ talent pool on.ft.com/4qarx21 | opinion
How Brexit drained the Tories’ talent pool
The party can’t keep expecting successful people to pretend that leaving the EU was a good idea
on.ft.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:32 AM
How Brexit drained the Tories’ talent pool on.ft.com/4qarx21 | opinion
Is Donald Trump the first person in history to spit our their dummy after not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
October 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Is Donald Trump the first person in history to spit our their dummy after not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
Screen time research is full of contradictions. For me, the imperative is to ensure that young people get plenty fresh air and exercise, rather than obsess about screen time. BBC News - What screen time really does to children's brains - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What screen time really does to children's brains
Screen time has become synonymous with bad news - but the science may not be as straightforward as it seems
www.bbc.co.uk
July 31, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Screen time research is full of contradictions. For me, the imperative is to ensure that young people get plenty fresh air and exercise, rather than obsess about screen time. BBC News - What screen time really does to children's brains - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Thomson
Reposted by Richard Thomson
Organised criminal gangs who “corrupt” staff and enforce drug debts with violence hold such a huge influence over jails across England and Wales that it “keeps me awake at night”, the prisons minister Lord Timpson has said.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Gangs hold such influence over jails ‘it keeps me awake at night’, says Timpson
Minister says prison staff who assist organised criminals are being targeted by ‘beefed up’ corruption unit
www.theguardian.com
May 9, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Organised criminal gangs who “corrupt” staff and enforce drug debts with violence hold such a huge influence over jails across England and Wales that it “keeps me awake at night”, the prisons minister Lord Timpson has said.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Will the USA trade tariffs reduce global consumption, and if so, is there an unintended environmental bonus? Would be a great econometric assessment.
April 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Will the USA trade tariffs reduce global consumption, and if so, is there an unintended environmental bonus? Would be a great econometric assessment.
Sometimes, you just need to figure out if you want to be a battery human or a free-range one.
February 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Sometimes, you just need to figure out if you want to be a battery human or a free-range one.
BBC News - Gwynedd house prices plunge as council acts on second homes - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... sensible housing policy at last
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... sensible housing policy at last
Gwynedd house prices plunge as council acts on second homes
House prices in a Welsh county have fallen by more than 12% year-on-year, according to new figures.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
BBC News - Gwynedd house prices plunge as council acts on second homes - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... sensible housing policy at last
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... sensible housing policy at last
Reposted by Richard Thomson
Many thanks to Richard (@richiethomson.bsky.social) from Community Justice Scotland for speaking to our undergraduate #Criminology students. Some good Justice careers and employability questions came up, too.
February 13, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Many thanks to Richard (@richiethomson.bsky.social) from Community Justice Scotland for speaking to our undergraduate #Criminology students. Some good Justice careers and employability questions came up, too.
Reposted by Richard Thomson
Rona Dougall discusses the £1billion HMP Glasgow with myself and Jordan Robertson on Scotland Tonight at 10:40pm on STV. Jordan offers apt insights from having previously been incarcerated in Victorian-era Barlinnie, which this new 'super jail' will replace in 2028. [1/🧵]
news.stv.tv/west-central...
news.stv.tv/west-central...
Barlinnie replacement cost rises to £1bn as delivery date pushed back
The new HMP Glasgow in Provanhill is now expected to be completed by 2028.
news.stv.tv
February 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Rona Dougall discusses the £1billion HMP Glasgow with myself and Jordan Robertson on Scotland Tonight at 10:40pm on STV. Jordan offers apt insights from having previously been incarcerated in Victorian-era Barlinnie, which this new 'super jail' will replace in 2028. [1/🧵]
news.stv.tv/west-central...
news.stv.tv/west-central...
I lived in a Jewish community in the late 1980s. I saw holocaust tattoos and what I now understand to be PTSD. Over the decades, I've seen humanity improve so much, but we seem to now be on the precipice of hate, delusion and anger. BBC News - Holocaust survivors fear...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Holocaust survivors fear Europe is forgetting the lessons of Auschwitz
Eighty years after the liberation of the concentration camp, some politicians have been quick to target outsiders.
www.bbc.com
January 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I lived in a Jewish community in the late 1980s. I saw holocaust tattoos and what I now understand to be PTSD. Over the decades, I've seen humanity improve so much, but we seem to now be on the precipice of hate, delusion and anger. BBC News - Holocaust survivors fear...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Thomson
This is also a straightforward case where you can clearly see that it is a staggering misuse of imprisonment. If this is the way we use such punishments there is little hope of reducing the absurd numbers we continue to keep behind bars.
A violent criminal? A threat to society? A danger to democracy? No, no and no. This is someone being punished again and again for giving a damn about humanity and the living world.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Just Stop Oil protester, 78, has jail term extended after no suitable tag found
Exclusive: Gaie Delap told she will have to serve 20 more days that correspond to period of time at home after recall
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2025 at 11:36 AM
This is also a straightforward case where you can clearly see that it is a staggering misuse of imprisonment. If this is the way we use such punishments there is little hope of reducing the absurd numbers we continue to keep behind bars.
This just seems extraordinary - the rise of the far right against decency just seems so pervasive. "Conservative groups threatening to take companies to court over their diversity, inclusion and equality commitments" - Apple board pushes against diversity rollback call
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Apple board pushes against diversity rollback call
The tech giant has asked investors to reject a proposal from a conservative group to end its DEI policies.
www.bbc.com
January 13, 2025 at 7:55 AM
This just seems extraordinary - the rise of the far right against decency just seems so pervasive. "Conservative groups threatening to take companies to court over their diversity, inclusion and equality commitments" - Apple board pushes against diversity rollback call
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
More sad news about the English probation service, where there’s been endless rearrangement of the deckchairs driven by strategic delusion and underfunding. BBC News - Probation: 'Too few staff, with too little experience, managing too many offenders'
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Burned-out' probation officers fear ex-prisoners will reoffend
Probation officers say they were overworked even before thousands of prisoners were released early.
www.bbc.com
January 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
More sad news about the English probation service, where there’s been endless rearrangement of the deckchairs driven by strategic delusion and underfunding. BBC News - Probation: 'Too few staff, with too little experience, managing too many offenders'
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
New Regional Employment Councils with employers on their boards to support access to employment after prison in England.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Bosses at Greggs, Iceland and Oliver Bonas in drive to help employ criminals
Prisons minister James Timpson writes below for The Mirror on how getting offenders into work can help make our streets safer and tackle the overcrowding crisis in jails
www.mirror.co.uk
January 10, 2025 at 8:14 AM
New Regional Employment Councils with employers on their boards to support access to employment after prison in England.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Richard Thomson
We joined together with the most senior former judges in England and Wales, to call on the government to reverse the trend of imposing ever longer sentences.
Our paper looks at the problem, the causes and suggests what could be done: howardleague.org/news/sentenc...
Our paper looks at the problem, the causes and suggests what could be done: howardleague.org/news/sentenc...
January 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
We joined together with the most senior former judges in England and Wales, to call on the government to reverse the trend of imposing ever longer sentences.
Our paper looks at the problem, the causes and suggests what could be done: howardleague.org/news/sentenc...
Our paper looks at the problem, the causes and suggests what could be done: howardleague.org/news/sentenc...
Reposted by Richard Thomson
"We cannot build our way out of this crisis. The billions earmarked for opening new jails would be better invested in securing an effective and responsive probation service, working to cut crime in the community."
Read more from our Chief Executive here: www.bigissue.com/opinion/pris...
Read more from our Chief Executive here: www.bigissue.com/opinion/pris...
We must seize the opportunity to fix our broken prisons
No one would disagree that the prison system is in crisis. The upcoming sentencing review presents us with a chance for real change.
www.bigissue.com
January 8, 2025 at 8:47 AM
"We cannot build our way out of this crisis. The billions earmarked for opening new jails would be better invested in securing an effective and responsive probation service, working to cut crime in the community."
Read more from our Chief Executive here: www.bigissue.com/opinion/pris...
Read more from our Chief Executive here: www.bigissue.com/opinion/pris...
Macquarie Dictionary’s annual word of the year for 2024 is enshittification. This is defined as “the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided”
January 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Macquarie Dictionary’s annual word of the year for 2024 is enshittification. This is defined as “the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided”
Reposted by Richard Thomson
📢 Join Our Board of Trustees 📢
We believe in the power of lived experience to drive meaningful change. We’re looking to recruit Trustees who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to join our team and help guide our work.
📧 email us at info@nextchapterscotland.org.uk
We believe in the power of lived experience to drive meaningful change. We’re looking to recruit Trustees who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to join our team and help guide our work.
📧 email us at info@nextchapterscotland.org.uk
January 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
📢 Join Our Board of Trustees 📢
We believe in the power of lived experience to drive meaningful change. We’re looking to recruit Trustees who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to join our team and help guide our work.
📧 email us at info@nextchapterscotland.org.uk
We believe in the power of lived experience to drive meaningful change. We’re looking to recruit Trustees who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to join our team and help guide our work.
📧 email us at info@nextchapterscotland.org.uk
Useful article. For me it underscores the importance of quality analysis. I.e which triangulates quant data, qualitative data and draws on the expertise of lived experience and the workforce. We need many lenses to address the Dunning Krugar Effect among strategists.
Meaningless Measurement
We need to go war on meaningless metrics, balancing data with what we see with our own eyes & devolving power to local teams
Just because you can measure something, doesn’t mean you should
https://buff.ly/3DVlpa4 Paul Taylor could be writing about CJS
We need to go war on meaningless metrics, balancing data with what we see with our own eyes & devolving power to local teams
Just because you can measure something, doesn’t mean you should
https://buff.ly/3DVlpa4 Paul Taylor could be writing about CJS
Our Productivity Problem Is Linked To Meaningless Measurement
“What gets measured gets managed—even when it’s pointless to measure and manage it, and even if it harms the purpose of the organisation to do so” There is an opportunity cost to …
buff.ly
January 6, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Useful article. For me it underscores the importance of quality analysis. I.e which triangulates quant data, qualitative data and draws on the expertise of lived experience and the workforce. We need many lenses to address the Dunning Krugar Effect among strategists.
Great to see Nick Hartshorne-Evans has been awarded BEM. The Pumping Marvellous Foundation is a patient led support system. A great example of how coordinating living experience evidence & peer support adds so much to professional knowledge and patient wellbeing.
December 31, 2024 at 8:56 AM
Great to see Nick Hartshorne-Evans has been awarded BEM. The Pumping Marvellous Foundation is a patient led support system. A great example of how coordinating living experience evidence & peer support adds so much to professional knowledge and patient wellbeing.
BBC News - Starmer asks UK regulators for ideas to boost growth
www.bbc.com/news/article... You never know how much of this is politics but it would be a good idea to use more solid economic analysis to support the design and delivery of regulations
www.bbc.com/news/article... You never know how much of this is politics but it would be a good idea to use more solid economic analysis to support the design and delivery of regulations
Starmer asks UK regulators for ideas to boost growth
The prime minister writes to regulators including Ofgem and Ofwat for ideas to boost economic growth.
www.bbc.com
December 28, 2024 at 2:49 PM
BBC News - Starmer asks UK regulators for ideas to boost growth
www.bbc.com/news/article... You never know how much of this is politics but it would be a good idea to use more solid economic analysis to support the design and delivery of regulations
www.bbc.com/news/article... You never know how much of this is politics but it would be a good idea to use more solid economic analysis to support the design and delivery of regulations
I keep perceiving a bias across the justice system. Anchors to a notion that men aged over 25 are impervious to vulnerability. Meanwhile, at the hard edges of trauma, men learn to hide it just to survive for a while. But hiding and ignoring vulnerability is so harmful!
December 13, 2024 at 8:00 PM
I keep perceiving a bias across the justice system. Anchors to a notion that men aged over 25 are impervious to vulnerability. Meanwhile, at the hard edges of trauma, men learn to hide it just to survive for a while. But hiding and ignoring vulnerability is so harmful!
Disappointed to see confirmation that the number of <1 year sentences creeping up again in Scotland. Still well below pre-pandemic but infers that more people have had their desistance & recovery placed at risk through imprisonment rather than evidence based community solutions.
December 4, 2024 at 1:16 PM
Disappointed to see confirmation that the number of <1 year sentences creeping up again in Scotland. Still well below pre-pandemic but infers that more people have had their desistance & recovery placed at risk through imprisonment rather than evidence based community solutions.
Although child protection and children's rights have developed significantly, this can still happen in the UK! BBC News - CCTV shows pupils abused and locked in padded room.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
CCTV shows pupils abused and locked in padded room
Police have said staff will not face action over abuse of autistic children shown in videos leaked to the BBC.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2024 at 10:25 PM
Although child protection and children's rights have developed significantly, this can still happen in the UK! BBC News - CCTV shows pupils abused and locked in padded room.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...