Robert Zara
@robertzara.bsky.social
Retired District Judge, now a trustee Centre for Justice Innovation; bridge player, crossword solver, allotment gardener and dog owner.
Just back from the Bob Dylan gig at Coventry BS arena. The venue imposed a strict ban on mobile phones, while encouraging people to download their tickets. Printouts did not include block numbers. One man and a laptop was the only way to find your block. People were still queuing as the gig began
November 13, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Just back from the Bob Dylan gig at Coventry BS arena. The venue imposed a strict ban on mobile phones, while encouraging people to download their tickets. Printouts did not include block numbers. One man and a laptop was the only way to find your block. People were still queuing as the gig began
There are 200 (!) candidates for seven places on the National Trust’s Council. Is it time to raise the threshold for nominations?
September 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
There are 200 (!) candidates for seven places on the National Trust’s Council. Is it time to raise the threshold for nominations?
Congratulations to @mattwestern.bsky.social for being elected as chairman of this influential committee and on taking a principled stance in the face of governmental resistance open.substack.com/pub/theideas...
Government is dodging scrutiny on national security
The Cabinet Office have refused a request from the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy to take evidence from National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell
open.substack.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Congratulations to @mattwestern.bsky.social for being elected as chairman of this influential committee and on taking a principled stance in the face of governmental resistance open.substack.com/pub/theideas...
Reposted by Robert Zara
For St David’s Day we present our latest Channel 4 News/BBC News long-distance musical collaboration. Ciaran Jenkins (cello) is in Glasgow and I’m in Moscow (on the piano). Together we play Myfanwy. @c4ciaran.bsky.social
Myfanwy - 'The greatest love song ever written" - cello and piano
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
March 1, 2025 at 8:02 AM
For St David’s Day we present our latest Channel 4 News/BBC News long-distance musical collaboration. Ciaran Jenkins (cello) is in Glasgow and I’m in Moscow (on the piano). Together we play Myfanwy. @c4ciaran.bsky.social
This article by the respected journalist Louise Tickle raises concerns about the local authority’s actions, but could do with some editing by a lawyer to clarify exactly what happened: www.tortoisemedia.com/2025/02/21/j...
Judge condemns West Northamptonshire Council over missing boy
www.tortoisemedia.com
February 21, 2025 at 8:15 AM
This article by the respected journalist Louise Tickle raises concerns about the local authority’s actions, but could do with some editing by a lawyer to clarify exactly what happened: www.tortoisemedia.com/2025/02/21/j...
I know it’s Friday in half term but this is appalling!
📈Today, 21 February 2025, 153 out of the 516 Crown courtrooms in England & Wales will not be sitting.
That's 30% of them.
#courtstats #CS21022025 courtstats.co.uk
That's 30% of them.
#courtstats #CS21022025 courtstats.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 8:06 AM
I know it’s Friday in half term but this is appalling!
Many thanks for those kind words! Still waiting for my author’s copies to arrive!
February 12, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Many thanks for those kind words! Still waiting for my author’s copies to arrive!
This investigation reveals a shocking state of affairs. Is the Business & Trade Select Committee going to act? @mattwestern.bsky.social ?https://open.substack.com/pub/taxpolicyassociates/p/companies-house-failed-to-spot-a?r=8x3n0
Companies House failed to spot a £100 trillion fake company
We've created an automated search tool that crawls Companies House data to find companies with fraudulent accounts.
open.substack.com
January 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
This investigation reveals a shocking state of affairs. Is the Business & Trade Select Committee going to act? @mattwestern.bsky.social ?https://open.substack.com/pub/taxpolicyassociates/p/companies-house-failed-to-spot-a?r=8x3n0
The beautiful ceiling of Wyndham’s Theatre in London
January 27, 2025 at 7:44 AM
The beautiful ceiling of Wyndham’s Theatre in London
This submission by the Sentencing Council to the Gauke Sentencing Review is well worth reading by anyone interested in the issues. It is evidence-based and clearly explains the factors behind sentence inflation and the increase in the prison population: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/u...
www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk
January 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This submission by the Sentencing Council to the Gauke Sentencing Review is well worth reading by anyone interested in the issues. It is evidence-based and clearly explains the factors behind sentence inflation and the increase in the prison population: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/u...
This independent endorsement is very much appreciated!
January 8, 2025 at 10:27 AM
This independent endorsement is very much appreciated!
A great analysis of the background to the social care crisis and of the Government’s timidity open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
Profiles in Discourage
Labour's punting of social care reflects a bigger problem of indecision
open.substack.com
January 4, 2025 at 9:48 AM
A great analysis of the background to the social care crisis and of the Government’s timidity open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
Reposted by Robert Zara
People like me who've somehow mistakenly been “allowed in” to this exclusive world, which is still dominated by clans and cliques and dynasties of people born into Russell Group affluence, shudder to think about the hours we’ve frittered away chasing money owed to us... substack.com/@tomcox/note...
Tom Cox on Substack
Today I received a message from the new CEO of my publishers to say that they will not be able to give me a date when they can pay me the money they owe me until after the end of January. That’s when ...
substack.com
January 3, 2025 at 10:35 AM
People like me who've somehow mistakenly been “allowed in” to this exclusive world, which is still dominated by clans and cliques and dynasties of people born into Russell Group affluence, shudder to think about the hours we’ve frittered away chasing money owed to us... substack.com/@tomcox/note...
Reposted by Robert Zara
Looking for a new opportunity in 2025?
I’m recruiting for a Parliamentary Assistant to work with me down in Westminster and help raise the issues that matter, nationally and locally.
🕒 Deadline is 9am this Monday - 6th January
https://buff.ly/41Jp9pk
I’m recruiting for a Parliamentary Assistant to work with me down in Westminster and help raise the issues that matter, nationally and locally.
🕒 Deadline is 9am this Monday - 6th January
https://buff.ly/41Jp9pk
January 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Looking for a new opportunity in 2025?
I’m recruiting for a Parliamentary Assistant to work with me down in Westminster and help raise the issues that matter, nationally and locally.
🕒 Deadline is 9am this Monday - 6th January
https://buff.ly/41Jp9pk
I’m recruiting for a Parliamentary Assistant to work with me down in Westminster and help raise the issues that matter, nationally and locally.
🕒 Deadline is 9am this Monday - 6th January
https://buff.ly/41Jp9pk
Reposted by Robert Zara
Presenting our 2024 BBC News/Channel 4 News musical Christmas collaboration. Ciaran Jenkins and I perform In The Bleak Midwinter. Wherever you are in the world, whatever you may be celebrating, our very best wishes. @c4ciaran.bsky.social @channel4news.bsky.social @petroc.bsky.social
In The Bleak Midwinter - Ciaran and Steve (cello and piano)
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
December 25, 2024 at 8:53 AM
Presenting our 2024 BBC News/Channel 4 News musical Christmas collaboration. Ciaran Jenkins and I perform In The Bleak Midwinter. Wherever you are in the world, whatever you may be celebrating, our very best wishes. @c4ciaran.bsky.social @channel4news.bsky.social @petroc.bsky.social
@derekharrison.bsky.social any sign of this month’s Azed slip? Results are in the paper today
December 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM
@derekharrison.bsky.social any sign of this month’s Azed slip? Results are in the paper today
I think this is my absolute record, both for speed and number of guesses!
🧩 Puzzle #511
🤔 10 guesses
⏱️ 49s
🔗 alphaguess.com
🧩 Puzzle #511
🤔 10 guesses
⏱️ 49s
🔗 alphaguess.com
alphaguess: a word game
Guess the word of the day. Guesses reveal where the word is positioned alphabetically. Everyone plays the same word each day.
alphaguess.com
December 17, 2024 at 7:56 AM
I think this is my absolute record, both for speed and number of guesses!
🧩 Puzzle #511
🤔 10 guesses
⏱️ 49s
🔗 alphaguess.com
🧩 Puzzle #511
🤔 10 guesses
⏱️ 49s
🔗 alphaguess.com
The really surprising thing about this story is that the defendant found 12 firms in the area still doing legal aid!
“A colleague... said to me someone came into the office and said ‘I’m charged with burglary, and I need representation. I’ve been to 11 firms, and they said they can’t represent me.’ And he had to say: ‘Well, I’m afraid that’s now 12’.”
www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...
www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...
Lawyers refusing to represent people charged with certain crimes amid pay crisis
Some solicitors in England and Wales are not taking on loss-making cases such as burglary amid MoJ dispute over legal aid, Law Society says
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2024 at 7:51 AM
The really surprising thing about this story is that the defendant found 12 firms in the area still doing legal aid!
www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...
Very encouraging to read of David Gauke’s support for problem-solving courts
Very encouraging to read of David Gauke’s support for problem-solving courts
Specialist courts proposed to break addictions of prolific offenders in England and Wales
Exclusive: Pilots of scheme to tackle drug-driven crimes have been encouraging, says head of sentencing review
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2024 at 8:29 AM
www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...
Very encouraging to read of David Gauke’s support for problem-solving courts
Very encouraging to read of David Gauke’s support for problem-solving courts
open.substack.com/pub/rozenber... An intriguing hint of criminal justice reforms coming soon?
Fundamental reform
New minister says we must do more to address court backlogs
open.substack.com
December 11, 2024 at 8:21 AM
open.substack.com/pub/rozenber... An intriguing hint of criminal justice reforms coming soon?
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Slowly
Slowly
Amazing. This is what sand looks like under a microscope.
November 24, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Scroll down
Slowly
Slowly
It’s great that FDACs are increasingly being recognised by the senior judiciary and by politicians
But perhaps the most impressive and powerful of all the speakers was hearing from a former FDAC parent who shared her experience of the FDAC process.
November 22, 2024 at 5:33 PM
It’s great that FDACs are increasingly being recognised by the senior judiciary and by politicians
Reposted by Robert Zara
A recent photo of the river Exe and some trees in the mist.
Sorry, I apologise for posting Exe/tree/mist views on Bluesky.
Sorry, I apologise for posting Exe/tree/mist views on Bluesky.
November 21, 2024 at 7:14 AM
A recent photo of the river Exe and some trees in the mist.
Sorry, I apologise for posting Exe/tree/mist views on Bluesky.
Sorry, I apologise for posting Exe/tree/mist views on Bluesky.