It's official! I am taking over as General Editor of The Criminal Law Review from the May issue. Congratulations and thanks to
@OrmerodDavid
for 10 years at the helm. If you have ideas for articles, do get in touch crimlreditor
@gmail
.com
Normally
@ucu
is quick to celebrate wins for workers in employment tribunals & to criticise poor behaviour by university management.
@JoPhoenix1
's case exposed a huge problem in HE. I wonder why it is taking so long for
@DrJoGrady
&
@UCUequality
to comment...
have received the Tribunal’s judgment in my case against the OU today: I won! The Tribunal found that I was discriminated against and harassed because of my gender critical beliefs, and that I was constructively dismissed.
Whether you agree with Prof Stock or not - once you cede the point that academics can be harassed or fired for unpopular views, then none of us is safe. I cannot understand a trade union that thinks this is a positive
@DrJoGrady
@JamesSBeal
A union is supposed to defend its members' employment rights, not tell them what to think. Trans people should be protected, but UCU should also be defending academic freedom for gender critical staff & the (mostly lesbian) academics who have been bullied for their views
tbh, I’m sad for the middle aged men who spend their Friday nights getting angry with me (and others, and everything) in the QTs. Hope they find joy and meaning in their lives that isn’t dependent on how much they oppose other people 🕯 🙏🏻
I got involved in the sex v gender debate because of my concerns about women prisoners being held with men who ID as women. As
@JoPhoenix1
said, more academics need to speak up about this. Tomorrow the House of Lords debates
#KeepPrisonsSingleSex
. I hope
#Amendment214
passes
@charilaou_alex
@DrJoGrady
@JessicaLBarnard
So you want
@UKLabour
members to pledge to abolish all the positive measures it helped to enact to combat sex discrimination, end female athletes chances of winning, & allow rapists to be placed in women's prisons? Really?
That it needed an appeal to establish that stating facts is worth of respect in a democratic society is frightening. Lots of people & organisations need to think about how this came about. Even if you disagree with Maya on this, the precedent protects every one
#ThankYouMaya
Hi
@DavidLammy
- As Shadow Justice Secretary, you must know that women in prison have precious few rights to hoard. The right not to be imprisoned with rapists or strip-searched by a male officer who identifies as female should be unequivocal.
women and girls who don't want be forced to undress with male strangers and colleagues
Thaat's who
@davidlammy
is calling dinosaurs trying to "hoard rights"
🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Do they never want to be in power again?
@ayeshahazarika
The hounding of JK Rowling terrifies many people which is why organisations such as
@fawcettsociety
need to speak up rather than 'both sides' the issue. Only 1 side insists on 'no debate' while the other faces threats, ostracism & sackings."Courage calls to courage everywhere!"
Professor Robert Wintemute (Professor of Human Rights Law
@KCL_Law
): change of opinion came from listening to women. A very balanced and informative article
I have nothing but sympathy for the bereaved families but, rather than just repeating "he got away woth murder", responsible reporters should be explaining what a partial defence of diminished responsibility means & what a hospital order entails.
This is a disturbing story but as inquiries are ongoing & no charges yet brought it seems wrong to run a front page story with the suspect's photo, family & educational history, price of her house & quotes about her from unnamed & tenuous connections
Still no comment from
@ucu
about
@OpenUniversity
being found to have unlawfully dismissed, victimised, harassed & directly discriminated against Professor
@JoPhoenix1
Normally
@ucu
is quick to celebrate wins for workers in employment tribunals & to criticise poor behaviour by university management.
@JoPhoenix1
's case exposed a huge problem in HE. I wonder why it is taking so long for
@DrJoGrady
&
@UCUequality
to comment...
@DaniGaravelli1
@ProfChalmers
@heraldscotland
Your argument seems to rest on the premise that JK Rowling's comments were hateful. Scrutiny of the new legislation is impossible if its critics fear being arrested for stating basic biological facts.
@MayorofLondon
@stonewalluk
How do you include and represent the views of women who argue for sex-based services & care? Or gay people who say they are same-sex attracted? Sex is a protected characteristic but Stonewall has replaced this with gender. This is not inclusive.
An Oxford academic has to have security guards for her protection in her lectures but I can't find any comment from our union condemning this situation. Whether you agree with her or not, this is an attack on free speech & academic freedom.
@ucu
@DrJoGrady
Rapists wrongly labelled as ‘women’ by police
Over the past four years, police forces have referred 260 “females” to the CPS to consider a charge of rape.
@Daragh_Murray
You have written about "the harassment of trans staff and students” but not mentioned the the harassment of those with a gender critical viewpoint. This is curious as I am only aware of GC staff & students being harassed, marginalised or forced to issue apologies for wrongthink
@DaniGaravelli1
@ProfChalmers
@heraldscotland
Thanks for replying. You say they don't breach the law but suggest they are hateful. Stating that people cannot change sex isn't hateful. If one side of a debate fears the consequence of speaking, we end up with policies such as rapists in women's prisons which is genuinely cruel
@AdamWagner1
@HumanRightsCtte
@HarrietHarman
It is hard to judge the allegations: "leaders at the EHRC being actively involved in removing rights from trans people in the courts, as well as holding meetings with “gender critical” groups." I have no idea what the former means & it is entirely appropriate to meet w GC groups
@AnnelieseDodds
@LabWomenDec
@YvetteCooperMP
Thank you Anneliese. Will
@uklabour
commit to updating the Equality Act to make clear that biological sex is the protected characteristic & that no man, however he identifies, should be in a women's prison?
This time with the right author: "Women’s prisons can house inmates who were born male but identify as female, regardless of whether they have gone through any physical transformation"
@bindelj
argues we must protect the female prison estate
@Wonkhe
@OpenUniversity
It's "her" university and publishing this on the first day of her tribunal might be something her solicitors want to add to their case
@SexMattersOrg
Because women need privacy, safety (toilets, hospital wards, prisons), female-oriented trauma services (domestic abuse, rape crisis centres) & fair competition in sport
@chasestrangio
Periods & pregnancy is part of it but also equal pay, fair sport, medical research that examines how men & women respond differently to illness & treatment, domestic abuse, FGM, better representation in politics... it's about women, not trans people
@NicolaSturgeon
Thank you for speaking up on this, but rights cannot be protected if you will not name the class of people affected and the specific issues that they face.
Once again, whatever your views on this topic, there are very dangerous practices emerging to silence political disagreement. Raising safeguarding concerns should not result in a police interview
“A teacher and mother-of-three has been questioned under caution by Merseyside Police for sending a letter to Girlguiding UK raising safeguarding concerns.” — Kim Thomas interviews a woman hounded by the police for “misgendering” a gun-toting Girl Guide
@RefugeCharity
@baronessnewlove
This amendment risks making a world where women can't speak up about protecting single-space refuges or rape crisis centres without fear of prosecution
@RoddyQC
Thank you for speaking up on this. I haven’t seen any self-ID advocates losing their jobs for their views or getting threats from gender critical supporters but, if I do, I will condemn that unreservedly
I have never met
@JoPhoenix1
but I've donated to her crowdfunder because the way she has been treated for doing her job is awful. If you care about academic freedom, please chip in - she's nearly at her stretch target
NEW JOB: after 13 years at Manchester, I will be moving to start my academic teenage years as Reader in Criminal Law at King's College London on 1 August
@CommissionerHR
There are some important points in here but it is very concerning if you consider people calling for single-sex prisons, medical care & sports to be "toxic public discourse towards trans people".
In a police state they'd have shot him & the person filming it in the head There wouldn't be an independent police complaints procedure or a right to judicial review of policing decisions. If he had been arrested, no legal aid lawyer, PACE Codes or fair trial. Apart from that...
This is excellent news but highlights the shameful fact that
most people who are wrongly convicted are not entitled to any compensation unless they can prove beyond reasonable doubt that they did not commit the offence
Govt GLO compensation scheme for 492 qualifying Subpostmasters has just opened. After 20 years of campaigning Alan Bates (who advised on the scheme) et al finally have a route to proper redress.
Details here:
@oxfamgb
@napikoski
Thanks Rob, it would be helpful if you would clarify how this product failed your test - exactly what the "inspiration women" are supposed to have said that shows a lack of respect
@lisanandy
The Labour Party should not be attacking organisations that support women's, sex-based, rights & safe spaces. Nor should it close down debate over how to balance conflicting rights. Nobody should be abused & neither side silenced
#ExpelMe
@UCLout
@PrideInLondon
Nobody thinks trans people are a threat to academic freedom but the silencing & harassment of gender critical students and scholars is
@DrJoGrady
@stonewalluk
@UCU
should be upholding academic freedom & free speech but you shamefully failed to support Selina Todd, Kathleen Stock & Jo Phoenix. Stonewall's no debate policy is antithetical to academic freedom & protecting women. Well done
@ucl
None of the candidates for
@ucu
General Secretary has said anything about defending academic freedom. What is the point of an academics' union that won't speak up about this & defend colleagues who have lost their jobs over this?
@DrJoGrady
@ewan_mg
@RedSazzler
@zenscara
This is someone campaigning to be elected as general secretary of
@ucu
- it’s quite obvious she will not support those of us who defend material reality - why would anyone vote for someone who thinks it’s ok to call people with protected beliefs bigots
@rejserin
@JoPhoenix1
@sally_hines
You might need to read the decision again. Nobody's personal identity is threatened by somebody else's views. Part of university is learning how to disagree based on reasoned arguments
@AlexSharpe64
"Menopausal women" seems a touch misogynistic Alex. Bio pronouns aren't for everyone. Some women working in male dominated jobs say it's detrimental to draw attention to the fact they are women, & not everyone believes in gender ideology or compelled speech.
Law students are qualifyng with upwards of £60k debt. Fees such as this are insulting & mean criminal work will be almost impossible for those without supportive families /partners. It also reverses the efforts made to improve diversity in the professions
We will still be paid not a penny to read through thousands of pages of disclosure - the vital material that could hold the key to saving an innocent person from years in prison. Our median take-home pay will still be a modest £27k. The most junior will still take home under £8k.
Please read-
@OpenUniversity
Criminal Law tutor dismissed for questioning policy which required using a rapist's preferred pronouns and normalising paedophilia
@DrProudman
@Independent
Feminism is "the struggle to end sexist oppression” - it's not about solving every problem. How can we identify the problems women face if we can't define woman? Or protect vulnerable women in prisons or rape crisis centres if we can't protect the single sex spaces they need?
The AG's appeal against Valdo Calocane's sentence has unsurprisingly been rejected. As I argued in last month's Crim LR , this has caused further distress to the families & risks damaging public confidence in the judiciary. She should not have made it
"LSE is only the second major university to have had the courage to stand up to Stonewall, following UCL. This is a brave first step towards providing a genuinely inclusive environment for staff & students." By my colleague
@johnarmstrong5
via
@spectator
@racheledini1
I don't recognise the situation you are describing but Twitter does reinforce echo chambers. Having reflected on the issue so much, could you explain what persuaded you that rapists should be transferred to women's prisons?
"It occurs to me that incarcerating a male rapist in a women’s prison is a unique example of allowing a convicted offender to maintain access to his weapon and potential victims."
@polblonde
@Amandycat
Why don't you go & listen to what she has to say? You might learn something about avoiding defamation & strawman arguments and how to challenge arguments you disagree with
@Transsomething
@AveryOfBirds
@UCLout
@PrideInLondon
I think we both know that isn't true. Most universities are signed up to Stonewall, UCU would back them, & the press would be all over a case like that. It is only gender critical scholars who have suffered career detriment over this
@vonny_bravo
The dream lives on! On a bus in West London last year an 11/12 yr old boy was telling a preposterous story. His friend theatrically stroked his chin in reply saying slowly "Oh Gan-DALPH!"
Human rights group
@AmnestyIreland
calls on the media & politicians to "no longer provide legitimate representation" to those expressing concerns about women & girls' safety re gender ID, deeming them "misinformed & transphobic" offering a "despicable brand of harassment."
Whatever your views are on this topic, if we do not stand up to protect academic freedom unequivocally, then we all lose.
@KCL_UCU
@ucu
need to protest against this
#IStandWithJohnArmstrong
🧵The research I wished to conduct into athletes' views on trans inclusion has been blocked by the King's College London (KCL) ethics committee. The letter rejecting the application stated that by using the word "males" I was misgendering athletes.
@Colmogorman
@SResisters
@VictoriaPeckham
Mr O'Gorman, what do you think should happen when a man convicted of rape says he is trans? (This is a real example, not scaremongering). Do you have a suggestion for how vulnerable women prisoners can be protected from someone exploiting the right to self ID?
@fawcettsociety
What about the right to not be imprisoned/treated with men; to choose the sex of your rape counsellor & to know that DV refuges will not allow men in? Single-sex toilets, language that refers accurately to women, not "cervix-havers". Accurate stats to measure inequalities...?
@CollegeofPolice
@WeAreFairCop
@Docstockk
Your guidance says a non crime hate incident will not be disclosed on an enhanced DBS check "unless it is relevant to the job". Can you give an example of when it would not be considered relevant for a teacher or carer?
"Staff and students must be free to discuss and debate controversial issues." So why won't
@ucu
and
@DrJoGrady
condemn the threats made to
@selina_todd
that mean she has security guards in her lectures?
UCU general secretary
@DrJoGrady
said: “The Prevent programme threatens freedom of speech and stifles debate and open discussion. Staff and students must be free to discuss and debate controversial issues without fear of being referred to the authorities.”
@DrProudman
If your "feminism" includes men who identify as women then it prioritises their needs of the safety & dignity of women (in particular in prisons); it removes fair competition in female sport; and makes discrimination claims much harder
It's hard to know where to start with this dangerous suggestion from
@anncoffey_mp
that jury trials should be scrapped for rape cases. "Rape myths" do need to be addressed but defendants are still entitled to a presumption of innocence
Disgraceful reporting by
@thetimes
about the arrested lorry driver. He hasn't been charged so to suggest he could be a "mass murderer" & to publish personal details about him & his family is inexcusable
@IpsoNews
@jameswmullen
Agreed. CPS need to do better at explaining these cases though: "a lengthy investigation showed this was an awful accident, not a crime. The driver had a fit & lost control of the car. She had never had a fit before & there was nothing she could have done to prevent this tragedy"
@eoinmauricedaly
@michaelpforan
What evidence would you like Eoin? The disproportionate number of males identifying as female in prison being sex offenders? The evidence of girls feeling uncomfortable / embarrassed getting changed in front of boys? The unfairness of sport if boys can ID as girls?
@Barristerblog
So, he wants defendants and witnesses dragged to court for a hearing that will not go ahead; an attempt to publicly drive a wedge between barrister & client; & is threatening to report you to your regulator? Just as well he's not taking sides eh?