News
National Chair’s tenure extended
The Secretary of State has today confirmed a year’s extension to John Thornhill’s tenure as National Chair of the Lay Observers from 1 June 2022 until 31 May 2023. John Thornhill said: “I am pleased to have been re-appointed as Chair of the Lay Observers for another year. This is an important year for the … Read more >
Monitoring Places of Detention During COVID-19: NPM Report
Today the National Preventative Mechanism publishes their 12th Annual Report: Monitoring places of detention during COVID-19 – 12th Annual Report of the UK’s National Preventative Mechanism 2020-21
Lack of services in court on certain days could risk people being remanded unnecessarily
Lay Observers (LOs) have raised a number of concerns in their newly published annual report, the most serious being that courts on Saturday’s or Bank Holidays are sometimes having to make remand decisions without important information, which should be provided by support services. Covid-19 restrictions made in-person visits by LOs impossible at times, but they … Read more >
Extension to Chair of the Lay Observers’ National Council term
The Secretary of State has announced a 1 year extension to John Thornhill OBE’s tenure as Chair of the Lay Observers’ National Council. More information can be found here: Extension to Chair of the Lay Observers’ National Council term – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
UK National Preventive Mechanism’s response to the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture’s report on its visit to the UK
Today the NPM have published the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT)’s report to the UK NPM following its visit to the UK in September 2019, and have also published the UK NPM’s official response to the SPT report. The NPM hope it stands as a valuable representation of how the they … Read more >
Minsterial response to Lay Observers National Annual Report
The reponse from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice to they Lay Observers National Annual Report can be found here
Lay Observers 2019/20 annual report published
Dirty cells, poor support for children and rising errors in medication records a ‘matter of embarrassment’ for the criminal justice system, says custody watchdog People with health problems still ‘falling through the gaps’ in complex prison, police, court and transport arrangements Poor recording of medical needs, lack of accessible sanitary provision for some women … Read more >
COURT CUSTODY WATCHDOG PRAISES STAFF DEDICATION DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK
John Thornhill, the National Chair of the Lay Observers (LOs) – who are volunteers appointed by ministers to ensure that people transported to and detained in court custody are treated with respect and decency – today praised the ‘caring and committed’ approach of court and escort staff during the Covid-19 outbreak. The 60-strong LO team … Read more >
UPDATE ON LAY OBSERVER ACTIVITY DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK
Lay Observers National Chair John Thornhill today updated stakeholders as follows: At this unprecedented time of the Covid–19 crisis our paramount concern is for the safety and health of all involved in our area of activity – detainees, custody and transport staff and Lay Observers. Given these concerns and based on the Government advice issued … Read more >
Poor recording of health needs putting children and young people’s welfare in jeopardy, says custody watchdog in 2018/19 annual report
Vulnerable people ‘falling through the net’ of complex prison, police, court and transport arrangements Poor recording of health risks, unnecessary use of handcuffs and custody suites which are unclean and covered in sometimes gang-related or abusive graffiti are putting vulnerable people’s welfare and their access to justice in jeopardy. The situation is compounded by a … Read more >