Linda Bellos prosecuted in private by trans activist **Thread title edited at OP's request**

The Wikipedia page on "Private Prosecution" says The [Crown Prosecution Service] can also prevent a private prosecution from continuing by taking it over and then discontinuing it. The CPS supposedly will do this only where there is not enough evidence to make a proper case, or where a prosecution is against the public interest or could cause an injustice. In reaching this decision, it must balance the public good against a duty to preserve an individual's right to prosecute under the 1985 act.

Maybe a person who feels that a private prosecution is actually a public persecution (!!) where no crime could possibly have been committed, could petition the Crown Prosecution Service to take the case over and drop it in this way.

This has to go back to front page news.

TELI ,Trans Equality Legal Initiative was co-founded by Tara Hewitt, Jess Bradley and Michelle Brewer (possibly other co-founders too)
website: www.teli.org.uk/our-team/

"The Trans Equality Legal Initiative is a new initiative aiming to provide the ultimate forum for the discussion of trans rights in the United Kingdom. Covering important legal areas such as healthcare, education, justice and international protection, the initiative will be at the forefront of trans rights, bringing together experts and activists from across the legal and LGBT spheres.

It is our belief that strategic litigation is a very important tool in the advancement of trans rights, and this will be at the forefront of our efforts as we explore the various issues facing the trans community."

"Our Vision
The Trans Equality Legal Initiative works to build a collective and strategic response to the widespread and entrenched discrimination and inequality experienced by members of the trans community. The founders came together with this aim after the Government released the 'Transgender Equality Inquiry'. This was the first Government Inquiry into the discrimination and abuse suffered by members of the trans community in the UK. The report outlined the systemic discrimination faced by this community in almost every aspect of their private and public lives.

Through TELI, we hope to bring together human rights lawyers, third sector trans activist organisations, academics, equality and diversity experts and members of the trans, non-binary and queer community to pool our knowledge, expertise and skill base to inform both strategic litigation and to assist in lobbying for clear and concrete measures to secure equality and safety for members of the trans community. We also hope to consolidate expertise in this area of law to help inform practitioners and activists.

Strategic litigation is often a tool of last resort but can, when used appropriately, effect real change in how the Government responds and addresses wide scale discrimination. The founders recognise from their own practices that it is only through working cohesively and strategically from both a policy and legal standpoint that real and substantive change is made. The founders are committed to realising this change."

The inaugural conference was in 2016.

relevent discussion about TELI on recent threads:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3325882-WEP-conference-questions-for-panel-of-trans-rights-advocating-barristers

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3325623-Jess-Bradley-a-government-advisor-on-womens-rights-suspended-by-NUS-over-indecent-blog-Part-iii

Wasn't it an aim of the TRA legal organisation (forgotten name) to find test cases?

TELI.

theBewilderness - Are they actually going to try to create case law that makes it a crime to teach women how to defend themselves, for women to defend themselves, or to declare themselves prepared to defend themselves?
Of course that's exactly what they are up to!
Wasn't it an aim of the TRA legal organisation (forgotten name) to find test cases?
This is truly terrifying.

@NotTerfNorCis Ash Sarkar is an idiot. Likes to talk tough but is in reality an insecure little girl who still lives at home with mummy. "If you want to go, let's go" my arse 🙄

Glad to hear you've got a good lawyer onside @drradfem - I hope the case gets thrown out and shown for the farce it is.

Paypal also good for me !

Good luck drradfem. If you could look into a fundraising platform that allows international donators to give money without a ridiculous fee that might garner you more money. It's really the only way we can provide support to UK gender critical feminists. I think it was $15-$20 for me to donate to Magdalen's thing, not sure what the site was, but obviously untenable. (PayPal perhaps?)

Good to hear Venice!

Hey everyone, there is no crowdfunder at the moment, we'll let you know if we set one up. Don't worry, we have excellent legal advice

Ok, lots of people have said they'd donate to a crowdfunder, looks like there isn't one at the moment. Somebody should try to contact Linda and set one up.

Are they actually going to try to create case law that makes it a crime to teach women how to defend themselves, for women to defend themselves, or to declare themselves prepared to defend themselves?

*Sorry - criminal solicitor as howls was saying.

I really have been drinking gin (after the jokes on the other thread) I've been down the pub with the husband.

I'll contribute to a crowdfunder for Linda to have a good Barrister.

She needs the best. She is a decent woman, and I find it sickening that she's facing this utterly crap private prosecution. She's somebody who has really done good, and fought for people's rights in the past. Anyone who watches the video can tell she's talking about defending herself in the wake of Tara Wolf's attack on Maria. Tara Wolf, who was convicted of assault in a real criminal prosecution.

DH's exact words on why he would recommend those solicitors was simply 'you'll win' . Choose the best representation-not the most vocal on twitter representation

Thanks Howls

Agree a good firm of solicitors would be the best stating place. No 5 sounds rather like a bad children's TV show.

Thanks for that, howls.

DH would actually use a good set of criminal solicitors rather than a direct access barrister in order to get the case thrown out before even coming to court (barristers are better when something has actually reached trial) Lewis Nedas and Tuckers are two recommendations or if you want the very, very best and money is no object (think £50,000+) than Kingsley Napley.
For a direct access barrister the recommendation is 2 Bedford Row.

howls

Does he know who is an expert in that area ?

Not just for Linda's sake, but for all our sakes, we need to raise the funds, and a slush fund for whoever is next and pick the best and strike back so damn hard t'other side becomes allergic to their hammer.

What would be perfect is if one is attacked, we rise up like Tsunami of pissed offed femalekind and demonstrate that we can't be picked off one at a time.

Take on one, take on us all.

DH was actually rather surprised at the choice of barrister as it's not his area of expertise. I explained why he was probably picked but in law you really do want someone who knows that area of law inside and out rather than someone who 'likes you'. "The law is reason free from passion" as the saying goes.

I would also be happy to contribute financially to any crowdfunder. This is another attempt to silence women - following in from the naming of Challenor’s victim on Twitter

I don't think these are top barristers, certainly not QCs, still it's only a magistrates court so far.
Would like details of any crowdfunders.

howlsmovingcastle84 and many others will be more knowledgeable about this than I am, but is there no realistic chance that the DPP would intervene to stop this private action?

Another one who is happy to chip in to a crowdfunder.