Is anyone judicially reviewing this stuff?

*their

If a lawyer really wants to do it for free and there's no way we can afford to pay then we would have no alternative.

However.

I was waiting for some suggestion that someone works for free in this. I think we should aim to have at least some pay. Women do an awful lot of work for free already. We shouldn't perpetrate that. Maybe in the initial stages of a charity it would be necessary, but the goal, I feel, should be that women are compensated for there time, as much as possible.

And I'd add to crowdfunding too.

Yes I've said elsewhere Elletoro that we should have something like TELI.

As to costs, ideally we would find lawyers to act pro bono which would keep costs down.

Even if our lawyers are doing it for free there is still financial risk though, the chance we'd have to pay for the other side's costs if we lost for example.

Do we need to set up a charity to hold the funds? Like TELI

Now that I’ve cancelled Ocado smartpass and union membership, I have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.

If any of the women assaulted by K White were to pursue legal action action, I would chip in.

Where councils have written "gender" instead of "sex" in their equality duty pages, can we legally challenge that? When I get a survey at work that says "gender" instead of "sex" and then goes on to ask questions relating to biology, is it possible to challenge that?

Ideally there needs to be some sort of centralised fighting fund administered by people who know their stuff, that can be used for various strategic legal purposes. It's too slow waiting for an event and then crowdfunding - need to have the money and sympathetic legal team already in place with an eye to jumping in where most beneficial.

How much do we need to raise?

Tweet: Forgive us if we are not responding or tweeting much today. We are offline investigating events of last night and considering next steps. Thank you for offers of help - legal & otherwise - we are in touch with lawyers

twitter.com/Womans_Place_UK/status/1045994413426659329

Overall their timeline is worth reading through for the last 48 hrs or so.

Arranfan

I'm not on twitter so I hadn't seen that.

Yes the financial aspect is a big stumbling block. There would have to be a massive crowd funding effort.

Paradoxically I think an individual (e.g. Woman assaulted by a TW prisoner) would be easier financially because they would probably get legal aid. But it would be harder to find someone in that position prepared to go through litigation (by definition they are most likely vulnerable and marginalised).

From WPUK's Twitter it seems as if some legal people might be in touch with them tho' I have no idea how it might/not pan out.

None of the women's organisations have the funds to afford an action afaik and this seems to be a substantial reason for them not to divert resources to something that would take money they don't have and would tie up personnel (also limited and voluntary).

However, for some time I've wondered how much longer the groups have to weather being characterised as "far right" "hate groups" "reported to anti-terrorist units" "categorised alongside Britain First" before there is a need to push back because its impeding the right to speak/assemble etc.

As is obvious, I know nothing - I fret.

Fellow lawyers - I'm mulling over the Leeds cancellation of the meeting. Sex discrimination surely? Articles 9/10/11/14 ECHR engaged I would think. Public Sector Equality Duty issues.

Could we collectively give some serious thought to whether this would be a good candidate for litigation? Has anyone discussed with WPUK whether they would be interested?

Yes the Leeds issue seems like a good one to consider- especially as (I understand) the last minute cancellation and then having to race around to find a new less accessible venue meant some (presumably less able bodied) people were unable to attend.

I am a lawyer and have thought a lot about the need to get more of this into court. The TRA bullshit is not going to wash under legal scrutiny.

The Leeds Council decision would be an interesting JR case.

I sincerely hope personal injury and HR lawyers are crawling all over the cases of Karen White’s fellow female prisoners. The insurance premiums will rise and prison insurers will start to put pressure on the prison governors.

Any female prisoners housed with men who are reading this: call a litigation lawyer!

Yes happy for anyone to PM me.

I would also happily donate to fund legal challenges etc. Fab stuff :)

Oh, this is very encouraging! I'd be very happy to donate to a crowdfunder. Please do this!

Definitely time for a test case or two- but it is important to pick the right situation to avoid making bad law. I'm a barrister with relevant experience in human rights, equality act and discrimination law. Happy to help.

Yes might be good to keep specifics re pending litigation off the public forum

Woulddolly, Brugmansia May I PM you.

maybe it's time?

[[https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3378894-Leeds-WPUK-cancelled?watched=1&msgid=81382599#81382599]]

Ineed - yes, those women would be ideal candidates in many ways to bring a JR except for the passage of time issue. They should still be able to complain through the normal prison service channels, but I don't know what the outcome could be given that KW has now been moved. Eg I don't know if they are eligible for compensation

Thanks would and curious. Would any of the women assaulted by K White have a case and how would this proceed? Are they even offered that option? Obviously it should be their decision (and I can imagine the probably have zero faith in the system) but at the moment do they even have the chance to hold anyone to account for the harm caused to them?

I just want to say this is a v positive thread. I'd give to a crowd funder.
Someone is currently fund raising for a challenge to the labour party policy but I don't know what the legal implications would be or how it compares to the type of thing you are talking about.