The August Riots

Available for over a year

The riots which hit England in August of this year presented the legal system with significant challenges. In this programme, Joshua Rozenberg explores how the system responded to this very unusual situation. The programme asks why many people were refused bail and examines the sentences given to those arrested during the riots. It also explores the notion of speedy justice, and looks into proposals that the government hopes to use to make the courts quicker, even outside of emergency situations. When does rushed justice become rough justice? CONTRIBUTORS Nick Herbert, criminal justice minister Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London Joseph Wright, duty solicitor with the firm Hodge, Jones and Allen Julian Young, defence solicitor Richard Bristow, chairman-elect, West London Magistrates' Court John Thornhill, chairman, Magistrates' Association Jonathan Levav, associate professor of marketing, Stanford University Rod Morgan, criminologist Producer: Mike Wendling Researcher: Lucy Proctor.