header-logo header-logo

Joint enterprise: justice denied?

18 March 2022 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7971 / Categories: Features , Criminal , Profession
printer mail-detail
75215
Post-Jogee, the failure of the courts to get to grips with the iniquity of joint enterprise is shocking, says Jon Robins

It has been six years since the highest court in the land ruled that the controversial law of joint enterprise had taken ‘a wrong turn’ in 1984. That anniversary was marked earlier this year with a demonstration outside of the Supreme Court by the campaign group Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association (JENGbA), dressed, as ever, in bright red. Families of those with loved ones convicted under the controversial common law doctrine hoped ‘justice’ would follow the 2016 ruling in the case of R v Jogee [2016] UKSC 8. By contrast, tabloid newspapers worked themselves up into a froth of righteous outrage, with the Daily Mail predicting that ‘more than 500 killers could seek to have their sentences quashed’.

Back in 2016, Lord Neuberger declared it ‘the responsibility of this court to put the law right’. That ruling was seen as a landmark judgment, with the Criminal Bar Association

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

London promotion underscores firm’s investment in white collar and investigations

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Private client team strengthened by partner appointment

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School highlights a turbulent end to 2025 in the civil courts, from the looming appeal in Mazur to judicial frustration with ever-expanding bundles, in his final NLJ 'The insider' column of the year
Antonia Glover of Quinn Emanuel outlines sweeping transparency reforms following the work of the Transparency and Open Justice Board in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll