header-logo header-logo

13 April 2018 / Chris Dale
Issue: 7788 / Categories: Features , Profession , Criminal
printer mail-detail

​Book review: Stories of the Law and How it’s Broken

nlj_7788_backpage

“The depressing thing about this book is the clarity with which SB shows that many people beyond the complainant suffer needlessly at the hands of the criminal justice system” 

Author: The Secret Barrister 
ISBN: 9781509841103 
RRP: £16.99
Order via www.thesecretbarrister.com or pick up a copy from all good bookshops 

Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken, by the anonymous author known as The Secret Barrister (SB), describes the present appalling state of the criminal justice system and is one of those books which make you hate politicians. The decisions which underlie the conditions described in the book are the product of more than just budget-cutting; ideology and ignorance play their part, along with a cynical calculation about who votes for what. 

Most of us would confidently assert (or at least assume) that we will never fall victim to the criminal justice system. ‘Victim?’ you ask. There are victims of crime (or complainants who claim to be victims of alleged crimes, as we should probably say down to the moment of conviction), and there

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

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
back-to-top-scroll