Accountability gap needs challenging, new report
CENTRE FOR CRIME
AND JUSTICE STUDIES
There is an accountability gap at the
heart of major British institutions,
according to a new report published
by the Centre for Crime and Justice
Studies.
The report, Challenging state and
corporate impunity: Is accountability
possible?, includes contributions from
a number of key activists engaged in
holding institutions to account, such as
Suresh Grover and Tony Bunyan.
In his piece, Suresh Grover warns that
the UK is in danger of ‘sleepwalking
into an authoritarian state’ and calls
for an open, politically active, response
to challenge institutional racism within
policing. Tony Bunyan highlights how
European governments have created
shadow security structures outside of
existing European legal frameworks.
This includes unaccountable teams
to spy on those suspected of having
extreme views.
Also in the report:
David Whyte argues that corruption
cannot be prevented by focussing on the
individual rather than the institutions.
Sarah Lamble writes on community
based approaches for ensuring greater
accountability.
Ewa Jasiewicz reflects on the
potential for journalism to
support movements promoting
international accountability.
The report draws on speeches
given to a conference in June,
organised by the Centre for
Crime and Justice Studies and
the Department of Sociology,
Social Policy and Criminology at
the University of Liverpool.
Will McMahon, deputy director
of the Centre for Crime and
Justice Studies said:
‘There is a growing
accountability gap at the heart
of key British institutions
that needs to be challenged.
This report offers important
insights about how activists and
academics, by working together,
might better hold powerful
institutions to account.’
* The report is available from
the Centre for Crime and
Justice Studies
.
the barrister Hilary Term 2016
barmag67.indd 7
07
03/12/2015 10:21