Harriet Wistrich

Lawyer and director of Centre for Women's Justice, founder member Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize group and Justice for Women and author of 'Sister in Law'

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

Excited to announce that my book Sister is Law will be published in May 2024. I lift the lid on some of the landmark cases I have fought, from Sally Challen to the undercover police scandal, revealing how terrifyingly often the law is not fit for purpose.

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

"We find it hard to conceive of a more heinous plot." I agree with the court of appeal judges - a truly shocking level of manipulation and depravity from wife
Murderer and child abuser Robert Rhodes

[Julie Bindel @bindelj]

Of ALL the domestic homicide cases I have known of, the trials I have sat through, and the pure evil of the perpetrators, Rhodes is the worst of all. May he rot in hell: https://t.co/QLqHzjFneg

[Centre for Women's Justice @centreWJ]

"“These findings reveal a deeply troubling failure to protect women from known risks.”

Read CWJ’s response here: https://t.co/ZPTdujRXS2

https://t.co/KwkEz318Tp

[Sanchia Berg @Sanchia7]

Mum who accused ex-partner of rape wins appeal against family court judge https://t.co/3EmOzD1eAI

[Alice Vinten @AVintenAuthor]

The fact that MI5 was happy to put women and girls in danger by using an ‘agent’ that hated women and was obsessed with violence comes as no surprise.

When will our law enforcement agencies take responsibility for who they employ?

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

https://t.co/jIckjDzsyb

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

@CentreWJ's client, 'Amber' who won damages from Greated Manchester police for their failures to investigate Rochdale 'Grooming gang' was not informed of Shabir Ahmed's release reported all pver the media - she is still in fear of him and his associates https://t.co/2jpT0dGRPM

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

The government plans around this are incoherent and ignore detailed work done previously and ongoing to address the issue of appropriate sentencing for domestic murders - an 'exemption' for domestic abuse victims who kill abusive partners wont work - the courts dont understand

[David Challen @David_Challen]

🧵 Govt plans to raise the starting point for intimate-partner murder to 25 years closes one sentencing injustice, but risks creating another by punishing abused women like my mother more harshly when their abuse is not recognised...
https://t.co/tpzK8Ur8Mt

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

Really pleased to see this report of a novel legal challenge brought by my colleague Kate Ellis @centreWJ suing the CPS for failing to use critical bad character evidence in a historical child sexual abuse case https://t.co/9UarCSrtHt

[Centre for Women's Justice @centreWJ]

‘Amber’, a survivor who was raped and sexually exploited by Shabir Ahmed and later brought a successful claim against Greater Manchester Police, has condemned the failure to tell her he was due to be released from prison.

Read our full statement here: https://t.co/phjLLroWsD

[Centre for Women's Justice @centreWJ]

'Sting' is a powerful, meticulously crafted play covering themes of coercive control, criminal justice failures & police perpetrators. CWJ joined a post-show panel to discuss how the play raises these crucial issues in a direct and accessible way.

https://t.co/PPJIEIfsXA

[Maggie Oliver @MaggieOliverUK]

BREAKING🚨 The woman who accused Harvey Weinstein of r*ping her just walked away from the case — not because it wasn't true, but because the system broke her before it broke him.

Her name is Jessica Mann. She has spent EIGHT YEARS testifying against Weinstein. Two grand juries. Three trials. She told the same painful story over and over, sat through cross-examination about the most traumatic thing that ever happened to her, and never once wavered.

This week, she said she couldn't do it a fourth time. And honestly, who could?

Read what she wrote to the court: "The court gave so many privileges to Harvey Weinstein that it makes accountability nearly impossible. I have not had power or position in any of this. I have not had great wealth, nor have I had my own long-term legal representation."

And then this, which should stop you cold: she said pursuing justice "is better left a pipe dream."

Let that sink in. Not "I made it up." Not "it didn't happen." A woman who told the truth, consistently, for eight years, finally concluded that the system is so stacked toward a rich and powerful man that justice was never actually on the table for someone like her.

To be clear about what this is and isn't: Weinstein is still in prison. He's still convicted of sexually assaulting another woman in New York, and of rape in California. Prosecutors said plainly they believe Mann. They called her brave. This isn't him being cleared. It's him being protected by exhaustion — by a process designed so that a billionaire with endless lawyers can outlast a survivor until she simply can't stand up again.

That's the quiet way powerful men win. Not innocence. Attrition.

[Dr Mireille Pouget XX ☂️ @mireille_pouget]

A British Pélicot affair
How many more, hidden?
What's wrong with men?https://t.co/T6sXTdU8tI

[Police Spies Out of Lives @out_of_lives]

Our site was hacked earlier this week & this important blog post by @JustLisa2010 about #spycops so-called 'genuine feelings' hadn't been backed up.

Reposted here. Please share.
https://t.co/jFtXIXdjBj

[Dame Nicole Jacobs @CommissionerDA]

Very positive to see the expansion of Raneem's Law, putting domestic abuse specialists into 12 more 999 control rooms.

This will help connect more victims and survivors with the right support when they call in an emergency.

https://t.co/dqqL1XCpw9

[Police Spies Out of Lives @out_of_lives]

'Sexual exploitation' is what Helen calls it. This is what #spycops relationships were all about: exploitation, objectification & abuse. Your gentle reminder they were not based on 'genuine feelings' except possibly lust, control & sadistic pleasure.

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

Tonight on Channel 4 a documentary about the case of Stacey Hyde - a seventeen year old who killed a violent man who was attacking her in self defence but was convicted of murder - i acted as her lawyer at her criminal appeal and am interviewed for the doc worth a watch...

[Centre for Women's Justice @centreWJ]

Tonight, Channel 4 will broadcast an episode of The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt featuring the case of Stacey Hyde.

👉 Learn more: https://t.co/EFRp1zUHzM
📺 25 June, 10pm on Channel 4

[Centre for Women's Justice @centreWJ]

Tomorrow: Join us in standing with Lisa Ellwood

🕘9am - 9:45am
📍Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL

We’ve been overwhelmed by the messages of support we’ve received for Lisa - we've shared some below.

[Suzanne Martin @AndhaBandar]

Can Serial Domestic Violence Offenders Change? https://t.co/vhcnXHUxSc

[Centre for Women's Justice @centreWJ]

Take 2 minutes to show support for Lisa Ellwood

Send your message to [email protected]
by 24 June or join us in person at the Court of Appeal on 26 June

🔗 https://t.co/FFRysVY7gD

[Fiona goddard @fionagoddarduk]

Just to make it clear because people keep thinking that my abusers are just getting their sentences reduced to half way when they are not... my abusers were convicted of multiple rapes and sentenced to between 16 and 20 years, EACH. That was reduced to 50% last year, it is now being assessed to be reduced to 33%.... meaning if they are accepted, they will get out this year after serving just 7 YEARS out of their 16 to 20 year sentences.....