Harriet Wistrich
@HWistrich
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'
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.
Very proud of my colleague Kate Ellis featured in Times Lawyer of the Week for her brilliant work helping to expose MI5's darker secrets and fighting for open justice thetimes.com/uk/law/article…
I’m part-way through The Unthinkable by @David_Challen. A remarkable and powerful story of a family’s fight for justice. Gripping and uncomfortable in equal measure, this is a book that everybody - particularly those in the justice system - should read.
Very important and urgent :- As the Taliban continue mass arrests of women, our greatest concern is for widowed women—those who have no man in the house and are too afraid to leave their homes. We are working to deliver essential food and supplies directly to their doors during…
20th anniversary of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and the family’s long battle for justice
Remembering Jean Charles de Menezes shot dead by the Met police today 20 years ago theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/j…
At a time when our criminal justice system is under great strain and many victims are unprotected and do not get justice, it is shocking that limited resources are used to prosecute such victims. It should target those that actually present a danger ow.ly/GRlM50WqHxA
A coroner has concluded that a “catalogue of failures” resulted in the murder of Melissa, who was strangled to death in a care home in 2014 by a fellow resident with a history of sexual violence. theguardian.com/society/2025/j… Speaking outside the court, Melissa's father, James…
Over half of domestic abuse victims withdraw before charges are even brought - and for rape victims, it's nearly 70%. This isn’t justice. It's a system that wears people down until they walk away. Vital reporting by @cathynewman on @LDNVictimsComm’s latest findings.
Remember jean Charles de Menezes
Approaching the 20th anniversary of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes by the Met police, this article tells the story of the historic family campaign for justice (I describe my own involvement in a chapter of my book, 'Sister in Law' theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/j…
Approaching the 20th anniversary of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes by the Met police, this article tells the story of the historic family campaign for justice (I describe my own involvement in a chapter of my book, 'Sister in Law' theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/j…
Great to hear the MOJ are interested in working with @centreWJ and @ToniaAntoniazzi to explore effective defences for victims coerced into offending and other measures to address unjust criminalisation
Over half of women in prison or under probation are victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Today at Justice Questions, I asked what steps are being taken to better protect survivors of domestic abuse who are coerced into offending or use force against their abusers.
Free Emma Humphreys! Self Defence is No Offence!, by @bindelj open.substack.com/pub/juliebinde…
Today is the 30th anniversary of the successful criminal appeal by Emma Humphreys - 17 us old when she killed her violent pimp - 27 when she was released from prison following a precedent setting appeal which recognised the long term impact of domestic abuse @centreWJ
‘But in the beginning - and in the end - it is a story about violence against women and girls, about the importance placed on that crucial issue by the state, and about how covering up for abusive misogynists never ends well.’ bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
Salute your courage @emilyinpublic for your persistence
I honestly cannot express my appreciation enough for everyone who has supported me along the way. But really, without @centrewj, none of this would have been possible. I owe them more than I can ever repay. It's been quite the journey!
NEW: After an extraordinary ten year campaign by @emilyinpublic her abuser was finally jailed this week. As she says herself, "it only took 3,706 days of me fighting" for him to be imprisoned. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
A must read from @centreWJ colleague about her latest novel, Notes from a Drowning lawgazette.co.uk/my-legal-life/…
the judges have expressed concerns about the ease with which authorities like MI5 have been able to hide behind a ‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ policy and recommended that wherever this policy is relied upon that is properly interrogated by the courts. bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwyg…
Brilliant reporting from @DdesimoneDaniel who has helped expose the lies told to the court by MI5 in order to protect a violent misogynist informant
MI5 is in this mess because they covered for a violent misogynist state agent who used his role to coerce and abuse Abuse must never be excused, nor abusers protected MI5 underestimated our determination to hold them to account Now they know bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…