Thread by @lucybrisbane

Dave & Clare tell Stories of Injustice @JENGbA event of their daughter Zoe’s exploitation from age 13. Police ignored her and her parents were desperate for help.

Zoe wasn’t involved in the victim’s death. She was a witness, not suspect.

Yet age 20 she was convicted of murder.

She is sentenced to spend 17 years in prison. Her own position as a victim in the case was never considered or acknowledged.

She is grateful to share her sad and cruel story. “Somebody has to listen and something has to change.” #jointenterprise

Kevin Smith tells @JENGbA event:

If we still had hanging in this country now, would they have executed 109 women under #jointenterprise laws? People should think about what @cpsuk decisions mean for women convicted. Court cases are like a game for police, prosecution & CPS.

“Here in this country you’re seen as guilty and you have to prove yourself innocent, against a system that’s set up against you.”

“They’ve destroyed not two people’s lives but a whole family.” - Kevin Smith #jointenterprise

Andrew Mitchell MP tells Stories of Injustice event:

'We have to remember that behind all these cases there is a crime that was committed and grieving families behind that. We must never forget those victims, as @JENGbA recognise and acknowledge.'

'We often think British justice is synonymous with all that is good. I've feared this is often not the case. This veneer gives an artificial protection from what's underneath.'

'Yet it is very elite and very out of touch with what is on the ground'

When Supreme Court said the law on #jointenterprise had taken a wrong turn, you'd think that thought would deprive those in the justice system of sleep. But the truth of the system is lethargy & complacency. 16 women in this report have been convicted since - Andrew Mitchell MP

'I'm here to offer my support as always to the cause because every time someone is exposed to these issues it's hard not to be moved, and to ask questions as to how this could happen.' - @LucyMPowell tells the #jointenterprise event and praises tireless efforts of @JENGbA

'People didn't even realise they were being prosecuted under #jointenterprise', highlights importance of research.

'We've asked the government and @RobertBuckland time and time again to properly keep track of joint enterprise cases, but it is not yet happening.' - @LucyMPowell

@RobertBuckland justice sec we know has huge sympathy for the issues around joint enterprise, but it remains to be seen what he can and will do, @LucyMPowell tells Stories of Injustice event.

@zarahsultana tells Stories of Injustice event 'this report casts light on troubling aspects of the criminal justice system - This can't be right.'

The research found gendered and racial prejudices are cast onto women who are prosecuted, criminilising them through stigma.

'We have to ensure the CJ system is reformed so it treats everyone fairly. It has justice in the name.

There may be thousands of wrongful convictions. The principal of innocent until proven guilty must be upheld.' @zarahsultana #jointenterprise

Jo Barr, mum of teenage sisters Ashley and Holly convicted under joint enterprise in 2011 speaks to @JENGbA event.

When the judge passed down the sentence, they couldn't believe they'd been given sentences that were longer than the length of their lives.

'#JointEnterprise doesn't just take away that persons liberty, but puts on hold the lives of everyone involved in their lives. I spend most of my time grieving for my children in prison.' - Jo Barr

'If it wasn't for the tower of strength @JENGbA I don't know where we'd be.'

Helen's mum Lizzie is 15 years into a 30 year life sentence says #jointenterprise law is not fit for purpose.

'My dad was the victim who was killed, and I also lost my mum when I was 19 because she was taken away by this law through wrongful conviction.' @JENGbA

'Joint enterprise is a race issue, it's a class issue and it's a gender issue.' @IRR_News #JointEnterprise

Gloria Morrison @JENGbA tells event this campaign and the fight against injustice is ultimately about love.

Since 2016 there has only been one wrongful #jointenterprise conviction overturned, despite the Supreme Court criticism of the law.

This report on women is not to take away from men's convictions and children's convictions. These too are the priority of @JENGbA

But the experiences of women are lesser seen and the evidence in Stories of Injustice report is stark & too often overlooked -Gloria tells the event

@DavidLammy tells @JENGbA 'The Stories of Injustice report was heart rending'

Notes there are common themes with women and #jointenterprise, alongside the broader treatment of women in the CJ system, with too many women in this country

'This has to be solved by legislation. You have my commitment that if I become shadow justice secretary we will be reforming the law in this area. But I am very sad we have to wait, we shouldn't have to because it is wrong.' @DavidLammy tells @JENGbA event

'Some of the #jointenterprise issues relate to poor policing and failed intelligence. It cannot be based on hearsay, and because we can't get to it everyone gets rounded up, because that is always going to be punitive against the more vulnerable [and marginalised].' @DavidLammy

'This is a deep injustice. I saw it in my review and it pains me greatly that it is still there despite the debates & documentary, #jointenterprise remains a live issue that is not getting better. If anything this report tells us it's getting worse.' @DavidLammy to @JENGbA

Finally @beckyjoyC thanks the families who have driven this report and @JENGbA

'After all these years, there are so many individual injustices. As a researcher though, it's about showing that this is systemic and it's something we implore the MPs to work actively with us on.'

Read the full report Stories of Injustice: The criminalisation of women convicted under joint enterprise laws here: jointenterprise.co/JE_women.html #jointenterprise