Howard League ‘In Conversation’
A series of one-on-one events exploring issues within the criminal justice system.
From 2020 to 2022, the Howard League held a series of online events called ‘In Conversation’.
The first event was held on Monday 12 October 2020, when Frances Crook, our then Chief Executive, talked to Lyn Brown MP, the Labour Party’s Shadow Minister for Prisons and Probation.
The second conversation was held on Tuesday 13 October 2020 with Sir Bob Neill MP, Conservative MP and Chair of the Justice Committee.
In the third event in the series, held on Tuesday 17 October 2020, Frances Crook talked to Peter Clarke CVO OBE QPM, the outgoing HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, who reflected on his time in the role.
On Monday 7 December 2020, we were in conversation with Lord Ken Macdonald QC, President of the Howard League for Penal Reform, Warden of Wadham College Oxford, founder member of Matrix Chambers and former Director of Public Prosecutions.
The video recording of the meeting is available online here.
‘Howard League In Conversation with Dame Vera Baird DBE QC‘, Victims’ Commissioner (VC) for England and Wales, was held on Wednesday 27 January 2021.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
Howard League In Conversation with Anne Longfield OBE, former Children’s Commissioner for England, was held on Tuesday 16 March 2021.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
‘Howard League in Conversation with Patrice Lawrence‘, award-winning writer for children, teenagers and adults was held on Wednesday 24 March 2021. The focus of the event was on tackling racism in the criminal justice system through stories.
The video of the event is available online here.
On Tuesday 27 April 2021, Frances Crook spoke to Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive of GamCare, winner of the ‘Organisation of the Year’ category at the 2020 Howard League Community Awards. They chatted about the work of the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling and GamCare’s national work in this area, including their Hertfordshire Problem Gambling Project and the launch of a new criminal justice system gambling programme.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
‘Howard League in Conversation with Make Amends‘ was held on Thursday 6 May 2021. Make Amends won the ‘Restorative approaches’ category at the 2020 Howard League Community Awards.
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League, talked with Soo Brizell, Service Manager, Make Amends (Shekinah), and Superintendent Ryan Doyle, Head of Criminal Justice and Custody for Devon and Cornwall Police. Ryan is also the Founder and Chairman of the charity LHDiversity (commonly known as “Local Heroes”).
The video recording of the event is available online here.
‘Howard League In Conversation with Professor David Wilson‘ was held on Tuesday 1 June 2021. Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League, was talking with Professor David Wilson, Professor Emeritus of Criminology at Birmingham City University and former Trustee and Vice Chair of the charity.
The event launched a week of celebrations to mark the centenary of the merger of the Howard Association and the Penal Reform League to form the Howard League for Penal Reform.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
Listen to the conversation in a podcast:
‘Howard League In Conversation with Caroline Adams QPM‘ was held on Thursday 22 July 2021. Frances Crook, was talking with Caroline Adams QPM, Staff Officer for the National Children & Young Persons Portfolio at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, about the work the Howard League and the police have done to reduce child arrests and unnecessary criminalisation of children in residential care.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
‘Howard League In Conversation with Justin Russell‘ was held on Wednesday 15 September 2021. In this event, Justin spoke about his work as HM Chief Inspector of Probation.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
On Tuesday 28 September 2021, Ian Hislop, writer, journalist and broadcaster spoke with Frances Crook, reflecting on her 35 years at the helm of the Howard League as she prepared for retirement.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
Our Chief Executive, Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), spoke to Dr Laura Janes, on Tuesday 22 February 2022, Laura’s last day as the charity’s Legal Director. This event was part of a series of law and practice seminars.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
On Thursday 23 July 2022, Andrea Coomber and Ben Leapman, journalist at Inside Time, spoke to Angela Kirwin, author of ‘Criminal – How Our Prisons Are Failing Us All’.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
On Wednesday 20 July 2022, Andrea Coomber spoke to Tristan Kirk, Courts Correspondent at the Evening Standard.
The video recording of the event is available online here.
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