Official statistics declare that BAME individuals make up over a quarter of prisoners in England and Wales in 2016 - compared with 14% of the wider population. Latest figures show that BAME individuals make up a disproportionate number of Crown Court defendants (24%), and those found guilty are more likely to receive custodial sentences than white offenders. 

This talk focuses on the forces behind the statistics. From criminal justice to life in the community to fairness in the workplace, is there prejudice in the law against BAME communities? If the answer is yes, what can be done to combat it?

As part of the Young Fabians’ growing portfolio of diverse subject areas, the Law Network is a new network for 2016, aiming to shed light on some of the biggest topics in British and international politics from a legal standpoint. The law ensures equal right and protection to those it governs and yet the statistics suggest that it may also offer unequal treatment.

Come along and join the discussion, we will be joined by a variety of impressive speakers:

David Lammy MP

David is MP for Tottenham and has served as chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Race and Community since 2010. A former Minister of State, he qualified as a barrister in 1995. David received cross-party praise for his work on the 2011 London Riots and authored the book ‘Out of the Ashes: Britain after the Riots in 2011’.

David is currently chairing the Lammy Review; an independent review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals in the Criminal Justice System. The review is looking at all parts of the system from Crown Prosecution Service onwards. It has featured roundtable events and interviews with key individuals, from prisoners to judges, across England, Wales and the USA. The Review will make its recommendations to tackle potential bias or prejudice in the criminal justice system when it reports in spring 2017.

Akua Reindorf:

Akua Reindorf is a barrister practising from Cloisters Chambers. Her employment practice covers law ranging from unfair dismissal to race, sex and disability discrimination and TUPE. Her practice focuses on complex and often highly sensitive cases. She appears for both Claimants and Respondents in tribunals and the Court of Appeal and has significant expertise in managing long-running discrimination trials in the Employment Tribunal.

Siana Bangura 

Siana Bangura is a writer, blogger, journalist, social critic and poet from South East London. She is the author of 'Elephant', her debut collection of poetry published by The Haus of Liberated Reading. Siana is also the founder of Black British Intersectional Feminist platform, No Fly on the WALL and is the producer of upcoming documentary '1500 And Counting', investigating police brutality in the UK. She has written for The Fader, Vice UK, the Guardian, and other major publications and is a regular voice at publications such as Media Diversified and Black Ballad. Siana has worked with Benjamin Zephaniah, Channel 4, Sky TV, BBC, Channel 5, and is an increasingly leading voice in conversations about race, gender, social justice, and Black British Feminism.

Tom Asabre - Holt 

Tom Asabre- Holt is a line manager/ lead coach at pioneer sports academy and a semi-professional MMA fighter. Tom’s relationship to the topic is a series of incidents with the police where he feels he was harassed and two false arrests each resulting in 24 hour stays in police custody. 



Join the Young Fabians Law Network on Wednesday 14th September at 7.00pm in Committee Room 17 , House of Commons,London, SW1A 0AA for a Roundtable event on the topic: ‘Race and the Law: Does the law treat BAME communities fairly?’. Attendees should enter through the Cromwell Green Entrance, bring ID and arrive 30 minutes early to allow for security checks.