Andrew Malkinson Calls for Dissolution of Miscarriage of Justice Watchdog
Andrew Malkinson argues that the miscarriage of justice watchdog is beyond repair and should be completely dissolved
Andrew Malkinson, Criminal Cases Review Commission, Helen Pitcher, UK, Justice
Manchester: Andrew Malkinson is really fired up about the miscarriage of justice watchdog. He thinks it should be completely dissolved. He feels it’s become a place where denial runs rampant.
After Helen Pitcher, the chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, stepped down, Malkinson shared his thoughts with the Guardian. He believes the whole organization needs a fresh start.
Last year, an independent review showed that the watchdog missed several chances to help him. Malkinson spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and his conviction was overturned just this year.
He’s not holding back, saying the leadership needs to go. He pointed out that Pitcher’s resignation isn’t just about her; it’s about the entire culture of the organization.
Despite everything, Malkinson hasn’t received any state compensation yet. He’s been living on universal credit and struggling to make ends meet. It’s tough for him, especially with bills piling up.
Pitcher resigned after an independent panel found she wasn’t fit for her role. Now, the Ministry of Justice is looking into what this means for her other position with the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Malkinson thinks Pitcher shouldn’t be in any role in the justice system after how she’s handled things. He believes there’s a clear conflict of interest in her dual roles.
Others, like former justice secretary Charlie Falconer, agree that Pitcher’s position is no longer tenable. Confidence in her judgment is fading fast.
In a review of Malkinson’s case, Chris Henley KC criticized Pitcher for not taking enough responsibility. She was supposed to hold the chief executive accountable, but it seems she didn’t do that.
Pitcher, in her resignation letter, claimed she was being scapegoated. But Malkinson thinks she’s more like a former chief executive who faced backlash for a major scandal.
In a recent podcast, Pitcher mentioned she thought about resigning when she realized she wasn’t getting a pay rise. She felt it showed a lack of confidence from the justice secretary.
Interestingly, while her organization was in crisis, Pitcher was off promoting her property business in Montenegro. She only apologized after the review came out.
Malkinson sees some similarities between Pitcher and the former chief executive, saying they seem more focused on their image than on justice.
Pitcher claims she was made a scapegoat, but it seems the justice secretary lost faith in her after a meeting about Malkinson’s case.
She said she was poorly advised about the case and that the review was necessary to understand what went wrong. Malkinson believes the whole organization needs new leadership to really make a difference.
Kim Johnson, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on miscarriages of justice, thinks Pitcher’s claims are just a distraction from her failures. She emphasizes the need for reform in the CCRC.
The Ministry of Justice plans to appoint an interim chair soon to review how the organization operates. They’re still considering Malkinson’s compensation application.
The CCRC has acknowledged their shortcomings in Malkinson’s case and is working on recommendations from the external report they commissioned.
They’re looking forward to collaborating with a new interim chair to address possible miscarriages of justice moving forward.