This week, the Justice Beat focuses on fracking and counter-terrorism and highlights a crowdfunding masterclass taking place on 25 October 2018 at Doughty Street Chambers.
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Fracking protesters liberated
1. Fracking is back in the news as the Court of Appeal quashes “manifestly excessive” prison sentences imposed on three fracking protesters, writes The Guardian. The protesters were convicted of causing a public nuisance outside a fracking site near Blackpool, and were sentenced to imprisonment. But following the Court of Appeal’s decision, the protesters walked free this week.
2. Their release comes at a time when fracking is set to restart in England after a hiatus of seven years as the High Court rejected an injunction to block fracking operations in Lancashire, The Independent reports. Campaigners are currently raising funds on CrowdJustice for costs associated with challenging fracking operations at Preston New Road.
Amendments posed to Counter-Terrorism Bill
3. Is the Government’s Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill going to undermine free speech? That’s what the Joint Committee on Human Rights alleges as they propose 29 amendments to the Bill to be debated in Parliament. First on the Committee's list to axe or amend is Clause 1 of the Bill, which creates an offence of expressing an opinion or belief in support of a proscribed organisation.
Gender Recognition Act reform
4. The process for changing legal gender could be simplified following a Government consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Trans rights campaigners are calling the current process for changing gender identity “outdated” and “intrusive”, the BBC writes.
5. The present system for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate “may be creating unnecessary barriers” for transgender people to have their change of sex recognised according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 closes on Friday 19 October 2018.
Crowdfunding Masterclass
Next Thursday, Doughty Street Chambers are hosting a Crowdfunding Masterclass. Doughty Street barristers and CrowdJustice CEO Julia Salasky will share their insights into successful crowdfunding for legal matters. The event is free to attend and open to all, with no prior knowledge or experience of crowdfunding required.
When: 18:30 – 20:00 Thursday 25 October 2018
Where: Doughty Street Chambers 53-54 Doughty Street London WC1N 2LS
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This week on CrowdJustice, the parents of Natasha Abrahart, who took her own life after telling her university and health services she was suicidal, are raising funds to support an inquest into Natasha’s death, environment campaigners are fundraising to challenge the grant of a licence to dredge Goodwin Sands in Dover, and three anti-hunting groups are raising funds to challenge an injunction preventing them from monitoring the activities of Fitzwilliam Hunt.