Oxford News
Oxford demonstration to oppose plans limiting jury trials
A protest will take place outside Oxford Crown Court on Monday, May 18, challenging government plans to limit the right to trial by jury.
The protest is part of a nationwide day of action coordinated by The Jury Alliance.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Juries are made up of 12 randomly selected, local people.
“A long-established fundamental aspect of British law, they reflect the local community and local democracy, and provide a vital, common sense check on the law.”
The demonstrations were organised in response to the Courts and Tribunals Bill, currently at the report stage in Parliament.
If passed, the Bill would remove the right to a jury trial in cases where the expected prison sentence is three years or less.
Instead, a single judge would decide the outcome.
The Government argues that the new legislation is necessary to address the extensive backlog in the courts, which currently stands at around 80,000 cases.
However, The Jury Alliance and other opponents believe the move would undermine a fundamental principle of British justice.
The right to trial by jury has been part of English law for more than 800 years, dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215.
Carolyn Dodd, a 65-year-old retired social worker from Oxford, said: “On Monday, May 18, I’ll be outside the Oxford Crown Court as part of a National Day of Action.
“Our centuries-old jury system is under attack and our aim is to make sure people know.
“Jury acquittals, particularly in protest cases, have become a thorn in the side of recent governments and the proposal to heavily restrict access to jury trials should be seen in this context.
“The argument that the restrictions will reduce court backlogs does not hold up.”
Protesters will gather with banners, placards and leaflets to make their case.
Flora Page KC, the barrister who overturned wrongful convictions in the Post Office Horizon scandal, recently resigned from the Legal Services Board so she could oppose the changes.
In her resignation letter to the Justice Secretary, she said: “I am sorry to say that I believe the backlog is a cynical cover, something that the officials have worked on intentionally to give you and Ms Sackman the ammunition you feel you need to take aim at jury trial.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Protesters will march from the crown court to Carfax, where they will continue to raise awareness and engage with members of the public about the issue.
Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, told the BBC that young lives are “precious” and we should do “everything” we can to protect them.
He added: “The argument against the introduction of the menB vaccination for teenagers and young adults is actually around cost-effectiveness.
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“The lives of teenagers and young adults are too precious and it is tragic to see yet another death.”
His comments come a day after it was confirmed that Lewis Waters, who attended Henley College in Oxfordshire, had died after contracting Meningitis.
The student was one of three cases reported in the outbreak, which also includes two school pupils in Reading.
Dr Nutt said that it is known that the vaccine is “safe” and “effective”, but added: “The trouble is it’s an expensive vaccine.”
According to the broadcaster, he has called upon the government to consider the wider benefits that could come from rolling the menB vaccination out further.
“Health is an asset that we really must protect,” Dr Nutt said.
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In a social media post shared on Friday, Lewis’ father Sean Waters paid tribute to his son and wrote: “Words simply can’t describe the heartbreak and upset we’re going through.”
He said Lewis developed sepsis “within a few hours of feeling ill”, adding: “He fought hard and was really taken care of by the ICU team, but they just couldn’t save him.”
“We are absolutely devastated,” he added.
He said his son was “funny, sociable and kind-hearted”, and “loved his sisters, friends and family dearly”.
“Life won’t be the same for many of us now that he’s gone.”
On Friday it emerged that the other two patients being treated for meningitis are pupils at separate schools in the area – Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre.
The UKHSA said close contacts have been offered antibiotics as a precaution.
The charity chiefs calls for the vaccine rollout echo that of Freddie van Mierlo, Liberal Democrat MP for Henley and Thame, who said the Government should explore a catch-up vaccination programme.
Currently, anyone born after 2015 has not had the vaccine as it was only offered routinely to babies as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme since that year.
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Mr van Mierlo told the Press Association: “I think what we need to now look at, given what happened in Kent, and now here in Henley, is a wider catch-up vaccination programme.
“We have a cohort of young, young adults at university and at colleges like this who’ve never been vaccinated against meningitis B, who I think now need to be protected. That’s very clear.
“So, what I’m asking the Government to do is look at procuring a large number of vaccines and rolling that out as soon as possible.”
Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care has launched its new initiative, Hear Today, Think Tomorrow, in aid of its chosen charity, Alzheimer’s Society.
Roger Esson, professional services audiologist at Scrivens, said one of the aims of the initiative is to highlight the broader wellbeing benefits of good hearing, such as supporting mental sharpness, reducing brain fatigue and maintaining social connections.
The Didcot Scrivens branch, located on Broadway, has also partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society to train its teams as Dementia Friends.
Sarabjoyt Kaur Minhas, regional fundraiser at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We’re delighted that Scrivens has been supporting Alzheimer’s Society since 2015 and that its staff are becoming Dementia Friends.
“Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends initiative aims to change the way people think, act and talk about dementia.
“By attending an information session, Scrivens staff will have a better understanding of dementia and be inspired to make a difference for people affected in their communities.”
A spokesperson for Scrivens said: “The link between hearing health and mental wellbeing makes acting sooner rather than later all the more important.
“Unlike some conditions, hearing loss has no cure, but it can be effectively managed with hearing aids.
“Evidence suggests that the sooner action is taken, the better the outcomes, both for hearing itself and for the wider cognitive benefits that come with it.”
To help people get started, Scrivens has created the Hear for You – Hearing hub, which includes an online hearing test.
More information can be found at the Scrivens website.
The Crown Inn in Pishill, in Henley in Oxfordshire, has finally invited customers back under the new ownership of John Bloomer and his wife Jane.
Grade II listed and roughly 500 years old, the pub in Stonor Road is in the heart of the Chilterns and has served as a coaching inn since the 15th century.
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But that long history was briefly interrupted when it came into the hands of 50-year-old comedian, actor and presenter Russell Brand in 2020, after he bought it in 2020.
The celebrity is due to stand trial over allegations of rape and sexual assault alleged by four women, all of which he denied, over four to five weeks this year.
Mr Brand, who was once married to Katy Perry, had tried to get permission to convert the building and its surrounding outbuildings into a recording studio and offices.
This was met with fierce objections, however, and the proposal was dismissed by South Oxfordshire District Council.
After further failed attempts to convert it, villagers began to repair the pub was ‘left to rot’ and was in a state of disrepair.
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But The Crown Inn was given a second chance when it was sold to local businessman, Mr Bloomer, in April for £975,000, according to The Henley Standard.
Rebranding the stunning set up as a ‘heritage and wellness’ destination with six centuries of history in the Chiltern Hills, the new owners will bring a classic pub with gastro-Thai fusion dining, a ‘Wild Spa’ with outdoor saunas, luxury accommodation and event space in The Thatch Barn.
The new owners of The Crown Inn have been approached for comment.
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