The Chair of the Bar Sam Townend KC has written to members in response to media reports of threats that immigration and asylum law firms and advice agencies could be targeted by rioters this week and with an update on the operation of the criminal courts in response to the riots.
Commenting, Sam Townend KC said:
“These incidents of racist and Islamophobic violence and rioting are to be utterly deplored. This unrest is the context in which the criminal justice system must respond.
“The Bar Council stands with the Law Society in its request to Government asking that the threats against the legal profession are treated with the utmost seriousness. Sadly, we have become all too familiar with social media threats of assault, and individual incidences of actual violence, meted out on lawyers just doing their jobs.
“As matters stand, alleged perpetrators arrested and charged will be processed in the usual way, albeit at speed. There are no current requirements for any additional measures in relation to the operation of the courts.
“We all hope for a quick resolution to this terrible situation.”