WHERE IS JUSTICE NOW?

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Produced and presented by Byline Times

On 12 October, Byline Times’ next open-form live discussion at The Cockpit asks a seemingly simple question: what should justice look like in Britain in 2026?

For centuries, societies have wrestled with how best to respond when people cause harm. Should justice prioritise punishment and deterrence, or rehabilitation and the possibility of change? How do we make room for compassion without losing sight of accountability? And what happens when the justice system itself becomes unequal – punishing some people harshly while powerful institutions and individuals appear to evade meaningful consequences?

Today, Britain’s criminal justice system is under immense strain, with overcrowded prisons, a historic court backlog and deep concerns about the treatment of vulnerable people. At the same time, questions of violence against women, institutional failure and the accountability of those in positions of power have become impossible to ignore.

Hosts Peter Jukes and Hardeep Matharu bring together four guests whose lives and work offer very different perspectives on what justice can – and should – mean.

We’re joined by:

Frances Crook OBE: Leading British penal reform campaigner and former Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform. Her work has focused on reducing the use of imprisonment, improving the treatment of children and young people in custody, and challenging inequalities within the criminal justice system.
David Merritt: Father of Jack Merritt, the 25-year-old prison rehabilitation worker murdered in the 2019 London Bridge terror attack. David has continued to champion his son’s belief in rehabilitation and a more humane justice system.
Mina Smallman: Author, campaigner and former Church of England archdeacon whose daughters were murdered in 2020. She has since become a prominent voice on violence against women, policing and institutional accountability.
Jennifer Nadel: Award-winning journalist, barrister, author and political commentator, Nadel is the co-founder of Compassion in Politics, a cross-party think tank seeking to bring compassion and cooperation into public life.

As well as expert insights, personal testimony, and deep-dive debates, there will be some readings from literary and theatrical classics that tackle questions of justice, and ample opportunities for you to weigh in and ask questions.

We do hope you’ll come along, grab a drink, and join us for an open Byline Times-style discussion in the round.

7:00pm, Monday 12 October 2026