Latest grant from Strategic Legal Fund

One additional grant was awarded in the July round.

Commons Law CIC – £7,636

Commons, a not-for-profit criminal law firm, has been awarded funds to carry out preliminary research into the expansive reach of the government’s immigration control and hostile environment policy into the criminal justice system. Since November 2017, there has been a requirement for defendants in criminal proceedings to provide their nationality to the courts. Failure to provide this information is a criminal offence, regardless of whether immigration status has any bearing on the substantive offence or issues of bail. It is also retained regardless of whether the defendant is acquitted or the proceedings are discontinued.