October Forum

We had a good laugh today with local Councillor and criminal lawyer Greg Foxsmith on the horrors of historical crime in Islington! From the Victorian overcrowding explosion that brought with it a huge crimewave right through to the Joe Ortons’ imprisonment, Greg gave an animated, varied and enjoyable talk making present day comparisons with sentences for things like being drunk and disorderly or soliciting. In Victorian times these would get you slung in jail overnight but now jails are full of people for whom long sentences are given, where perhaps some sort of treatment should be given, he seemed to suggest, to change behaviour rather than letting them go on helplessly repeating past behaviours and so ending up with the same consequences!

Our good friend Jennette Arnold turned up and is doing a survey to find out how people feel about their living standards at the moment. Jennette also thanked the pensioners for being so supportive and always showing up with our banner when there are important issues to be challenged such as the Post Office Ccosures and Fire Station Cuts. We thank Jennette for being genuinely caring and we’re glad she’s on our side.