On 7 September 2020, a knife-wielding man entered a London-based law firm and carried out a “violent, racist attack,” threatening to kill an immigration law solicitor. A confederate flag and far-right literature were allegedly found in the assailant’s bag. The knife used in the attack has been described by police as a “weapon designed to cause serious harm”.A 28-year-old man has been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place, making threats with such an article, racially aggravated public disorder, assault, and making threats to kill. Since then, it has been revealed that a receptionist at the firm was “assaulted and wounded”.
UK HOME SECRETARY INSPIRED THE ATTACK
The firm blames the attack on the Home Secretary, Priti Patel. Many lawyers have claimed the Home Secretary’s recent comments regarding “activist lawyers” blocking the removal of migrants has led to an increase in abuse and threats towards immigration lawyers. A statement from the firm stated that “responsibility and accountability for this attack, in the eyes of this firm, lies squarely at the feet of Priti Patel”. This dangerous rhetoric has been further pushed by the Prime Minister speaking in the Conservative party conference about “lefty lawyers” and “do-gooders” who he alleged have hamstrung the criminal justice system. Many law firms have recently faced an increase in the level of abuse and threats. Resultantly, many have had to hire security guards and introduce other protective measures. Some law firms have even had to get the police involved to ensure their staff’s safety.
Many lawyers have written to the Home Secretary expressing their concern regarding the incident. Following the attack, the London-based firm wrote to the Law Society, asking it to raise the issue with government officials and ensure that such attacks are prevented in the future. The letter points out that the attack occurred “as a result of [the Home Secretary’s] untruthful and deliberately inflammatory rhetoric”. The firm has called for all previous statements made by Patel to be publicly retracted and have asked for an apology or, at the very least, acknowledgement that the comments have been inappropriate.
However, it seems that these calls have largely been ignored. Although the Law Society wrote to the Home Secretary and the Ministry of Justice, Patel has continued to use harmful language. Almost a month after the attack, Priti also targeted “lefty lawyers” and “do-gooders” at the Conservative party conference. She claimed that lawyers representing asylum seekers were “defending the indefensible”.
Pressure on the government to deal with this inappropriate language has increased, as Chair of the Bar Council, Amanda Pinto QC, wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to withdraw his comments. She stated that she “deplores” his remarks at the Conservative party Conference, and that he is wrongly politicising and attacking lawyers for simply doing their jobs. The government is yet to respond to both the attack and the complaints from members of the legal profession.
THE PERSECUTION OF LAWYERS WORLDWIDE
It is not just the UK where lawyers are in danger due to the actions of the government. In Turkey, for example, lawyers are being arrested and jailed simply for doing their jobs. It appears the Turkish government is arbitrarily prosecuting and detaining lawyers because of who they represent, which can be seen as a “fundamental breach of Turkey’s international obligations to respect the role and independence of lawyers”.
The United Nations Principles state that lawyers should be able to carry out their duties without interference, regardless of their clients. It appears now that this principle is under threat, not only in the UK but internationally.
In the UK, we have various ways of ensuring that lawyers are protected from such attacks and criticisms, for instance the Cab Rank Rule, which requires barristers to take on any cases solicitors present to them. However, the independence and respect for the role of the lawyer is being undermined by the government’s rhetoric, potentially leading to the UK breaching their international obligations as a member of the United Nations.
Tanya is a Law student heading into the final year of her degree at the University of Manchester. She is interested in bringing attention to human rights issues arising from her Pro-Bono work at University (volunteering at the Legal Advice Centre and taking part in volunteering projects). Her main goal is to become a Barrister practising in either Criminal or Family Law.