Andrew Malkinson vows to proceed struggle for reform after 17 years wrongfully jailed | EUROtoday

Andrew Malkinson, who was exonerated final 12 months after spending 17 years in jail for a rape he didn’t commit, has mentioned that his struggle to reform the authorized system is much from over.

Mr Malkinson, 59, had his conviction overturned in 2023 after years of sustaining his innocence. He informed The Sunday Times that his “life was desolated” by the wrongful conviction, and that he’s decided to vary the justice system, beginning with the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

“I haven’t finished. I want to change a lot more,” he mentioned. “It’s a good feeling that something so dreadful and tragic is leading to real change.”

His feedback come as Dame Vera Baird KC is ready to grow to be the interim chairwoman of the CCRC.

The barrister will take up the put up from June 9 till December 8 subsequent 12 months, and is tasked with finishing up an pressing evaluation into the operating of the unbiased physique and making certain that classes have been realized from earlier circumstances.

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Mr Malkinson mentioned he remained “incandescent” on the CCRC, in addition to the Government’s compensation scheme, which makes it troublesome for wrongly-convicted folks to obtain payouts.

“This is an assault on innocent people,” he mentioned.

“It’s an assault on the public, because any member of the public could end up where I was. Anybody could be the next victim, because there will be more.”

Despite having his conviction quashed in 2023, he needed to wait till February to get his first compensation cost.

Mr Malkinson had been residing on advantages and meals banks from his launch till then.

Under the 2014 Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, funds are solely awarded to individuals who can show innocence past an affordable doubt.

Ministry of Justice knowledge confirmed that solely 6.5% of people that had utilized for compensation resulting from a miscarriage of justice between April 2016 and March 2024 had been awarded payouts. Of 591 individuals who utilized, 39 had been granted compensation.

Figures confirmed that 35 have since acquired cash, with common quantities totalling £68,000.

In an announcement in February, lawyer Toby Wilton welcomed the cost, however mentioned the £1 million cap on compensation payouts ought to be lifted.

This is at present the utmost quantity that may be paid to victims of miscarriages of justice who’re wrongly jailed for not less than 10 years.

“The Government should lift the current cap on compensation, and end the twisted quirk that whilst awards under other compensation schemes are excluded from assessment for benefits,” he mentioned.