Liverpool Law Society are conscious of the events that have taken place in the past two weeks in our region and across the country.
We first send our condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Southport and applaud the subsequent positive efforts of the community, by-standers, paramedics, emergency staff, hospitals, police, colleagues, and courts, to try and heal the pain caused by those events.
A distinction however should be drawn between those events and the unrest and violence that we have subsequently seen across the country, including in Liverpool and the Merseyside region which is deplorable. We stand with The Law Society in denouncing these events and thank them for the practical steps they have taken in writing to the government expressing their concern about the threats against those working in the legal profession and the resources required to deal with these issues and add our support to their comments.
This Society has not previously made a statement as it did not want to unnecessarily draw attention to these events. However, it is aware that threats have recently been made targeting legal colleagues and this Society wants to ensure that our colleagues know we are here for them and support them.
Attacking centres for refuge, advice centres, law firms, or courts that provide advice and support to all the community is unacceptable and undermines the fundamentals of our democracy. The process of law and the rule of law cannot and will not be disrupted by intimidation and violence. Justice is not served by violence. We support our colleagues doing essential work, who should be able to practice and serve their clients (whoever they are) safely.
We therefore ask any colleagues who feel threatened, have been affected by the events of the past weeks, or have experienced disruption to their ability to provide their vital services, to contact Liverpool Law Society and we will assist where we can. Otherwise, we thank our colleagues and our community for the support they have already provided each other and for upholding the values of our democracy and community.
7 August 2024