United Kingdom: Concerns over rising threats and violence against lawyers
The OIAD is extremely concerned about the increase in attacks and threats against lawyers in the United Kingdom. Mark Evans, President of the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW), recently reported a growing hostile climate against legal professionals, particularly those specialising in criminal, immigration and human rights law.
In their survey to be published next month, nearly half of solicitors who experienced a threat reported that it affected their mental health or emotional wellbeing, and more than two in five said they considered leaving the area of law they practice because of the threats they faced.
This violence is part of a broader context of radicalisation of political and media rhetoric, with far-right and anti-immigration groups targeting law firms and legal professionals.[1]
In reaction, the main professional bodies in the United Kingdom (LSEW, the Bar Council, the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates, and the Law Society of Northern Ireland) have issued a joint statement denouncing death threats, rape threats and verbal abuse.
The Observatory fully supports the above-mentioned statement and calls for a strong reaction from the UK authorities to guarantee the safety of all lawyers.
The Observatory urges the United Kingdom to implement protection mechanisms for legal professionals under threat, and to ratify as a matter of urgency the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.
The Observatory encourages public awareness of the role of lawyers in defending rights and the need to protect their independence in the face of intimidation.
The Observatory recalls the basic principles of the United Nations relating to the role of the Bar, in particular principles 16, 17 and 18:
“Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.” (Principle 16)
“Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.” (Principle 17)
“Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.” (Principle 18)
[1] International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger, “OIAD press release on threats against lawyers in the UK”, 20 August 2024, available online.
