Campaigners demand 'Trew's law' for jailed officer convictions

A new report is calling for the introduction of 'Trew's law', a proposal that would compel automatic, independent reviews of past criminal convictions where jailed police officers were involved. The campaign, named after Winston Trew, a victim of corrupt former officer DS Derek Ridgewell, aims to address miscarriages of justice.

Background to the proposal

Winston Trew spent nearly 50 years fighting to clear his name after being framed by DS Ridgewell. Since 2018, 13 convictions linked to Ridgewell, including those of the Oval Four and members of the Stockwell Six, have been overturned. A further case involving the British Transport Police officer was referred to the court of appeal in February.

The report, produced by the University of York in conjunction with the miscarriages of justice charity Appeal, highlights that no central system exists to record jailed officers or to track reviews of their past cases. Researchers found that between 2023 and 2026, at least 64 officers received custodial sentences for serious offences such as dishonesty, violence, and abuse of position.

Dr Joanna Gilmore from the University of York stated that current laws offer little protection against history repeating itself. She noted that judges have previously commented on officers using their positions to commit serious crimes, yet the decision to review their past cases remains discretionary and lacks transparency.

Current guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service suggests a review may be needed if a witness, including a police officer, is later discredited. However, this guidance does not mandate such reviews.

Details of Trew's law

The proposed Trew's law would initiate an immediate review of cases where an officer's integrity was central to the conviction. It would also require affected individuals to be notified if a material risk to conviction safety is identified, ensuring they can access legal advice promptly. Materiality in this context includes providing witness evidence, preparing key investigative documents, or handling exhibits and disclosure.

Campaign launch

The campaign for Trew's law is set to launch at Lambeth town hall in south London on Thursday evening. This location holds historical significance, having hosted a protest in 1973 against the imprisonment of the Oval Four, who were convicted of offences on the London Underground.

The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment on the report and the proposed law.