Gemma Abbott

Gemma Abbott

@gemabbott.bsky.social

Legal Director @thehowardleague.bsky.social. Trustee @dignityindying.org.uk. Views my own. She/her 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

6.8K followers2.4K following865 posts

Gemma Abbott reposted

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

A long-ish thread on racial disproportionalities in the use of force in prison - and why this makes yesterday’s decision to authorise the use of PAVA spray in children’s prisons all the more appalling - please do read and share 🙏

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023 It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023 It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white

View full thread
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

A long-ish thread on racial disproportionalities in the use of force in prison - and why this makes yesterday’s decision to authorise the use of PAVA spray in children’s prisons all the more appalling - please do read and share 🙏

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023 It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023 It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white

View full thread
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 It is almost unfathomable that - on the same day as publishing research laying bare the racial disproportionalities of the use of force in adult prisons - that Govt would authorise the use of PAVA spray against children in prison www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

theguardian.comUse of pepper spray authorised at young offender institutions in England and WalesDecision by Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, means Pava spray could be used on children as young as 15
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023 It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white

View full thread
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Govt’s own evaluation on the use of force - published yesterday - states “prisoner behaviour does not fully account for the levels of PAVA or Baton use experienced by black men in prison”

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023 It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white

View full thread
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 When Govt researchers spoke to people in prison about the use of force by officers, some identified “disgusting” targeting towards those from racialised minorities “They’ll go for the Black guy first”

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023 It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

🧵Racial disproportionality in the use of PAVA spray in prisons is profound - you are MUCH more likely to be pepper sprayed if you are Black than white (A reminder - these stats are from the MoJ’s use of force evaluation published yesterday)

Gemma Abbott reposted

Lottie
@sellottie.bsky.social

Important campaign against a barbaric decision which will - per the government’s own evaluations of PAVA in adult prisons - fail to deter violence in YOIs and instead further damage fragile trust between children in custody and staff

The Howard League@thehowardleague.bsky.social

The Ministry of Justice has announced the introduction of PAVA spray for use against children in prison. The Howard League will take whatever steps necessary, including legal action, to challenge this decision. Please support our crowdfunder 🙏 www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-th...

crowdjustice.comStop the use of PAVA spray on children in prisonThe Howard League is a national charity campaigning for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

“Far from keeping children and staff safe, normalising the use of violence in this way risks making conditions even worse for those living and working in prison” - @thehowardleague.bsky.social Please support our campaign against this terrible decision 👉 www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-th...

crowdjustice.comStop the use of PAVA spray on children in prisonThe Howard League is a national charity campaigning for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

In adult prisons, Black men are significantly more likely to be sprayed with PAVA than white men - in fact, this is more than 5 times more likely for Black men under 25 We are deeply concerned that this disproportionality will be mirrored in children’s prisons

The Howard League@thehowardleague.bsky.social

The Ministry of Justice has announced the introduction of PAVA spray for use against children in prison. The Howard League will take whatever steps necessary, including legal action, to challenge this decision. Please support our crowdfunder 🙏 www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-th...

crowdjustice.comStop the use of PAVA spray on children in prisonThe Howard League is a national charity campaigning for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.

Gemma Abbott reposted

The Howard League
@thehowardleague.bsky.social

The Ministry of Justice has announced the introduction of PAVA spray for use against children in prison. The Howard League will take whatever steps necessary, including legal action, to challenge this decision. Please support our crowdfunder 🙏 www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-th...

crowdjustice.comStop the use of PAVA spray on children in prisonThe Howard League is a national charity campaigning for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

We can’t stand by and let this happen Please support @thehowardleague.bsky.social’s fundraiser to challenge this decision 🙏 www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-th...

crowdjustice.comStop the use of PAVA spray on children in prisonThe Howard League is a national charity campaigning for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Govt has just has announced that PAVA spray will be authorised for use in children’s prisons Hard to imagine a more profound failure than arming prison officers in the name of keeping children safe Follow @thehowardleague.bsky.social for updates across the day howardleague.org/do-not-let-p...

howardleague.orgThe Howard League | Don’t let PAVA spray be used on childrenPAVA spray: Join the Howard League campaign against its use on children in prison
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

Govt has just has announced that PAVA spray will be authorised for use in children’s prisons Hard to imagine a more profound failure than arming prison officers in the name of keeping children safe Follow @thehowardleague.bsky.social for updates across the day howardleague.org/do-not-let-p...

howardleague.orgThe Howard League | Don’t let PAVA spray be used on childrenPAVA spray: Join the Howard League campaign against its use on children in prison
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

“We condemn the decision to introduce PAVA spray into children’s prisons” - @thehowardleague.bsky.social The Howard League will take whatever steps necessary, including legal action, to challenge this decision howardleague.org/news/howard-...

howardleague.orgThe Howard League | Howard League responds to use of PAVA against children in prisonThe Howard League for Penal Reform has responded to condemn the government’s decision to introduce PAVA spray for use against children in prison, announced today (Thursday 24 April).
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

Catching up on my reading list - it’s been a while since I posted anything but I’ve enjoyed quite a few new books of late This was my favourite by far👇💙📚 Wondering what to start on next - anyone got any recommendations?

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 53/? - Greta and Valdin by Rachel R Reilly I absolutely loved this. It’s funny, smart, moving and interesting. It’s mostly about relationships - with family, partners, places, self. Highly, highly recommended 💙📚

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

Another glorious book from the #WomensPrize long list. I adored this👇 💙📚

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 41/? - Amma by Saraid de Silva Extraordinary. It weaves together the experiences of three generations of one family, across time and place, fractured and bound by history and trauma, dealing with sexual and racial violence. Lyrical and evocative, hopeful as well as heartbreaking 💙📚

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

Anyone in charge of the Scottish history curriculum?!👇🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 40/? - Clear by Carys Davies Beautiful, tender, this short novel aches with compassion and loneliness and hope. 150 pages of perfection As well as its humanity, it did more for my interest in Scottish history and language than a school-career of lessons. Put this on the curriculum! 💙📚

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

So glad to have the Women’s Prize long list to work through - I’ve already read a few but plenty new names to add to my wish list! This was an excellent start👇 #WomensPrize2025 💙📚

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 38/? - Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris I chose this from the Women’s Prize long list and found it extraordinary Set amongst the horrors of the siege of Sarajevo, it is brutal and beautiful Deeply moving - I can’t get it out of my head 💙📚

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

If you usually find audiobooks a struggle, I couldn’t recommend this more👇 The accents (oh the accents!) - I could never have brought this to life so vividly in my own head. Loved it 💙📚

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 30/? - Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon This is the PERFECT audiobook - read by the author with so much life and humour. It’s so clever, educational even, and so bloody funny One of those ones where you find you miss the characters when you’re finished - highly recommended #BookSky

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

After a lovely half-term, I’m catching up on this little (pleasurable) job I have set myself, of documenting everything I read this year A small flurry is incoming This inserted itself at the top of my list due to glowing reviews - I enjoyed it👇

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 28/? - The Boyhood of Cain by Michael Amherst I listened to this across one long, jet-lagged day. It was everything the reviews acclaim - evocative, beautiful, searing. I found the protagonist frustrating, ridiculous, sometimes unbearably sweet Highly recommended #BookSky #TheBoyhoodOfCain

Gemma Abbott reposted

Social Market Foundation
@smfthinktank.bsky.social

👩‍⚖️No other country with assisted dying requires judicial review. While several questions remain on the assisted dying bill, the coming amendment improves safety standards, having judges in a more suitable position, @gideonsalutin.bsky.social explains👇 www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

smf.co.ukJudges' smaller role in assisted dying will strengthen safetySMF's Gideon Salutin explains why Kim Leadbeater MP's proposed changes to assisted dying bill will improve safety standards.
Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

My favourite book this year - highly recommended👇

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 25/? - My Friends by Hisham Matar I LOVED this. The audiobook is read by the author and it is utterly beautiful. His voice and words are poetic and resonant, so soothing even as he deals with war and exile and heartbreak I now want to read everything he’s ever written! #BookSky #MyFriends

Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social

I posted my list out of order and it’s really annoying but the main thing is that you should read this - immediately - if you haven’t already. So good

Gemma Abbott@gemabbott.bsky.social

Book 25/? - My Friends by Hisham Matar I LOVED this. The audiobook is read by the author and it is utterly beautiful. His voice and words are poetic and resonant, so soothing even as he deals with war and exile and heartbreak I now want to read everything he’s ever written! #BookSky #MyFriends