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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Maeve McClenaghan

Murder and manslaughter charges under joint enterprise rise despite concern

Friends and family of people convicted of murder under joint enterprise law protest in Parliament Square
Friends and family of people convicted of murder under joint enterprise law protest in Parliament Square in July 2021. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

The number of people facing murder and manslaughter charges despite not being the principal offender has risen significantly, amid official warnings about the use of joint enterprise laws.

Nearly 1,000 people have been charged and more than 600 convicted in the past five years in England and Wales even though they may not have been physically responsible or present at the crime scene.

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