Say No! To Joint Enterprise UK C.I.C
Empowering communities with knowledge of the law, challenging injustice, educating, and raising awareness about joint (criminal) enterprise to build safer, fairer futures for all.
What is
Joint Enterprise?
Joint (criminal) Enterprise, also known as secondary liability, is a legal doctrine where two or more people can be held legally responsible for a crime, even if one person physically committed the act, which can lead to convictions
About Us
Our Work
SAY No! To Joint Enterprise is a grassroots organisation dedicated to raising awareness, educating, and supporting families whose children have been caught up in the legal system. To educate communities as a whole about Joint (criminal) Enterprise, and the impact it has on young people's lives and their families..We do this through community and youth engagement, visiting schools, colleges, connecting with families and supporting those affected, navigate their way through the legal system.Contact us to learn more or to work with us.
How can Joint Enterprise affect you?
Joseph Lappin was a 16-year-old boy from Liverpool. In 2008, he was standing outside a youth club with friends when he was attacked by a group of young people. One of them fatally stabbed him.Although only one person used the knife, all the young people involved in the attack were charged with murder under joint enterprise. The law held them responsible because they were part of the group and were seen as encouraging or supporting the violence.
Why This Matters For You
Some of the teens didn’t know a knife would be used and they didn’t plan to kill anyone. But because they were present and part of the group, they were treated as if they had committed the murder themselves.- Being part of a group that commits a crime can lead to serious consequences, even if you didn’t do the act.- Walking away or speaking up could save a life and your future.- Peer pressure and loyalty can be dangerous when it leads to violence.
The IMPACT
From 2005-2013 over 1,000 young people were convicted under Joint (criminal) Enterprise laws in the UK.A 2016 report found that 38% of those convicted under Joint (criminal) Enterprise were from a black or minority ethnic background, who are 16 times more likely to be convicted under Joint (criminal) Enterprise Doctrine.The average age of those convicted under joint enterprise is typically between 15 and 19 years old, often involving school-age or recently school-leaving youth.Families and communities suffer when individuals are convicted under Joint (criminal) Enterprise, leading to emotional distress, fractured relationships, and a sense of injustice.
Joint Enterprise on Trial
Landmark Case
In Feburary 2025, six black teenagers were acquitted of murder after a four-month Old Bailey trial, exposing serious flaws in the use of joint enterprise laws. Despite minimal evidence, the prosecution pursued all six, but the jury unanimously found them not guilty.The case, involving boys as young as 15, has sparked renewed calls for urgent legal reform. Several spent over a year in custody, missing education & family life. Defence teams highlighted the injustice & the need for a full parliamentary review of such prosecutions.
get in Touch
Contact Us
Whether you have a question about our work, need support, or want to explore ways to collaborate, we’d love to hear from you.You can either contact us on 07983806436 or fill out the form below, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
SAY No! To Joint Enterprise UK C.I.C (16472115) © 2025