The Citizen Campaigns

The Justice For Jack Ryan campaign has two primary objectives. Firstly, we want the government to amend the Bail Act and make the surrender of a passport automatically mandatory for anyone facing serious charges, ones that carry a potential custodial sentence. The current system is flawed because bail conditions fall to the police and then the courts and are open to interpretation. This process is prone to mistakes and compromise. Powerful defence lawyers can often sway a court’s decision and too often ‘red flags’ that show a defendant is a flight risk are ignored. This is self-evident in the case of Rashid Ali. He was facing a maximum jail term of 14 years and yet was allowed to travel freely and start a new life abroad.

Secondly, we are seeking Ali’s extradition from Pakistan. To date, all enquiries regarding extradition have been stonewalled by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office. That must end. We want action, so we will be lobbying both the UK and Pakistan governments to bring Ali to Britain, so that he serves his sentence. He must not be allowed to stay on the run and evade justice.

We are aware that this campaign may be difficult and demanding, but we are resolute and determined. We are doing this in Jack’s memory, driven by the hope that justice will prevail. 

 For media enquires please email justiceforjackryan@gmail.com. Please note: All photos are © The Ryan Family & The Chelsea Citizen

The fight continues to stop a voracious property developer from building an enormous apartment block on the south side of Battersea Bridge. If granted permission, One Battersea Bridge would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to more towers and, ultimately, the devastation of this relatively untouched stretch of the riverside. Further to the west would also be in danger.

The original planning application by Rockwell Property was vehemently opposed by thousands of residents and a plethora of respected groups, including Historic England, Environment Agency, the Emergency Services, RSPB and multiple London societies. It was also roundly opposed by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth councils.

Following a lengthy meeting of Wandsworth Council’s planning committee last April, the proposals were unanimously rejected. Despite all the highly considered opposition to its plans, Rockwell Property appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. This has prompted a costly public inquiry that begins on 17th March at Wandsworth Town Hall and will last eight days.

This page provides all the background to the proposals and to the campaign which started in June 2024. to stop it. The Chelsea Citizen will be covering every day of the public inquiry. Its reports will be posted here.