Tan Ikram
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Tan Ikram | |
---|---|
Born | 1965 (age 58–59) |
Nationality | British |
Alma mater | University of Wolverhampton |
Occupation | Judge |
Tanweer Ikram CBE (born 1965) is the deputy senior district judge (deputy chief magistrate). Ikram was appointed to the Judicial Appointments Commission, a body which selects candidates for judicial office in courts and tribunals, for a period of three years from December 2023.[1] He studied at Wolverhampton Polytechnic where he obtained his LLB in 1988 and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1990.[2] He was admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts in 1993.
Judicial career
Ikram started as a magistrates' clerk and joined Booth Bennett Solicitors (later IBB Solicitors) in 1993. He became a partner at IBB Solicitors in 1997 and from 2007 to 2009, he was a consultant at ABV Solicitors.[citation needed]
Ikram was appointed as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Court) in 2003 and district judge (Magistrates' Court) in 2009. In 2015, he was appointed as an associate judge on the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. In 2017, he was appointed deputy senior district judge (Magistrates' Court).[3]
Honours
Ikram received honorary Doctor of Law degrees from the University of West London[4] and the University of Wolverhampton.[5] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to judicial diversity.[6]
Controversies
Hamas supporters
On 13 February 2024 Ikram, presiding over a case of three demonstrators carrying or wearing images appearing to glorify Hamas (the political and military movement governing in the Gaza Strip, and designated in the UK as a terrorist organization), found them guilty but let them off with conditional discharges. This judgement was subject to criticism.[7]
It then transpired that Ikram had shared and 'liked' an online posting by the pro-Palestinian barrister Sham Uddin condemning "Israeli terrorists in the United Kingdom, the United States, and of course Israel." The Campaign Against Antisemitism announced that they were therefore submitting a complaint to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office about Ikram's judgement in this case.[8][9] The Crown Prosecution Service has stated that it is considering seeking a judicial review of the case.[10]
Police use of handcuffs
On 21 July 2023, PC Perry Lathwood arrested and handcuffed Jocelyn Agyemang because although it later transpired that she had paid, after she refused to show a valid ticket for a bus journey. Subsequently, Lathwood was charged with assault by beating. He was convicted of assault by Ikram.[11] Rick Prior, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said that "cases like this have resulted in a huge crisis of confidence" amongst police officers while Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said that despite the conviction the Metropolitan Police was backing Lathwood.[12]
References
- ^ "Commissioner appointed to the Judicial Appointments Commission". GOV.UK. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Ikram, Tanweer", Who's Who 2020, published online 1 December 2009, updated 1 December 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Tan Ikram, District Judge (Magistrates' Court)". Judicial Appointments Commission. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "A night of achievement celebrated at the Law School's Honorary Awards Dinner". University of West London. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "University honours inspirational individuals". University of Wolverhampton. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N9.
- ^ Laurie Wastell, The Trouble with the Paraglider Girls Ruling, The Spectator, 14 February 2024
- ^ Ben Ellery and others, Paraglider trio freed by 'pro-Palestine' judge, The Times, 15 February 2024, p. 11
- ^ copy of Ikram's Facebook posting, Campaign Against Antisemitism, 14 February 2024.
- ^ Ben Ellery and others, Decision to spare Gaza protesters jail could be reviewed, The Times, 16 February 2024, p. 10.
- ^ Stephens, Max (17 May 2024). "Met Police officer who manhandled woman over bus fare guilty of assault". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ Evans, Martin (19 May 2024). "Police losing confidence to do the job after officer convicted of assault in fare-evasion row". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 May 2024.