Journalist Don Hale has spoken to MPs about his experience with the criminal justice system.

He addressed the House of Commons Select Committee while he was at the Commons on a separate matter – to mark the first anniversary of The Miscarriage of Justice Organisation.

The former Matlock Mercury editor’s investigation led to the release from prison of convicted murderer Stephen Downing and the quashing of his conviction.

He said: “They had asked for my opinions on their workings over three miscarriage cases but with particular regards to the Downing file.”

He was in London as one of four invited speakers to The Miscarriage of Justice Organisation, the others were Jane Hickman, solicitor and secretary of the Criminal Appeal Lawyer Association, Prof Derek Pounder, head of forensic pathology at Dundee University; and Dr Adrian Grounds, head of criminology at Cambridge University.

The meeting was also attended by many MP’s including Chris Mullin MP, chair of the House of Commons Select Committee, who was much involved with the release of the Birmingham Six.

Don said: “I was asked to speak about my experiences of the criminal justice system and my work as a campaigning journalist. I was also asked to present a white paper to the Government about the CCRC, which has just been reviewed after five years, and with relation to the Criminal Justice Bill.”

Don’s book about his seven-year campaign to free Stephen Downing Town Without Pity, was included within the programme and suggested as a recommended read to delegates.

It is rising up the charts, reaching No1 with Derbyshire-based Countrybookshop as the bestselling book – knocking the Duchess of Devonshire off top spot. The book has outsold Harry Potter in the Bakewell area and Chesterfield based Peak Books are now on the fourth re-order.

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