good afternoon to you I feel like a bit of a fraud I’ve turned up right at the
of a fraud I’ve turned up right at the
of a fraud I’ve turned up right at the end can I say thank you very much Andy
end can I say thank you very much Andy
end can I say thank you very much Andy for the invitation I want to say a
for the invitation I want to say a
for the invitation I want to say a little bit really about the journey I’ve
little bit really about the journey I’ve
little bit really about the journey I’ve taken I understand the concept today’s
taken I understand the concept today’s
taken I understand the concept today’s bridges and I want to talk about that in
bridges and I want to talk about that in
bridges and I want to talk about that in some detail if I will and so you’re
some detail if I will and so you’re
some detail if I will and so you’re absolutely right I’ve had a checkered
absolutely right I’ve had a checkered
absolutely right I’ve had a checkered career I’ve prosecuted or supervised the
career I’ve prosecuted or supervised the
career I’ve prosecuted or supervised the prosecution of about a million cases
prosecution of about a million cases
prosecution of about a million cases during 25 years and some of them are
during 25 years and some of them are
during 25 years and some of them are high-profile many of them are not I want
high-profile many of them are not I want
high-profile many of them are not I want to make the point just because you’re
to make the point just because you’re
to make the point just because you’re high-profile doesn’t mean that you get
high-profile doesn’t mean that you get
high-profile doesn’t mean that you get it you don’t get the justice it’s about
it you don’t get the justice it’s about
it you don’t get the justice it’s about fear no fear no favor whoever you are
fear no fear no favor whoever you are
fear no fear no favor whoever you are ultimately if you commit a crime which
ultimately if you commit a crime which
ultimately if you commit a crime which we brought to justice now I thought
we brought to justice now I thought
we brought to justice now I thought about whether it should be a red
about whether it should be a red
about whether it should be a red property or a white puppy and my son
property or a white puppy and my son
property or a white puppy and my son said to me well dad they’re the same
said to me well dad they’re the same
said to me well dad they’re the same thing
thing
thing just different color and he then said
just different color and he then said
just different color and he then said just like you and Tom Cruise I thought
just like you and Tom Cruise I thought
just like you and Tom Cruise I thought that was a no no my son he’s pissed
that was a no no my son he’s pissed
that was a no no my son he’s pissed taker and undoubtedly what he said but
taker and undoubtedly what he said but
taker and undoubtedly what he said but the reality is that we took my men and
the reality is that we took my men and
the reality is that we took my men and women for example with the same thing
women for example with the same thing
women for example with the same thing with different genders and one of the
with different genders and one of the
with different genders and one of the things that I’ve been conscious of over
things that I’ve been conscious of over
things that I’ve been conscious of over the years is that men exert their power
the years is that men exert their power
the years is that men exert their power because we can’t share it it’s as simple
because we can’t share it it’s as simple
because we can’t share it it’s as simple as that you know there is no solution
as that you know there is no solution
as that you know there is no solution ladies and gentlemen we’re men aren’t
ladies and gentlemen we’re men aren’t
ladies and gentlemen we’re men aren’t the problem and there is no community
the problem and there is no community
the problem and there is no community there is no community where women and
there is no community where women and
there is no community where women and girls are safe it’s a fact I’ve come
girls are safe it’s a fact I’ve come
girls are safe it’s a fact I’ve come across cases from everywhere everywhere
across cases from everywhere everywhere
across cases from everywhere everywhere and you think about the 50 shades of
and you think about the 50 shades of
and you think about the 50 shades of violence against women and girls you
violence against women and girls you
violence against women and girls you think about feticide infanticide child
think about feticide infanticide child
think about feticide infanticide child and early marriage you talk about FGM
and early marriage you talk about FGM
and early marriage you talk about FGM you talk about sexual abuse then you
you talk about sexual abuse then you
you talk about sexual abuse then you talk about forced marriage and then you
talk about forced marriage and then you
talk about forced marriage and then you have domestic abuse and sexual offenses
have domestic abuse and sexual offenses
have domestic abuse and sexual offenses and rape and financial abuse you have
and rape and financial abuse you have
and rape and financial abuse you have homicide and suicide I mean we often
homicide and suicide I mean we often
homicide and suicide I mean we often know the figure don’t we that to women
know the figure don’t we that to women
know the figure don’t we that to women of a week are killed in this country in
of a week are killed in this country in
of a week are killed in this country in domestic abuse situations domestic
domestic abuse situations domestic
domestic abuse situations domestic violence the one that people perhaps
violence the one that people perhaps
violence the one that people perhaps don’t know is that ten women kill
don’t know is that ten women kill
don’t know is that ten women kill themselves every week because of
themselves every week because of
themselves every week because of domestic abuse in this country and that
domestic abuse in this country and that
domestic abuse in this country and that tells me something about what we should
tells me something about what we should
tells me something about what we should be doing differently now from my
be doing differently now from my
be doing differently now from my perspective the answer is very simple
perspective the answer is very simple
perspective the answer is very simple you’ve got to challenge those kinds of
you’ve got to challenge those kinds of
you’ve got to challenge those kinds of behaviors and one of things I want your
behaviors and one of things I want your
behaviors and one of things I want your help with this gentleman is to be the
help with this gentleman is to be the
help with this gentleman is to be the bridge between the men who want to make
bridge between the men who want to make
bridge between the men who want to make a difference to the women who are making
a difference to the women who are making
a difference to the women who are making a difference in my experience of the 20
a difference in my experience of the 20
a difference in my experience of the 20 odd years of prosecuting and more
odd years of prosecuting and more
odd years of prosecuting and more recently the women are already making
recently the women are already making
recently the women are already making the difference they’re already making
the difference they’re already making
the difference they’re already making phenomenal achievements they are
phenomenal achievements they are
phenomenal achievements they are succeeding in ways that you couldn’t
succeeding in ways that you couldn’t
succeeding in ways that you couldn’t possibly imagine but they often don’t
possibly imagine but they often don’t
possibly imagine but they often don’t have access and that’s where I’ve been
have access and that’s where I’ve been
have access and that’s where I’ve been able to be a bridge it’s not something I
able to be a bridge it’s not something I
able to be a bridge it’s not something I chose to be it’s something I wanted to
chose to be it’s something I wanted to
chose to be it’s something I wanted to be I remember back in 2004-2005 I
be I remember back in 2004-2005 I
be I remember back in 2004-2005 I organized the first conference on a
organized the first conference on a
organized the first conference on a national national conference on forced
national national conference on forced
national national conference on forced marriage and like many conferences I
marriage and like many conferences I
marriage and like many conferences I would hold the conference then walk away
would hold the conference then walk away
would hold the conference then walk away let somebody else do the business but
let somebody else do the business but
let somebody else do the business but women’s groups came up to me afterwards
women’s groups came up to me afterwards
women’s groups came up to me afterwards and said in this here we’ve got no men
and said in this here we’ve got no men
and said in this here we’ve got no men speaking about this subject
speaking about this subject
speaking about this subject we’ve got no men with access to
we’ve got no men with access to
we’ve got no men with access to legislation or to Parliament or to
legislation or to Parliament or to
legislation or to Parliament or to ministers and the like and so I said
ministers and the like and so I said
ministers and the like and so I said well tell me all about it
well tell me all about it
well tell me all about it and they said well surely you know cuz
and they said well surely you know cuz
and they said well surely you know cuz you’re brown you know ladies and
you’re brown you know ladies and
you’re brown you know ladies and gentlemen I’d be married three times to
gentlemen I’d be married three times to
gentlemen I’d be married three times to my great shirt
my great shirt
my great shirt my first wife is Catholic my second was
my first wife is Catholic my second was
my first wife is Catholic my second was Hindu my third was Sikh I’ve done my bit
Hindu my third was Sikh I’ve done my bit
Hindu my third was Sikh I’ve done my bit for multi faith engagement but I’ve
for multi faith engagement but I’ve
for multi faith engagement but I’ve never been forced into marriage I’ve
never been forced into marriage I’ve
never been forced into marriage I’ve never been forced into marriage and so I
never been forced into marriage and so I
never been forced into marriage and so I had to learn and they taught me
had to learn and they taught me
had to learn and they taught me everything I knew and then I said well
everything I knew and then I said well
everything I knew and then I said well I’ll take that I will take that to this
I’ll take that I will take that to this
I’ll take that I will take that to this state and I managed made sure that they
state and I managed made sure that they
state and I managed made sure that they were working group set up we legislated
were working group set up we legislated
were working group set up we legislated we’ve created forced marriage Civil
we’ve created forced marriage Civil
we’ve created forced marriage Civil Protection forced marriage
Protection forced marriage
Protection forced marriage criminalization we have done everything
criminalization we have done everything
criminalization we have done everything we possibly can and we need to do more
we possibly can and we need to do more
we possibly can and we need to do more undoubtedly but we’re in a position now
undoubtedly but we’re in a position now
undoubtedly but we’re in a position now where the American State Department
where the American State Department
where the American State Department until last year had me as their advisor
until last year had me as their advisor
until last year had me as their advisor something called Trump came along I
something called Trump came along I
something called Trump came along I don’t know what happened length I’m not
don’t know what happened length I’m not
don’t know what happened length I’m not allowed to go to America anymore I think
allowed to go to America anymore I think
allowed to go to America anymore I think but they say for the Americans to say
but they say for the Americans to say
but they say for the Americans to say that we were better than them and
that we were better than them and
that we were better than them and something is something and that was a
something is something and that was a
something is something and that was a journey that was undertaken by NGOs with
journey that was undertaken by NGOs with
journey that was undertaken by NGOs with my help and support no more no less it
my help and support no more no less it
my help and support no more no less it was their ideas and then there was a
was their ideas and then there was a
was their ideas and then there was a modern slavery you probably don’t know
modern slavery you probably don’t know
modern slavery you probably don’t know this case it’s a little-known case but
this case it’s a little-known case but
this case it’s a little-known case but one that was impactful a woman there was
one that was impactful a woman there was
one that was impactful a woman there was a family called the Asha family in
a family called the Asha family in
a family called the Asha family in Manchester of all places and they had in
Manchester of all places and they had in
Manchester of all places and they had in their care Karen from wrong word a 19
their care Karen from wrong word a 19
their care Karen from wrong word a 19 year old girl who was counterfeiting
year old girl who was counterfeiting
year old girl who was counterfeiting t-shirts for them that was their
t-shirts for them that was their
t-shirts for them that was their business that’s what they did it they
business that’s what they did it they
business that’s what they did it they counterfeit t-shirts but she was brought
counterfeit t-shirts but she was brought
counterfeit t-shirts but she was brought in this country age of 10 and she did
in this country age of 10 and she did
in this country age of 10 and she did not have a British passport she could
not have a British passport she could
not have a British passport she could not speak
not speak
not speak she had severe learning difficulties and
she had severe learning difficulties and
she had severe learning difficulties and she couldn’t hear properly Trading
she couldn’t hear properly Trading
she couldn’t hear properly Trading Standards found her in the premises and
Standards found her in the premises and
Standards found her in the premises and said naziha what could we do about this
said naziha what could we do about this
said naziha what could we do about this and I said we’ll prosecute is we will
and I said we’ll prosecute is we will
and I said we’ll prosecute is we will make sure we prosecute it took us two
make sure we prosecute it took us two
make sure we prosecute it took us two years to teach a sign language in order
years to teach a sign language in order
years to teach a sign language in order for her to give evidence you probably
for her to give evidence you probably
for her to give evidence you probably don’t know this of everybody are
don’t know this of everybody are
don’t know this of everybody are prosecuted she was cross-examined for 40
prosecuted she was cross-examined for 40
prosecuted she was cross-examined for 40 days because we could only ask her or
days because we could only ask her or
days because we could only ask her or they could only ask her six questions a
they could only ask her six questions a
they could only ask her six questions a day we put some rules in she was they
day we put some rules in she was they
day we put some rules in she was they were convicted that whole family were
were convicted that whole family were
were convicted that whole family were convicted of the abuse of her and
convicted of the abuse of her and
convicted of the abuse of her and consequently legend German we
consequently legend German we
consequently legend German we confiscated their property she is now at
confiscated their property she is now at
confiscated their property she is now at university she now has a home and
university she now has a home and
university she now has a home and they’re in prison
it’s her journey that we’d talk about
it’s her journey that we’d talk about the victims journey the victim
the victims journey the victim
the victims journey the victim throughout my experience has a journey
throughout my experience has a journey
throughout my experience has a journey that we will never understand unless we
that we will never understand unless we
that we will never understand unless we really make the point of understanding I
really make the point of understanding I
really make the point of understanding I think in recent weeks we’ve been hearing
think in recent weeks we’ve been hearing
think in recent weeks we’ve been hearing about the victims journey haven’t we
about the victims journey haven’t we
about the victims journey haven’t we hmm we’ve been learning about how Oh
hmm we’ve been learning about how Oh
hmm we’ve been learning about how Oh surely this has something but then we
surely this has something but then we
surely this has something but then we men make it impossible to do sir
men make it impossible to do sir
men make it impossible to do sir we put structures in place that make it
we put structures in place that make it
we put structures in place that make it impossible for them to do so forgive me
impossible for them to do so forgive me
impossible for them to do so forgive me I work off the water please I told my
I work off the water please I told my
I work off the water please I told my wife I’ve got pneumonia this morning by
wife I’ve got pneumonia this morning by
wife I’ve got pneumonia this morning by the way it’s well it’s what men do
the way it’s well it’s what men do
the way it’s well it’s what men do generally look one of the things that
generally look one of the things that
generally look one of the things that struck me is that unless you follow the
struck me is that unless you follow the
struck me is that unless you follow the journey you have no idea where they’re
journey you have no idea where they’re
journey you have no idea where they’re going and this is what you’ve been
going and this is what you’ve been
going and this is what you’ve been talking about in terms of bridges
talking about in terms of bridges
talking about in terms of bridges there’s no point building a bridge if
there’s no point building a bridge if
there’s no point building a bridge if you don’t know the journey the victim is
you don’t know the journey the victim is
you don’t know the journey the victim is taking so perhaps people remember me
taking so perhaps people remember me
taking so perhaps people remember me most for the the three girls the Lord
most for the the three girls the Lord
most for the the three girls the Lord still groom in case now an actor played
still groom in case now an actor played
still groom in case now an actor played me a very handsome actor but played me
me a very handsome actor but played me
me a very handsome actor but played me my wife has a picture of the axle on the
my wife has a picture of the axle on the
my wife has a picture of the axle on the wall there my where my picture used to
wall there my where my picture used to
wall there my where my picture used to be I’m I’m not hurt but that case was
be I’m I’m not hurt but that case was
be I’m I’m not hurt but that case was symbolic of where we were as a landscape
symbolic of where we were as a landscape
symbolic of where we were as a landscape and where we were culturally we were
and where we were culturally we were
and where we were culturally we were saying to victims
saying to victims
saying to victims we don’t hear you we don’t want to
we don’t hear you we don’t want to
we don’t hear you we don’t want to listen to you we don’t believe you and
listen to you we don’t believe you and
listen to you we don’t believe you and the fact that they came from very
the fact that they came from very
the fact that they came from very chaotic and troubled backgrounds meant
chaotic and troubled backgrounds meant
chaotic and troubled backgrounds meant that we had an excuse the reality is a
that we had an excuse the reality is a
that we had an excuse the reality is a predator was picking on them because
predator was picking on them because
predator was picking on them because they thought we wouldn’t listen to them
they thought we wouldn’t listen to them
they thought we wouldn’t listen to them so we were doubly damning them we were
so we were doubly damning them we were
so we were doubly damning them we were not supporting them we were not giving
not supporting them we were not giving
not supporting them we were not giving him a hope and again in the many many
him a hope and again in the many many
him a hope and again in the many many senses I was a bridge I’m you know there
senses I was a bridge I’m you know there
senses I was a bridge I’m you know there were normal women women working trying
were normal women women working trying
were normal women women working trying to protect these women these girls and
to protect these women these girls and
to protect these women these girls and give them support but the only day they
give them support but the only day they
give them support but the only day they were not getting justice and so as you
were not getting justice and so as you
were not getting justice and so as you will know from the film I reverse the
will know from the film I reverse the
will know from the film I reverse the decision not to prosecute I took this
decision not to prosecute I took this
decision not to prosecute I took this case on and I made sure that those men
case on and I made sure that those men
case on and I made sure that those men were convicted and those women got
were convicted and those women got
were convicted and those women got justice and they are women and they are
justice and they are women and they are
justice and they are women and they are they were male being young people forget
they were male being young people forget
they were male being young people forget there were there were girls you know 13
there were there were girls you know 13
there were there were girls you know 13 14 year old girls
14 year old girls
14 year old girls what would they know about relationships
what would they know about relationships
what would they know about relationships what do they know about relationships
what do they know about relationships
what do they know about relationships what they do know is that there’s a
what they do know is that there’s a
what they do know is that there’s a predator I
predator I
predator I that predator will pick on them wherever
that predator will pick on them wherever
that predator will pick on them wherever they go now that journey where people
they go now that journey where people
they go now that journey where people were saying no to them where people are
were saying no to them where people are
were saying no to them where people are ignoring them where people are not
ignoring them where people are not
ignoring them where people are not listen to them is one that we had to
listen to them is one that we had to
listen to them is one that we had to deal with and so this is where we
deal with and so this is where we
deal with and so this is where we started dealing with it so we now have a
started dealing with it so we now have a
started dealing with it so we now have a situation when I left the CPS
situation when I left the CPS
situation when I left the CPS prosecution service in 2015 we had the
prosecution service in 2015 we had the
prosecution service in 2015 we had the highest conviction rate for trial sexual
highest conviction rate for trial sexual
highest conviction rate for trial sexual abuse in our history that’s not me
abuse in our history that’s not me
abuse in our history that’s not me that’s people understanding and
that’s people understanding and
that’s people understanding and beginning to understand that these young
beginning to understand that these young
beginning to understand that these young girls needed support now what happened
girls needed support now what happened
girls needed support now what happened to me is a little-known fact
to me is a little-known fact
to me is a little-known fact now what do you think happened to me I
now what do you think happened to me I
now what do you think happened to me I was lauded I was a hero
was lauded I was a hero
was lauded I was a hero no the far right came for me they said
no the far right came for me they said
no the far right came for me they said and this is I think I noticed yesterday
and this is I think I noticed yesterday
and this is I think I noticed yesterday Collins have said that fake news is a
Collins have said that fake news is a
Collins have said that fake news is a new word they created a website saying
new word they created a website saying
new word they created a website saying that I was the one that didn’t prosecute
that I was the one that didn’t prosecute
that I was the one that didn’t prosecute kill these guys and these from the far
kill these guys and these from the far
kill these guys and these from the far right then came from me in a big way I
right then came from me in a big way I
right then came from me in a big way I had an English defensive demonstration
had an English defensive demonstration
had an English defensive demonstration outside of my home I had a panic alarm
outside of my home I had a panic alarm
outside of my home I had a panic alarm in my house my children had to go to
in my house my children had to go to
in my house my children had to go to school by taxi you know I had 17,000
school by taxi you know I had 17,000
school by taxi you know I had 17,000 emails on one day calling for me to be
emails on one day calling for me to be
emails on one day calling for me to be sacked and deported I was born in
sacked and deported I was born in
sacked and deported I was born in Birmingham I don’t want to go back
but but I wasn’t gonna allow them to
but but I wasn’t gonna allow them to stop me I got some phenomenal support
stop me I got some phenomenal support
stop me I got some phenomenal support from women’s groups and the like who
from women’s groups and the like who
from women’s groups and the like who said Nazir we’re gonna stand by you and
said Nazir we’re gonna stand by you and
said Nazir we’re gonna stand by you and support you
support you
support you and they helped me through that period
and they helped me through that period
and they helped me through that period as did my staff as did my teams now I’m
as did my staff as did my teams now I’m
as did my staff as did my teams now I’m conscious of the fact that this is
conscious of the fact that this is
conscious of the fact that this is something you can’t do alone this is
something you can’t do alone this is
something you can’t do alone this is something we all have to do together and
something we all have to do together and
something we all have to do together and in order to walk across that bridge as
in order to walk across that bridge as
in order to walk across that bridge as as that young girl did in the Asha case
as that young girl did in the Asha case
as that young girl did in the Asha case as those victims did in the Rossdale
as those victims did in the Rossdale
as those victims did in the Rossdale case as many others have done they had
case as many others have done they had
case as many others have done they had to trust me and I had to open myself up
to trust me and I had to open myself up
to trust me and I had to open myself up to them and say trust me but never let
to them and say trust me but never let
to them and say trust me but never let them down one things that people who say
them down one things that people who say
them down one things that people who say your expectations you’ve got to meet
your expectations you’ve got to meet
your expectations you’ve got to meet their expectations you’ve got to give
their expectations you’ve got to give
their expectations you’ve got to give them 24 hours a day seven days a week
them 24 hours a day seven days a week
them 24 hours a day seven days a week and the answer is gentleman is education
and the answer is gentleman is education
and the answer is gentleman is education I’m sure you’ve heard it through in the
I’m sure you’ve heard it through in the
I’m sure you’ve heard it through in the day there’s no point doing relationship
day there’s no point doing relationship
day there’s no point doing relationship education with their twelve or sixteen
education with their twelve or sixteen
education with their twelve or sixteen you know that is too late
you know that is too late
you know that is too late five six that’s when you talk to them
five six that’s when you talk to them
five six that’s when you talk to them about human rights that’s when you talk
about human rights that’s when you talk
about human rights that’s when you talk to them about women’s rights that’s
to them about women’s rights that’s
to them about women’s rights that’s where you talked about relationships and
where you talked about relationships and
where you talked about relationships and to my mind the answer is there two final
to my mind the answer is there two final
to my mind the answer is there two final stories the Stuart horror prosecution
stories the Stuart horror prosecution
stories the Stuart horror prosecution one women one woman out of 14 didn’t get
one women one woman out of 14 didn’t get
one women one woman out of 14 didn’t get justice she said to me and when I went
justice she said to me and when I went
justice she said to me and when I went to her crying my eyes out thinking how
to her crying my eyes out thinking how
to her crying my eyes out thinking how do I explain this to her how I said to
do I explain this to her how I said to
do I explain this to her how I said to her I don’t know I’m sorry I didn’t give
her I don’t know I’m sorry I didn’t give
her I don’t know I’m sorry I didn’t give you closure she said to me you gave me
you closure she said to me you gave me
you closure she said to me you gave me closure the moment that you believe me
closure the moment that you believe me
closure the moment that you believe me that’s the answer believing her and my
that’s the answer believing her and my
that’s the answer believing her and my journey along this bridge started 20
journey along this bridge started 20
journey along this bridge started 20 years ago when a woman I ran into it of
years ago when a woman I ran into it of
years ago when a woman I ran into it of an event showed me her wedding ring was
an event showed me her wedding ring was
an event showed me her wedding ring was not on this finger but on the opposite
not on this finger but on the opposite
not on this finger but on the opposite hand and I said to her why are you
hand and I said to her why are you
hand and I said to her why are you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong
wearing your wedding ring on the wrong
wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger and she said it’s because they
finger and she said it’s because they
finger and she said it’s because they forced me to marry the wrong man and I
forced me to marry the wrong man and I
forced me to marry the wrong man and I thought for a second I giggled actually
thought for a second I giggled actually
thought for a second I giggled actually sadly I thought for a second hang limit
sadly I thought for a second hang limit
sadly I thought for a second hang limit that’s a life of hopelessness a life of
that’s a life of hopelessness a life of
that’s a life of hopelessness a life of despair a life of daily rape of child
despair a life of daily rape of child
despair a life of daily rape of child protection issues a horrific life yet
protection issues a horrific life yet
protection issues a horrific life yet that is her protest because she didn’t
that is her protest because she didn’t
that is her protest because she didn’t have a voice and I made it my
have a voice and I made it my
have a voice and I made it my responsibility as I know it is yours to
responsibility as I know it is yours to
responsibility as I know it is yours to be her voice thank you very much
be her voice thank you very much
be her voice thank you very much you
”
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