Trew's Law: Automatic Review for Bent Copper Convictions 2026

Trew's Law, a proposed legal reform, would automatically review convictions obtained by corrupt police officers, aiming to correct miscarriages of justice like those caused by DS Derek Ridgewell.

The campaign for Trew's Law, named after Winston Trew who was framed by Ridgewell, seeks to prevent victims from spending decades fighting to clear their names. The proposal, developed with the charity Appeal, would trigger an immediate independent review of past cases linked to any jailed officer in England and Wales.

What Is Trew's Law?

Trew's Law is a proposed statute that would mandate automatic reviews of convictions where the involved police officer was later imprisoned for corruption or misconduct. This would shift the burden from victims to the state, ensuring that miscarriages of justice are corrected systematically rather than through individual battles.

Winston Trew, who spent nearly 50 years fighting to overturn his conviction, said: "Justice shouldn't depend on luck, or on victims fighting for years to expose miscarriages of justice. Trew's law would place responsibility where it belongs: with the state."

The Case of DS Derek Ridgewell

DS Derek Ridgewell was a corrupt and racist British Transport Police officer whose actions led to numerous wrongful convictions in the 1970s. He framed members of the Oval Four and the Stockwell Six, among others. Ridgewell was jailed in 1980 for stealing mailbags worth £364,000, but his victims continued to suffer for decades.

Since 2018, 13 of Ridgewell's victims have had their convictions quashed, and a 14th case was referred to the court of appeal in February. Ridgewell's story has been described as "the real Line of Duty," highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform.

How Trew's Law Would Work

Under Trew's Law, any conviction linked to a police officer who was subsequently jailed would be automatically reviewed by an independent body. This would apply to cases in England and Wales and would cover both historical and future convictions.

The review process would be triggered as soon as an officer is imprisoned, ensuring that victims do not have to initiate the process themselves. The independent body would assess whether the conviction was safe and, if not, refer it to the court of appeal.

Comparison with Current Practices

Key Takeaways

• Trew's Law would automatically review convictions tied to jailed police officers.
• The law is named after Winston Trew, who was framed by DS Derek Ridgewell.
• It aims to correct miscarriages of justice without victims bearing the burden.
• The proposal has gained support from the charity Appeal and other advocates.

FAQ

The campaign for Trew's Law continues to gain momentum, with supporters arguing that it is a necessary step to restore faith in the justice system and ensure that no one else suffers as Winston Trew and others have.

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