Thomas Sargant

Thomas Sargant (1905–1988) was a British law reformer who campaigned for the promotion of human rights.

Sargant, who was educated at Highgate School, was for much of his life a businessman and politician who became increasingly concerned with the impact of the law and legal services upon ordinary people.

In the mid-1950s, he was asked to help mobilise lawyers in support of those accused in treason trials in Hungary and South Africa, and JUSTICE was set up as a result.

Tom Sargant became its first Secretary and was a driving force of the organisation until his retirement in 1982.

He also played a major role in bringing about other key measures such as the creation of the office of Ombudsman and the establishment of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.