A new, less complex law on gang-related killings is needed to ensure justice for victims and defendants, MPs say.
The Commons Justice Select Committee said a change in the law in England and Wales would also cut appeals.
"Joint enterprise" allows groups or gangs to be charged with murder, even if one person delivered the fatal blow.
Ahead of any legislation, the director of public prosecutions has agreed to issue new guidelines on the level of involvement needed for a murder charge.
The MPs' committee said the law surrounding gang murder cases was now so complicated that juries "may find it impossible to understand how to reach the right verdict".
Its report said a new law was needed to ensure justice and end the high number of appeals against convictions.
In the meantime prosecutors should urgently be given new guidance in joint enterprise cases, particularly those involving gang-related killings, the MPs said, to help clarify the situation before a new law can be brought in.
'Clear and unforgiving'
The legal principle of joint enterprise - through which two men were convicted earlier this month of the 1993 murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence - means that entire groups or gangs can be charged with murder, even if only one person carried out the killing.
In December, five teenagers were given sentences of detention for killing 15-year-old Zac Olumegbon, who was stabbed to death as he arrived at school in West Norwood, south London, in July 2010.
Speaking after the case, Det Ch Insp John McFarlane said: "This case must act as a deterrent to other young people who think they will not be prosecuted or go to prison just because they did not deliver the fatal blow.
"The law on joint enterprise is clear and unforgiving - if you are with the knifeman in a murder case you too could be found guilty and sent to prison."
Jordan Towers was jailed for life in 2007 after being convicted of murder under joint enterprise.
He was one of three youths involved in the stabbing murder of a young father on Wearside but his sister, Ashleigh, says he thought he was witnessing a fight.
"I think it should be tightened up for secondary parties in spontaneous joint enterprises," Ashleigh Towers told BBC Breakfast.
"You can't foresee a spontaneous situation arising - so you shouldn't be held responsible for that situation, if you don't play any part in it.
"I think everybody should be held for their own actions only, not somebody else's actions."
Her brother, Jordan, was convicted after a young father was stabbed to death A statement from the family of the victim in the case, given to Breakfast, said: "Life should mean life."
'Evidence of involvement'
Sir Alan Beith, the justice committee's chairman, said: "This area of law is vital to ensuring the prosecution and conviction of criminals involved in gang-related violence in particular, but is now so complex that juries may find it impossible to understand how to reach the right verdict."
He said that while joint enterprise could help deter young people from becoming involved in gangs, "confusion over the law and how it works can put vital witnesses in fear of coming forward, allowing the real criminals to escape justice".
The committee called on Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC to issue urgent guidance setting out "the proper threshold at which association potentially becomes evidence of involvement in crime".
Last month, the most senior judge in England and Wales expressed concerns over joint enterprise prosecutions.
The Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said: "It is one thing to be party to punching somebody, quite another to be party to using a potentially lethal weapon on them."
Mr Starmer has agreed to produce the guidelines, which he said would advise on the "proper threshold at which association potentially becomes evidence of criminality".
"This exercise will be done through consultation, with interested parties, on draft guidance in due course, and as with all CPS guidance it will be kept under review," he added.
"The CPS will also now consult with the Ministry of Justice on the best way forward for collating statistics around cases involving joint enterprise."
I attended a JE reform meeting with Jeremy Corbyn MP (Member of Justice Committee) & the anti-JE group I'm working with yesterday at the Houses Of Commons. It was a very positive & productive meeting and I believe his going to fight for the cause.
We working on guidelines which Jeremy will submit to the committee so if any of you have anything you want to add on ways the law can be reformed holla.
If anyone wants to read the Justice Committee report on JE:
it just mean watch who you jam around dont ivolve yourself with the wrong crowd and if you ever happen to witness a murder and u know the people who did you better tell police quicktime looooooooooooooooooooooooooool for they do you for murder as well thats um bullshit law but it makes sense ever so slightly
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Heero Yuy
Heard about it on the radio this morning. This law is going to be misused differently.
Anyway herald in 2012, year of the snitch
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SLEAZE BALL
Not sure if you understand what is being said tbh
/
Will be interesting to details of exactly what these new guidelines mean
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Heero Yuy
This law has gained alot more publicity recently, the public are on a hype and so there removing the red tape and setting out clear guidelines.
So now they won't hestistate on taking these JE cases to court knowing the Juries will be clued up.
IE more convictions
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Goddaz
I attended a JE reform meeting with Jeremy Corbyn MP (Member of Justice Committee) & the anti-JE group I'm working with yesterday at the Houses Of Commons. It was a very positive & productive meeting and I believe his going to fight for the cause.
We working on guidelines which Jeremy will submit to the committee so if any of you have anything you want to add on ways the law can be reformed holla.
If anyone wants to read the Justice Committee report on JE:
http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/productimages/default.aspx?ISBN=9780215040589&FORMAT=3
Jeremy goes in for the cause trust me. There some free ones at the HOC or via your MP I believe.
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arkain47
it just mean watch who you jam around dont ivolve yourself with the wrong crowd and if you ever happen to witness a murder and u know the people who did you better tell police quicktime looooooooooooooooooooooooooool for they do you for murder as well thats um bullshit law but it makes sense ever so slightly
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Meticulous
joint enterprise is f*cked. not a lot else to say tbh
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Goddaz
All feedback welcomed.
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Guest chap44uns
cringe
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JOHN DOE
jengba sounds like some african 'dictator'
general jengba
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