Possessing small amount of drugs ‘should not be crime’ – BBC News

Posted October 15th, 2012 in budgets, drug offences, news, sentencing by tracey

“The penalties for drug misuse should be relaxed so that possession of small amounts would no longer be a criminal offence, the government has been urged.”

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BBC News, 15th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims of crime may lose out on millions in compensation – The Guardian

Posted October 8th, 2012 in budgets, criminal injuries compensation, news by sally

“The government is studying plans to slash compensation for people injured by criminals, including the children of murder victims, despite mounting opposition from within its own ranks.”

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The Guardian, 7th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Row over rape prosecutors: Emily Thornberry v Keir Starmer QC – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2012 in barristers, budgets, Crown Prosecution Service, news, victims by sally

“Labour MP claims rape victims could be deprived of expert legal support because of savings made in hiring specially trained barristers.”

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The Guardian, 28th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

£750,000 of prisoners’ pay taken to help victims of crime – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 24th, 2012 in budgets, news, prisons, remuneration, victims by sally

“More than £750,000 has been taken from prisoners’ pay packets to support victims of crime, according to the new Minister for Victims.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th September 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

£1bn tagging programme has failed to cut reoffending – senior police officer – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2012 in budgets, electronic monitoring, news, recidivists, security companies by sally

“Nearly £1bn has been spent on the electronic tagging of criminals over the past 13 years with little effect on cutting offending rates, offering little value for money and serving only to enrich two or three private security companies, one of which is G4S, a senior police officer has claimed.”

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The Guardian, 24th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Family lawyers face turbulent year ahead – Law Society’s Gazette

“Family law’s commercial and legal landscape is changing dramatically with the legal aid reforms, the continuing impact of the recession, competition from ABSs and potential legislative changes affecting everyone from the richest to the poorest.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid in England five times as generous as rest of Europe – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 20th, 2012 in budgets, diversity, equality, judiciary, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

“Legal aid in England and Wales is five times as generous as the average in Europe, figures show.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th September 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sir Bill Callaghan: ‘Rumours of legal aid’s death much exaggerated’ –

Posted September 14th, 2012 in budgets, legal aid, news by tracey

” ‘There is still a lot of money going into legal aid,’ insisted Sir Bill Callaghan, the chair of the Legal Services Commission yesterday at the international research conference held by the Legal Services Research Centre.”

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LegalVoice, 13th September 2012

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Public will have to report crime at police stations and libraries – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 5th, 2012 in budgets, libraries, news, police by sally

“The public face having to go to supermarkets and libraries to report crimes to the police as more stations are shut down to save money, MPs have heard.”

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Daily Telegraph, 4th September 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Charity fundraisers facing new rules – BBC News

Posted August 20th, 2012 in budgets, charities, fines, news by sally

“Charities now face fines of at least £1,000 if their street fundraisers breach rules designed to protect members of the public.”

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BBC News, 20th August 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice’s Report laid before House of Lords – Judiciary of England and Wales

“The latest Lord Chief Justice’s Report has been laid before the House of Lords.”

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Judiciary of England and Wales, 3rd August 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Lord Chief Justice warns pay freeze will cause ‘problems’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 6th, 2012 in budgets, judiciary, news, pensions, remuneration by sally

“The country’s most senior judge has warned that Government cuts to take-home pay could damage the quality of the judiciary in future.”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd August 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Vulnerable people on remand need help – and not just from the Prison Service – The Guardian

Posted August 6th, 2012 in bail, budgets, homelessness, local government, news, prisons, remand by sally

“It may be written by the chief inspector of prisons, but don’t be fooled – this report is about social justice not crime.”

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS trusts ‘breaking the law’ by denying access to treatment – The Guardian

Posted August 6th, 2012 in budgets, doctors, hospitals, medical treatment, medicines, news, whistleblowers by sally

“The head of the government’s drugs rationing body has claimed that a number of NHS trusts are ‘breaking the law’ by denying patients access to approved treatments and drugs to save money.”

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The Guardian, 3rd August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jeremy Hunt: Olympics wrong time for PCS border staff strike – BBC News

Posted July 25th, 2012 in budgets, immigration, industrial action, news, sport, trade unions by tracey

“The government is urging Border Agency workers not to hold a strike on the eve of the Olympics, arguing it is the ‘wrong time.’ ”

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BBC News, 25th July 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Authors face royalty threat from volunteer libraries – The Guardian

Posted July 23rd, 2012 in budgets, libraries, news, voluntary organisations by tracey

“The government is facing anger from authors shocked to discover that they are not entitled to royalties for books borrowed from libraries run by ‘big society’- inspired volunteers.”

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

 

Closure of forensic archive a ‘shambles’, experts warn – BBC News

Posted July 18th, 2012 in archives, budgets, forensic science, miscarriage of justice, news by tracey

“The closure of the forensic science archive in England and Wales will cause miscarriages of justice and stop police solving crimes, senior politicians, scientists and lawyers have warned.”

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BBC News, 18th July 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Absent fathers to be fined up to £500 for missing child support – Daily Telegraph

“Absent fathers will be hit with up to £500 in fines for missing child support payments under tough new rules raising the cost of divorce.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th July 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Longer prison terms really do cut crime, study shows – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2012 in budgets, burglary, crime prevention, fraud, news, police, sentencing by sally

“Tougher prison sentences reduce crime, particularly burglary, according to ground-breaking research.”

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The Guardian, 7th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Social care costs cap wins favour – BBC News

“Legislation to change the funding of social care for elderly and disabled people in England could be introduced during this Parliament, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has said.”

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BBC News, 7th July 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk