Non-consensual intimate images set to be seized from abusers to protect welfare of victims – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Offenders who share intimate images without consent could expect to forfeit those devices as guidance for prosecutors is updated.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 24th March 2025

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Barristers to quit RASSO work, survey suggests – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government’s commitment to deliver “swifter justice” for rape victims is in jeopardy after a survey conducted by the Criminal Bar Association revealed that barrister numbers to prosecute rape cases will shrink by nearly one-third.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Romanian rapist extradition attempt fails – BBC News

‘A Romanian rapist wanted in his home country will not be extradited after a judge found it would be “oppressive” to send him back to serve another sentence.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK police to charge more abusers with manslaughter after suicide of partner – The Guardian

‘A senior police chief has unveiled a plan to charge more domestic abusers with manslaughter after their partners take their own lives. It comes after the death of Kiena Dawes, whose partner Ryan Wellings was cleared of manslaughter but convicted of domestic abuse.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecutors told to do more to strip ‘revenge porn’ abusers of victim images – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service is to update its guidance on so-called “revenge porn” crimes to stop perpetrators being allowed to keep explicit photos of their victims.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Data helps Met convict 100 men who targeted women – BBC News

‘The force said its V100 programme, which uses data to identify and target men who pose the highest risk to women, had enabled officers to focus efforts on reducing the threat posed by perpetrators and to protect potential victims.’

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BBC News, 20th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Beringer: No rules force law firms to take on questionable clients – Legal Futures

‘There are no rules that require law firms to take on clients outside of criminal work and so they need to be willing to justify their choices publicly, the former senior partner of Allen & Overy said this week.’

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Legal Futures, 20th March 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal bar in crisis: one in three intend to quit – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 18th, 2025 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, fees, news, statistics by tracey

‘The government faces a “catastrophic loss’”of lawyers to help bring down the Crown court backlog after a national survey found that one in three criminal barristers intends to quit.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Probation Service problems in England and Wales leaving public at risk, watchdog finds – The Guardian

‘The Probation Service in England and Wales “has too few staff” with “too little experience and training” and leaves members of the public at risk, an official watchdog has found.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lucy Letby calls for public inquiry into baby deaths to be halted – The Guardian

‘Lucy Letby has called for the public inquiry into her crimes to be halted, arguing there is now “overwhelming and compelling” evidence undermining her baby murder convictions. Lawyers for the former nurse took the extraordinary step of writing to Lady Justice Thirlwall on Monday to say that the inquiry – which is due to end on Wednesday – should be suspended immediately.’

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The Guardian, 17th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisons set to run out of spaces again within a year despite early release scheme, MPs warn – The Independent

‘Overcrowded prisons will face “total gridlock in a matter of months” and run out of space in 2026 despite emergency measures to release prisoners early, MPs have warned.’

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The Independent, 14th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Biased laws and poverty driving huge rise in female prisoners – report – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2025 in bias, criminal justice, news, prisons, reports, women by Lily

‘Poverty, abuse and discriminatory laws are driving a huge rise in the number of women in prison globally, according to a new report.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pre-recorded evidence has no impact on rape conviction rates, MoJ claims – Law Society’s Gazette

‘There is no evidence to suggest that pre-recorded video evidence from complainants and witnesses in sexual offence trials reduces jury conviction rates, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sentencing body defends changes after ‘two-tier’ row – BBC News

‘The body advising judges on criminal sentences has hit back at the justice secretary’s call for it to scrap new guidance on sentencing offenders from ethnic monitories.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice secretary set for showdown with judges over sentencing guidelines – The Independent

‘Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood is set for a confrontation with the Sentencing Council later this week after they wrote to her warning her against “dictating” to judges over new measures which she fears will create a “two tier” legal system.’

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The Independent, 10th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Research Briefing: Crime and Policing Bill 2024-25 – House of Commons Library

‘The Crime and Policing Bill 2024-25 was published on 27 February 2025. The bill is listed for second reading on 10 March 2025.’

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House of Commons Library, 6th March 2025

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Mahmood to review Sentencing Council’s powers amid ‘two-tier’ justice row – The Guardian

‘Shabana Mahmood has ordered a review of the powers of the independent body that draws up judges’ sentencing guidelines in England and Wales following claims that new rules discriminate against white men.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘They suffer in silence’: case of serial rapist Zhenhao Zou highlights barriers to justice for east Asian women in UK – The Guardian

‘When asked if she was surprised that most of the victims of Zhenhao Zou, who could be one of Britain’s worst serial rapists, remained unknown to authorities, Viny Poon, who has spent the past decade supporting east Asian women in the UK, simply said: “No.” Zou, a 28-year-old PhD student, was convicted on Wednesday of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China. After recovering videos of Zou attacking a further 50 women, police have said this could be one of the worst cases of sexual violence in modern Britain. All of Zou’s victims are thought to be of Chinese heritage.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pregnant offenders in England and Wales could be spared jail under new guidelines – The Guardian

‘Pregnant women should not be sent to jail unless it is “unavoidable”, according to new sentencing guidelines.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers criticise ‘two-tier’ sentencing changes in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Ministers have criticised plans to make the ethnic background of offenders a greater factor in determining whether to jail them, saying they amounted to a “two-tier system” of justice.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com