Category: criminal justice

Thousands more neighbourhood criminals to be GPS tracked in expansion of tagging project – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 7th, 2022 in crime prevention, criminal justice, electronic monitoring, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, recidivists by tracey

‘The Justice Secretary, Brandon Lewis MP, has today (Tuesday 4 October) announced that more thieves, burglars and robbers will be fitted with GPS electronic tags when they leave prison, helping cut crime and keep the public safe.’

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Ministry of Justice, 4th October 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Victims’ Bill will have ‘limited effect’ without proper funding – report – The Independent

Posted September 30th, 2022 in bills, budgets, criminal justice, government departments, immigration, news, victims by michael

‘The Government’s plans for a Victims’ Bill will have a “limited effect” unless more funding is provided, according to MPs.’

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The Independent, 30th September 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges wrong to bail defendants due to barristers’ strike, high court rules – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2022 in bail, barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, custody, delay, fees, industrial action, judges, Ministry of Justice, news by michael

‘Judges were wrong to refuse to extend the period defendants could be kept in jail awaiting trial in cases delayed by the criminal barristers’ strike, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judges unlawfully releasing defendants, court hears – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2022 in bail, barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, custody, delay, fees, industrial action, judges, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Crown Court judges have been releasing potentially dangerous criminals unlawfully because of delays linked to the criminal barristers’ strike, the High Court has heard.’

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BBC News, 27th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges wrong to state views about barristers’ strike, high court told – The Guardian

Posted September 27th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, judiciary, news, remand by sally

‘Judges acted wrongly when expressing views on the criminal barristers’ strike as they refused to keep defendants behind bars in cases delayed by the ongoing pay dispute, the high court has heard.’

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The Guardian, 26th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS brings case against judges bailing defendants – BBC News

Posted September 26th, 2022 in bail, barristers, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, custody, delay, fees, industrial action, judges, Ministry of Justice, news, trials by sally

‘The director of public prosecutions is bringing a High Court challenge against judges’ refusal to detain defendants for longer ahead of trial amid record-high backlogs and legal strikes.’

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BBC News, 26th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Four murder accused to be released on bail amid legal aid strikes – The Guardian

Posted September 23rd, 2022 in bail, barristers, criminal justice, custody, fees, industrial action, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, murder, news by sally

‘Four people accused of murder are to be released on bail after a judge refused to extend the time they could be kept in custody pending trial.’

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The Guardian, 22nd September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Striking barristers hold talks with new justice secretary – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

‘Barristers on strike in England and Wales have been urged to return to work during their first round of negotiations with the justice secretary.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Delays leave man facing four years in Leicester jail without trial – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2022 in barristers, coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, drug offences, firearms, industrial action, miscarriage of justice, news by tracey

‘A man has been told he will have to spend at least four years and three months in jail without trial as a result of Covid, barrister strikes and a malfunctioning courtroom.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Chris Kaba: Police shooting of unarmed man treated as homicide – BBC News

Posted September 12th, 2022 in criminal justice, firearms, homicide, news, police, professional conduct, racism by tracey

‘A criminal investigation is under way after the police watchdog said it would investigate the shooting of an unarmed black man as a homicide.’

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BBC News, 10th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme Court Confirms Correct Approach to Deportation Cases – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 9th, 2022 in appeals, children, criminal justice, deportation, families, family courts, immigration, news, proportionality, Supreme Court by tracey

‘In Secretary of State for the Home Department v HA (Iraq) [2022] UKSC 22, the Supreme Court has confirmed that the Court of Appeal was right to reject the idea that, when assessing whether it would be unduly harsh (and therefore disproportionate) for a person to be deported from the UK, the degree of harshness that would arise from this should be assessed by reference to a comparison with that which would ‘necessarily’ be involved for any child faced with the deportation of a parent. The Court also provided useful guidance concerning the application of the test for whether there are very compelling circumstances rendering deportation disproportionate in a given case.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th September 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Barristers accuse ministers of rushing release of pre-recorded video evidence – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, cross-examination, Crown Court, delay, fees, industrial action, Ministry of Justice, news, rape, sexual offences, victims, video recordings, witnesses by tracey

‘Barristers have accused ministers of ignoring a crisis in the criminal justice system by continuing to roll out pre-recorded video evidence for rape survivors in England and Wales amid a strike by advocates. The policy, allowing complainants of offences including modern slavery to be cross-examined before trial in front of a limited number of people, was extended to five more crown courts on Friday, taking the total to 63. Three-quarters of courts are covered and all will be by the end of the month.’

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The Guardian, 9th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barrister strike: Criminal law is not dying, it’s dead, says barrister – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

‘Criminal law is “not dying, it’s pretty much dead” one barrister has claimed.’

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BBC News, 6th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barristers strike: ‘The system is falling apart and victims are let down’ – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, demonstrations, fees, industrial action, legal aid, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, remuneration by tracey

‘As many defence barristers begin an indefinite strike over pay, the BBC spoke to a barrister about her day-to-day work in the “falling apart” criminal justice system and to an alleged victim of sexual abuse caught up in the backlog of cases.’

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BBC News, 5th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Research Briefing: E-petition debate: The removal of parental responsibility for people convicted of serious offences – House of Commons Library

Posted September 5th, 2022 in children, criminal justice, news, parental responsibility, parliament by tracey

‘Read the Government’s response and background ahead of the debate on e-petition 614893 on Monday 12 September 2022.’

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House of Commons Library , 2nd September 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Barristers start indefinite strike action over pay in England and Wales – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, demonstrations, fees, industrial action, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, remuneration by tracey

‘Barristers in England and Wales are starting an indefinite, uninterrupted strike, in an escalation of industrial action over pay which began in April.’

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BBC News, 5th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dad tells of teen daughter’s long wait for rape trial – BBC News

Posted August 31st, 2022 in budgets, child abuse, children, coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, families, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The father of a 15-year-old girl, who has been waiting two years for her rape trial, has told the BBC about the devastating impact of court delays.’

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BBC News, 31st August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Labour urges immediate rights extension for associate prosecutors – Legal Futures

Posted August 30th, 2022 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, political parties, prosecutions, rights of audience by tracey

‘The Labour Party has called for the role of associate prosecutors (APs) to be expanded so as to help reduce the massive backlog in criminal cases awaiting hearings.’

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Legal Futures, 30th August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court ‘chaos’ seeing criminals go free, victims’ commissioner warns, as barristers strike – The Independent

Posted August 30th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, domestic violence, industrial action, news, remuneration, victims by tracey

‘Court “chaos” is resulting in criminals going free, the victims’ commissioner has warned, as barristers move to an all-out strike. Record backlogs, which are already seeing cases scheduled late in 2024, are expected to be worsened significantly by a continuous walkout starting on Tuesday that will bring most crown court hearings to a halt in England and Wales.’

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The Independent, 29th August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sceptical crime lawyers lambast Raab’s plan to “extend” higher rights – Legal Futures

Posted August 25th, 2022 in advocacy, criminal justice, lord chancellor, news, rights of audience, solicitor advocates, standards by sally

‘Lawyers have reacted with scepticism at the suggestion that Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab wants to “extend” higher rights of audience to more criminal defence solicitors.’

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Legal Futures, 25th August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk