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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

Public Sexual Harassment Could Become A Criminal Offence – Each Other

‘A consultation has been launched which could determine whether public sexual harassment could become a criminal offence in the UK.’

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Each Other, 23rd August 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

It tears barristers like me apart to strike, but the government has left us no choice Simon Spence – The Guardian

“The walkout in England and Wales is not merely about pay: it is about a criminal justice system that has been left to crumble.”

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why criminal barristers are striking over legal aid funding – The Guardian

Posted August 23rd, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

‘Criminal barristers in England and Wales have voted overwhelmingly to strike indefinitely from 5 September, the same date the new Conservative leader and prime minister will be announced.’

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers vote for all-out strike from 5 September – The Independent

‘Criminal defence barristers are to go on an all-out strike from next week, bringing the majority of crown court cases to a grinding halt.’

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The Independent, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Almost half of repeat knife carriers not jailed despite government pledge – The Independent

‘Offenders caught repeatedly carrying knives are not being jailed in almost half of cases, despite the government’s attempt at a “two-strike” rule for prison sentences.’

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The Independent, 18th August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Priti Patel signs landmark returns deal with Pakistan – Home Office

Posted August 19th, 2022 in criminal justice, deportation, government departments, immigration, news, Pakistan by tracey

‘New agreement to remove Pakistani nationals with no legal right to remain in the UK, including criminals, failed asylum seekers and immigration offenders.’

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Home Office, 17th August 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Fears for vulnerable women amid rise in Britons investigated over illegal abortions by police – The Independent

Posted August 19th, 2022 in abortion, criminal justice, news, pregnancy, statistics, women by tracey

‘Increasing numbers of Britons are being investigated by police over suspected illegal abortions, new figures show.’

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The Independent, 18th August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

My son with schizophrenia was ‘unlawfully deported’ to Jamaica – BBC News

‘The family of a man with schizophrenia is taking legal action against the Home Office for allegedly unlawfully deporting him to Jamaica.’

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BBC News, 13th August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Almost 1.5m England and Wales crime victims opt not to pursue cases – The Guardian

Posted August 12th, 2022 in criminal justice, news, police, political parties, prosecutions, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Almost 1.5 million victims of crime in England and Wales have decided not to pursue their cases, feeding concern that public confidence in the criminal justice system has collapsed.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission to undertake review of the appeals system – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has launched a wide-ranging review of the laws governing appeals for criminal cases.’

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Law Commission, 5th August 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Claim against solicitors was attempt to relitigate private prosecution – Legal Futures

‘A professional negligence claim against a firm of solicitors in the North-East has been thrown out as an attempt to relitigate an unsuccessful private prosecution.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Today’s CPS figures show a very worrying trend for domestic abuse victims – Family Law

Posted August 2nd, 2022 in criminal justice, domestic violence, news, statistics, victims by tracey

‘The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, has said that the latest CPS figures show a very worrying trend for domestic abuse victims.’

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Family Law, 29th July 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Solemn sentencing is no circus as cameras enter English courts – The Guardian

‘Almost 100 years after a ban on cameras in criminal courts was enshrined in law, the first broadcast from an English crown court went out on Thursday and is likely to have left many viewers asking: “Why has it taken so long?”’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK rape victim left feeling ‘suicidal’ after five-year wait for case to come to trial – The Guardian

‘A rape victim who will have been waiting five years by the time her case comes to court has said navigating the justice process has had a worse impact on her mental health than the crime itself, leaving her feeling “suicidal”.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: HA (Iraq) (Respondent) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Appellant) RA (Iraq) (Respondent) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Appellant) AA (Nigeria) (Respondent) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Appellant) [2022] UKSC 22 – UKSC Blog

‘These three conjoined appeals concern the statutory regime governing the deportation of foreign criminals under section 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”). A “foreign criminal” for the purposes of these appeals is a person who is not a British citizen, is convicted in the UK of an offence, and who is sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months. The 2002 Act divides foreign criminals who have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment into two categories. Those sentenced to at least 12 months, but less than four years (“medium offenders”), can avoid deportation if they can establish that its effect on a qualifying child or partner would be “unduly harsh” (“the unduly harsh test”). This is known as Exception 2. Exception 1, which relates to length of lawful residence and integration, is not in issue in this appeal. Those sentenced to at least four years (“serious offenders”) can avoid deportation if they establish that there are “very compelling circumstances, over and above those described in Exceptions 1 and 2” (“the very compelling circumstances test”). Whether deportation would produce unduly harsh effects for a qualifying partner/child is relevant there too.’

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UKSC Blog, 20th July 2022

Source: ukscblog.com