Category: criminal justice

Criminal courts face further disruption as barristers strike for fourth week – The Independent

Posted July 19th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, delay, fees, industrial action, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Barristers have walked out for a fourth week as industrial action continues at courts around the country.’

Full Story

The Independent, 18th July 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Max Hill QC’s opening speech to the Heads of Prosecuting Agencies Conference – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 13th, 2022 in assets recovery, coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, proceeds of crime, speeches by tracey

‘Max Hill QC’s opening speech to the Heads of Prosecuting Agencies Conference.’

Full speech

Crown Prosecution Service, 12th July 2022

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Reforms to protect victims of intimate image abuse, criminalising “downblousing” and sharing pornographic deepfakes without consent – Law Commission

Posted July 11th, 2022 in consent, criminal justice, Law Commission, news, pornography, victims, voyeurism by tracey

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has today proposed new recommendations to strengthen the law to protect victims of intimate image abuse.’

Full Story

Law Commission, 7th July 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Prisoners denied access to forensic evidence in bid to prove their innocence – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2022 in appeals, Criminal Cases Review Commission, criminal justice, evidence, forensic science, imprisonment, Law Commission, miscarriage of justice, news, prisons, victims by tracey

‘Prisoners convicted of serious crimes who may be the victims of miscarriages of justice are being blocked from access to crucial forensic information that could prove their innocence, experts have warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Criminal courts face disruption as barristers strike for second week – The Independent

Posted July 5th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

‘Barristers have accused the Government of “refusing” to negotiate as strikes continue at criminal courts around the country for a second week.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th July 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

A Response to the Criminal Justice Joint Evidence Review: Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System action plan – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 4th, 2022 in criminal justice, learning difficulties, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘In December 2020, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice commissioned HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Probation, with support from HMICFRS, to undertake an independent review of neurodiversity in the criminal justice system (CJS).’

Full plan

Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2022

Women accused of illegal abortions in England and Wales after miscarriages and stillbirths – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2022 in abortion, criminal justice, news, pregnancy by tracey

‘Women in England and Wales who have suffered miscarriages or stillbirths are being investigated by police on suspicion of having illegal abortions, with some forced to hand over their phones and laptops for invasive “digital strip searches”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Courts ‘in limbo’ as barristers strike for second week – BBC News

Posted July 4th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, government departments, industrial action, news, remuneration by tracey

‘Criminal cases in courts across England and Wales face further disruption as barristers enter a second week of strike action. The walkouts began last week in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminal legal aid fee increases a welcome first step, but next stages critical to rebuilding justice system, says Bar Council – The Bar Council

Posted July 1st, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news by tracey

‘The Government has announced the next steps in the criminal legal aid review including a Statutory Instrument to be laid in Parliament by 21 July to bring in a fee increase of 15% for the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS – i.e. the fees paid to barristers) from 30 September 2022.’

Full Story

The Bar Council, 30th June 2022

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Watchdogs condemn police response to domestic abuse claims against officers – The Guardian

Posted July 1st, 2022 in complaints, criminal justice, domestic violence, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct, public interest, statistics by tracey

‘Police forces in England and Wales are responding to reports of their own officers committing domestic abuse in a way that is “significantly harming the public interest”, with just 9% of such allegations leading to criminal charges, a joint watchdog investigation has found.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The system is in crisis’: barristers make their case as strike begins – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, industrial action, legal aid, news by sally

”Usually one of the busiest courts in the country, the corridors of Manchester crown court were unusually quiet.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers walk out of courts in strike over legal aid funding – BBC News

Posted June 27th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, industrial action, legal aid, news, professional conduct, remuneration by tracey

‘Barristers will walk out of courts across England and Wales on Monday in a dispute over legal aid funding. During the strikes, they will not accept new cases or take on work for colleagues whose cases have overrun.’

Full Story

BBC news, 27th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminal barristers vote to strike over pay rates – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

‘Criminal barristers have voted to strike in an escalating dispute with the government over funding for trials.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminal legal aid fees will increase ‘by end of September’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 20th, 2022 in barristers, consultations, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The government has revealed that it hopes to lay secondary legislation shortly that would see criminal legal aid fees increase by the end of September.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 17th June 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Slynn Lecture – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted June 17th, 2022 in coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, judges, solicitors, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Slynn Lecture.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary , 16th June 2022

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Rape courts pilot in England dismissed as ‘gimmick’ amid low conviction rates – The Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, rape, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘The announcement of three specialist courtrooms to prosecute rape cases has been dismissed as a “gimmick” that does not address the chronic underfunding of the justice system that led to a fall in convictions.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Society fails women by not believing rape victims, campaigner says – The Independent

Posted June 15th, 2022 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, government departments, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, statistics, victims, women by sally

‘Society must stop “failing” women by assuming rape victims are lying, a campaigner who helped shape the Government’s landmark review of serious sexual offences has said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Commission sets out options to Government for reforming how companies are convicted of criminal offences – Law Commission

Posted June 13th, 2022 in company directors, company law, criminal justice, Law Commission, news by tracey

‘The Law Commission has today published its options for the Government for how it can improve the law to ensure that corporations are effectively held to account for committing serious crimes.’

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Law Commission, 10th June 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Barristers to be balloted on possible walkouts in row over legal aid rates – The Guardian

Posted June 13th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, Crown Court, fees, industrial action, Law Society, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, solicitors, statistics by tracey

‘Barristers are to be balloted this weekend on escalating industrial action over legal aid rates as figures reveal the number of crown court cases adjourned because of a shortage of lawyers has increased nearly fivefold over the decade.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

England’s new strangulation law – and why it is needed – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2022 in criminal justice, domestic violence, news, podcasts by sally

‘A new law specifically targeting non-fatal strangulation comes into effect this week in England and Wales. Yvonne Roberts explains why it is necessary.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com