Court case delays left assault victim waiting over a year – BBC News
‘The government has announced emergency funding to help tackle huge delays in court trials.’
BBC News, 23rd April 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: criminal justice
Police ‘decided not to investigate’ more crimes during coronavirus pandemic, watchdog says – The Independent
‘Police in some areas of Britain have “increased the number of crimes they decided not to investigate” during the coronavirus pandemic, a watchdog has revealed.’
The Independent, 20th April 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Ep 140: Harriet Wistrich on Criminal Justice for Women – Law Pod UK
‘Following International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Emma-Louise Fenelon spoke to Harriet Wistrich, founder of the Centre for Women’s Justice about the many ways in which the UK criminal justice system is failing women.’
Law Pod UK, 12th April 2021
Source: audioboom.com
Police cannot tackle all Covid breaches as crime returns to pre-pandemic levels, senior officer warns – The Independent
‘Police will not be able to respond to all breaches of coronavirus restrictions as crime rises towards pre-pandemic levels, a senior officer has warned.’
The Independent, 12th April 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
I’ve seen how the UK justice system is crumbling. Why doesn’t the government take action? – Dominic Grieve – The Guardian
‘From decrepit court buildings to legal aid cuts, the service has been brought to its knees. And there’s little hope of change.’
The Guardian, 5th April 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Children: Public Law Update (March 2021) – Family Law Week
‘John Tughan QC of 4PB considers the latest judgments that Public law child lawyers need to know about.’
Family Law Week, 24th March 2021
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Public Accounts Committee warns of “huge backlogs” in courts, justice system under “unprecedented pressure” – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Ministry of Justice “faces significant risks across the full range of its services, without a clear sense of prioritisation” and huge backlogs that have built up are causing “unacceptably long waiting times for people to access justice”, the Public Accounts Committee has said.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Fatal truth: how the suicide of Alex Reid exposed the hidden death toll of domestic violence – The Guardian
‘Nine months after the outgoing and talented nurse started dating Peter Yeung, she was dead. Her story highlights a shockingly common but overlooked cause of death among women.’
The Guardian, 24th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Shrewsbury 24: how industrial action led to 47-year fight for justice – The Guardian
‘The industrial action that led to the convictions of union activists and a 47-year campaign to clear their names took place as Edward Heath’s Conservative government sought to weaken the economic power of trade unions.’
The Guardian, 23rd March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Shrewsbury 24: court of appeal overturns 1970s picketing convictions – The Guardian
‘Court of appeal judges have overturned the criminal convictions of a group of trade unionists, including the actor Ricky Tomlinson, after a campaign lasting more than four decades.’
The Guardian, 23rd March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Half of women have little or no faith in CPS to prosecute crimes against them, poll finds – The Independent
‘Half of women have little or no faith in the authorities to prosecute crimes against them, according to a new poll. Almost a quarter have “no trust at all” in the Crown Prosecution Service, the research by Savanta ComRes found.’
The Independent, 21st March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Third of remand prisoners in England being held beyond legal time limit for trials – The Guardian
‘More than 3,600 people – almost a third of England’s remand prison population – have been held beyond the legal time limit awaiting trials as the pandemic wreaks havoc on the legal process.’
The Guardian, 17th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Oliver Campbell: Calls to review 30-year-old murder conviction – BBC News
‘A man with learning difficulties who admitted to a murder 30 years ago should have his conviction quashed because he confessed to police without a lawyer present, his solicitor says.’
BBC News, 16th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Bill that curtails ability to protest in England and Wales passes second reading – The Guardian
‘A landmark government crime bill has passed its first parliamentary hurdle, even as some Conservative MPs served notice that they might subsequently support amendments to water down controversial restrictions against protests.’
The Guardian, 16th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Johnson to chair crime taskforce on violence against women as he calls Everard vigil footage ‘concerning’ – The Independent
‘Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the government’s crime and justice taskforce on Monday to discuss what more needs to be done to stamp out violence against women and girls.’
The Independent, 15th March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Which hat am I wearing? A tale of two jurisdictions – St Ives Chambers
‘The Court of Appeal Criminal Division and the Divisional Court have confirmed the circumstances in which the Crown, a Defendant, or a third party can challenge the making, variation, or failure to make a reporting restriction for a young person in the criminal justice system.’
St Ives Chambers, February 2021
Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk
Tougher sentences on menu in ‘restore confidence’ bill – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Legislation aimed at ‘restoring confidence in the criminal justice system’ is to be unveiled in parliament today. According to a government statement, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will equip the police with the powers and tools they need to protect themselves and the public, while overhauling sentencing laws to keep serious sexual and violent offenders behind bars for longer, and placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation to better help offenders to turn their lives around.’
Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2021
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Justice overhaul to better protect the public and back our police – Ministry of Justice
‘Cutting crime and building safer communities will be at the heart of new legislation unveiled in Parliament today (9 March 2021).’
Ministry of Justice, 9th March 2021
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
