‘Victims, witnesses and defendants have been promised actions to reduce delays in case progression and to support the timely delivery of justice.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 8th March 2021
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘Court backlogs are having “major consequences for victims and witnesses”, a watchdog has found, as criminal trials are being scheduled for 2023.’
The Independent, 9th March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Package includes £30 million for police to surge activity in serious violence hotspots and new money to steer young people away from crime.’
Home Office, 8th March 2021
Source: www.gov.uk
‘A review into the death of a woman who was killed by her husband has been ordered by the home secretary. Anthony Williams, 70, was jailed for five years after admitting to the manslaughter of his wife Ruth, 67, in south Wales.’
BBC News, 7th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The pandemic has inarguably made custody more severe. Prisoners spend more time in their cell, have fewer visits, and face a heightened risk of infection. The higher courts have established that sentencing courts should account for such hardship. The below is a round-up of the relevant authorities.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 4th March 2021
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘The Domestic Abuse Bill received its second reading stage in the House of Lords on 5 January 2021. The government has indicated a commitment to improving the justice system’s effectiveness in providing protection for victims of domestic abuse and bringing perpetrators to justice.’
Garden Court Chambers, 1st March 2021
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘The miscarriage of justice watchdog has suffered the “biggest cut” of any part of the criminal justice system since 2010 and its caseload has more than doubled over the same period, according to a parliamentary investigation.’
The Guardian, 5th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Up to 10,000 vulnerable victims facing long delays for trials should be allowed to give evidence by video in an attempt to stop them falling out of the system, according to the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales.’
The Guardian, 5th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Rapists and other serious criminals are walking free because victims are dropping court cases because of delays, a watchdog has warned.’
The Independent, 2nd March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘As anyone immersed in, or interested in, the Criminal Justice System will know, when the first lockdown was announced back in March 2020, in person attendance at court buildings almost ground to a halt. This inevitably meant that all jury trials were suspended, and serious thought had to be given as to how they could safely resume in the future. Social distancing rules and the concern of causing covid outbreaks meant that the reintroduction of jury trials was slow, but by July 2020 and through the introduction of Perspex screens in between jurors and the relaxation of some of the lockdown restrictions, they slowly started to return to barristers’ diaries across the country.’
KCH Garden Square, 18th February 2021
Source: kchgardensquare.co.uk
‘The Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, announced in Parliament on Tuesday 9th February that those returning from ‘red list’ countries who fail to disclose that fact could receive a 10-year prison sentence following conviction (see The Telegraph).’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 24th February 2021
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Human trafficking is internationally recognised as threatening human rights and the fundamental values of democratic societies. States have taken action to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking and to provide support to victims of what is the third largest illicit money-making venture in the world. But what happens when the victims of trafficking commit a crime themselves? Should they be prosecuted? What factors are relevant in this assessment? And which arm of the State should the assessment of whether someone is a victim of trafficking be entrusted to? This is the first time the European Court of Human Rights has tackled these questions. The Court found that the UK had breached its obligations under articles 4 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights by prosecuting two Vietnamese children who were potential victims of trafficking.’
EIN Blog 24th February 2021
Source: www.ein.org.uk
In this post, Omar Qureshi, Eoin O’Shea, Amy Wilkinson and Karishma Gadhia, who all work at CMS and have a special interest in corporate crime matters, comment on the decision handed down by the UK Supreme Court earlier this month in the matter R (on the application of KBR, Inc) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2021] UKSC 2, which concerned whether the Director of the Serious Fraud Office can issue a notice pursuant to section 2(3) of the Criminal Justice 1987 requiring a foreigner to produce material held overseas.
UKSC Blog, 24th February 2021
Source: ukscblog.com
‘The victims’ commissioner for England and Wales has called for a law to ensure people affected by crime are treated properly as they wait for justice.’
BBC News, 24th February 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Police forces are having to ration forensic toxicology work, especially samples from suspected drug drivers, because there is not enough capacity in the system to handle the volume of work, the outgoing forensic science regulator has said.’
The Guardian, 16th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The director of public prosecutions has called into question the age of criminal responsibility amid fears too many children are facing adult justice.’
Law Society's Gazette, 16th February 2021
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Crack teams of specialist police officers are needed to bring rapists to justice and prevent a wholesale collapse of public confidence in the criminal justice system, according to the police lead for rape in England and Wales.’
The Guardian, 14th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘When Tracey Hanson’s son, Josh, was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in 2015, it was the start of a tough journey through the criminal justice system. She said she was “passed from pillar to post” throughout and the impact stays with her today. Experiences like hers – and others who have been victims of crime – is driving a fresh call from Labour for a “Victims’ Law” to strengthen their rights.’
BBC News, 8th February 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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