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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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

Posted March 18th, 2021 in coronavirus, criminal justice, delay, detention, news, remand, time limits by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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

Posted March 17th, 2021 in bills, criminal justice, demonstrations, news, parliament, police by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

St Ives Chambers, February 2021

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Tougher sentences on menu in ‘restore confidence’ bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 10th, 2021 in bills, criminal justice, investigatory powers, news, police, sentencing by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MI5 policy allowing agents to commit crimes was legal, say judges – The Guardian

‘MI5’s partially secret policy of allowing agents to participate in serious crimes in pursuit of intelligence was legal, three court of appeal judges have concluded.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

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).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 9th March 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

National Case Progression Commitment: Joint statement from the College of Policing, National Police Chiefs’ Council and Crown Prosecution Service – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 9th, 2021 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, police, prosecutions by tracey

‘Victims, witnesses and defendants have been promised actions to reduce delays in case progression and to support the timely delivery of justice.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 8th March 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Court backlogs having ‘major consequences for victims’, watchdog says as trials scheduled in 2023 – The Independent

Posted March 9th, 2021 in coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, delay, news, victims by tracey

‘Court backlogs are having “major consequences for victims and witnesses”, a watchdog has found, as criminal trials are being scheduled for 2023.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

£130.5 million to tackle serious violence, murder and knife crime – Home Office

‘Package includes £30 million for police to surge activity in serious violence hotspots and new money to steer young people away from crime.’

Full Story

Home Office, 8th March 2021

Source: www.gov.uk

Priti Patel orders review into Ruth Williams lockdown killing – BBC News

‘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.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covid and sentencing: a round-up of the relevant authorities – Doughty Street Chambers

‘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.’

Full Story

Doughty Street Chambers, 4th March 2021

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

The Domestic Abuse Bill, a step in the right direction? – Garden Court Chambers

‘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.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 1st March 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Miscarriage of justice body’s workload doubled despite severe cuts – report – The Guardian

‘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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Call for vulnerable victims to give video evidence amid courts backlog – The Guardian

‘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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Criminals escaping justice as victims drop court cases due to delays, watchdog warns – The Independent

‘Rapists and other serious criminals are walking free because victims are dropping court cases because of delays, a watchdog has warned.’

Full Story

The Independent, 2nd March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Reforms to laws around intimate image abuse proposed to better protect victims – Law Commission

‘Proposals to improve protections for victims whose intimate images are taken or shared without their consent have today [26 February 2021] been published by the Law Commission of England and Wales.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 26th February 2021

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/