‘The government has decided not to move ahead with plans to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence fee, but said it would “remain under active consideration”.’
BBC News, 21st January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Urgent action is needed to tackle an “unprecedented backlog” of court cases built up during the pandemic that has “severe implications” for victims, the UK’s four justice chief inspectors have warned.’
The Guardian, 19th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Law Society has called for urgent action including a possible two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and magistrates’ court work “amid escalating safety concerns”.’
Local Government Lawyer, 15th January 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA) has advised its members that it is not safe to continue to attend Magistrates’ courts.’
Local Government Lawyer, 12th January 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The government is set to make non-fatal strangulation a specific criminal offence, with perpetrators facing up to seven years in prison after a sustained campaign from victims and activists.’
The Guardian, 10th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Defendants, victims including teenagers, and witnesses are having to wait up to four years from the time of an alleged offence to the case reaching crown court trial because of delays caused mainly by Covid.’
The Guardian, 10th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘More than 1,000 people who took part in environmental direct action organised by Extinction Rebellion have been taken to court in what experts say is one of the biggest crackdowns on protest in British legal history.’
The Guardian, 8th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘NEW legal guidance to set updated rules on charging criminal cases has been published by the Director of Public Prosecutions today.
The Director’s Guidance on Charging 6th Edition (DG6) has been unveiled by The Crown Prosecution Service with the new rules coming into immediate effect. The document, which was last updated in 2013, provides a clear set of guidelines for prosecutors and police to ensure cases are referred to the CPS at the right time; with the right material and information so that prosecutors can make immediate charging decisions and cases pass effectively and efficiently through the criminal justice system.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 31st December 2020
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘A woman who has been the victim of deepfake pornography is calling for a change in the law.’
BBC News, 6th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Crown Prosecution Service has said there remains a “realistic prospect of conviction” for Harry Dunn’s alleged killer despite a High Court ruling she had diplomatic immunity.’
BBC News, 20th December 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Paying for sex could become a criminal offence in England and Wales if Parliament approves a new Bill which claims to protect women from sexual exploitation. But criminalisation will only further harm people who are already marginalised, argues Rachel Trafford.’
Each Other, 17th December 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘Police and prosecutors need more resources as sexual assault and rape investigations are taking longer, a charity that supports victims has said.’
BBC News, 14th December 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Two men who were jailed nearly 50 years ago on the word of a corrupt detective could finally have their names cleared.
The cases of two members of the so-called “Stockwell Six”, who were accused of attempting to rob that officer on the underground, are now being referred to the court of appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).’
The Guardian, 14th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The European Court of Human Rights has found that the deportation of a Nigerian man from the United Kingdom violated his right to respect for private and family life guaranteed by article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The applicant in Unuane v United Kingdom successfully argued that his removal from the UK was a disproportionate interference with family life because it separated him from his children. Though finding for the applicant, the Court rejected his attack on the compatibility of the Immigration Rules – an issue that as recently as 2016 the Supreme Court had authoritatively settled. The decision is of interest for the Court’s approach to the necessary balancing exercise to be carried out in the sensitive area of human rights challenges to the deportation of foreign criminals.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 10th December 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘Judges and magistrates are to be given explicit reminders for the first time in sentencing guidelines of the disparity in punishments being imposed by the courts on white, Asian and black offenders.’
The Guardian, 9th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Small claims have been disproportionally impacted by Covid-19 in terms of timeliness, official figures have shown.’
Litigation Futures, 8th December 2020
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘Victims have been left unprotected and a suspected paedophile left free to strike after government changes to bail plunged parts of the criminal justice system into chaos, an official report has found.’
The Guardian, 8th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
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