Judge refuses to stand aside amid row over UK Covid trial delays – The Guardian

‘A senior judge has refused to step down from a case involving custody time limits after she replaced another judge who criticised the government over delays in delivering justice.’

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The Guardian, 18th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Covid court delays: Dead pigeons and four-year waits for justice – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news by michael

‘ “Paul” was accused of committing a domestic burglary in June 2018. In early 2019 he was told by police that no further action would be taken against him. However, he was subsequently charged. Last week – over two years since the alleged offence – he appeared at Inner London Crown Court.’

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BBC News, 17th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Commercial chambers offers £20k to fund withdrawn pupillage at crime set – Legal Futures

Posted September 16th, 2020 in barristers, budgets, coronavirus, criminal justice, government departments, news, pupillage by michael

‘A London commercial chambers has put up £20,000 to fund a pupillage that a criminal set has had to withdraw because of the impact of Covid-19.’

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Legal Futures, 16th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

More deferred sentences in shake-up of criminal justice in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Ministers are to encourage courts to make more use of deferred sentences – when judges give offenders a chance to turn themselves around before being punished – as part of a £500m shake-up of criminal justice in England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 16th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

A Smarter Approach to Sentencing – Ministry of Justice

‘This White Paper sets out the government’s proposals for important changes to the sentencing and release framework in England and Wales.’

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Ministry of Justice, 16th September 2020

Source: www.gov.uk

Crossbows: What are the UK’s laws on weapons after man shot in London? – The Independent

‘The shooting of a man with a crossbow in London has sparked fresh questions over the lack of restrictions on such weapons in the UK.’

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The Independent, 15th September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Serious criminals to serve two-thirds of jail term in justice shake-up – BBC News

‘Sexual and violent offenders will serve at least two-thirds of jail terms, rather than half, as part of changes to the criminal justice system in England and Wales.’

 

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BBC News, 16th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drivers who kill others could receive life sentences under new laws – BBC News

‘Drivers who kill others after speeding, racing or using a phone could receive life sentences under new legislation.’

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BBC News, 14th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Olivia Burt’s family ‘disappointed’ with CPS decision – BBC News

‘The parents of a student who died when a barrier collapsed outside a nightclub say they are “deeply disappointed” no-one will face criminal prosecution.’

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BBC News, 14th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge makes formal complaint over Covid custody waits – BBC News

‘A judge has claimed he was put under “improper and undue influence” to keep a defendant in custody.’

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BBC News, 11th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge criticises UK government’s ‘inadequate’ efforts to aid Covid-19 backlog – The Guardian

‘A crown court judge has refused to extend the custody time limit for keeping a man in prison awaiting trial and accused the government of under-funding the criminal justice system during the pandemic.’

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The Guardian, 8th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Triple threat to justice system in England and Wales, lawyers warn – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, delay, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

‘The criminal justice system in England and Wales is facing the triple threat of a shortage of defence lawyers, financial shock as furlough assistance from the government ends and the mass postponement of trials due to the coronavirus pandemic.’

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The Guardian, 31st August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Diversity of criminal bar at risk as junior barristers forced to quit – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, criminal justice, diversity, minorities, news, pupillage by sally

‘Junior barristers and pupils from underrepresented backgrounds are dropping out of the profession at an alarming rate, threatening the diversity of the criminal bar, the anonymous blogger and author known as Secret Barrister has warned.’

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The Guardian, 31st August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rapper Ceon Broughton wins appeal against manslaughter conviction following festival death of Louella Fletcher-Michie – Garden Court Chambers

‘Ceon Broughton, a rapper jailed over the death of his partner Louella Fletcher-Michie from a drug overdose at Bestival has won his appeal against his manslaughter conviction. Broughton’s conviction in 2019 and seven-year prison sentence for manslaughter was quashed on 18 August 2020 by the Court of Appeal. The appeal was heard before The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Burnett, Mr Justice Sweeney and Mr Justice Murray.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 18th August 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Harry Dunn death: Anne Sacoolas faces possible trial in absentia – The Guardian

‘The attorney general for England and Wales, Suella Braverman, is considering trying the wife of a US intelligence officer in her absence on a charge of causing the death by dangerous driving of the teenager Harry Dunn.’

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The Guardian, 25th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘I Spent 12 Years In Prison For A Crime I Didn’t Commit. Here’s What I Learned’ – Each Other

‘“There are so many people in British prisons that don’t deserve to be there,” said ex-inmate-turned-journalist Raphael Rowe.’

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Each Other, 24th August 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Vulnerable victims to give pre-recorded evidence to trials – BBC News

Posted August 24th, 2020 in children, criminal justice, evidence, news, trials, victims, video recordings by sally

‘Children and other vulnerable victims of crime can pre-record evidence to avoid attending court from today.’

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BBC News, 24th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court overturns man’s conviction for girlfriend’s Bestival drug death – The Guardian

‘The rapper Ceon Broughton has had his conviction for the manslaughter of his girlfriend overturned by the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 18th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fairness in “conducive to the public good” exclusion decisions – Garden Court Chambers

Posted August 19th, 2020 in chambers articles, criminal justice, deportation, immigration, news by sally

‘Exclusion decisions prohibit entry to the UK and are made under a non-statutory power exercised personally by the Home Secretary. They tend to be used against foreign national (non-EU) prisoners who have taken up the offer of assistance to leave the UK under the facilitated returns scheme. They are made on the basis that preventing the person’s return here is conducive to the public good.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 5th August 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

David Lammy: ‘Ex-offenders should have the chance of a clean slate’ – The Guardian

‘There are currently more than 11 million people in the UK with a criminal record. The latest research suggests that nearly three-quarters of ex-offenders are unemployed on release from prison, with 50% of employers saying they would not even consider hiring an ex-offender. This amounts to a second sentence for those who have already served their time, often trapping offenders in a cycle of reoffence. The Ministry of Justice estimates the total economic and social cost of reoffending at £18.1bn per year. The criminal records regime contributes to an extortionately expensive revolving door.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com