Legal Aid Review: A Step In The Right Direction Or ‘A Drop In The Ocean’? – Rights Info

Posted February 18th, 2019 in civil justice, criminal justice, legal aid, news, reports by sally

‘Last week the government published its long-awaited review into much criticised changes to our legal aid system. It is accompanied by a Legal Support Action Plan that the Law Society says represents a step towards fixing our ailing system, while others have expressed dismay at the uphill battle many still face to access justice.’

Full Story

Rights Info, 15th February 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Home Secretary unveils legislative changes to tackle unauthorised encampments – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 8th, 2019 in criminal justice, news, police, public order, travellers, trespass by sally

‘The Home Secretary has announced a series of legislative amendments aimed at improving the effectiveness of enforcement against unauthorised traveller encampments.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 6th February 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Justice ministry knew court IT systems were ‘obsolete’, papers reveal – The Guardian

‘The Ministry of Justice knew its court computer systems were “obsolete” and “out of support” long before the network went into meltdown last week, internal documents have revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

What happened next? The lawyer who took on John Worboys – and showed how the justice system fails women – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2018 in criminal justice, news, parole, rape, recidivists, sexual offences, statistics, victims, women by sally

‘The parole board’s decision to release the black cab rapist was met with shock and outrage. Harriet Wistrich fought the decision, and won, but says there will be many more similar cases in future.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by the Right Honourable Lady Justice Rafferty to the Criminal Law Review Conference – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 13th, 2018 in criminal justice, criminal procedure, judges, practice directions, speeches by sally

‘Speech by the Right Honourable Lady Justice Rafferty to the Criminal Law Review Conference.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 12th December 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov

Speech by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb DBE – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 7th, 2018 in criminal justice, speeches by sally

‘Speech by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb DBE.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 6th December 2018

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Court service call centres “improving justice”, says minister – Litigation Futures

Posted December 6th, 2018 in bills, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, judiciary, news by sally

‘Justice minister Lucy Frazer has defended the role of call centres in the justice system during the committee stage of the Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 6th December 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Criminal justice statistics – new resource – Sentencing Council

Posted November 27th, 2018 in criminal justice, press releases, statistics by sally

‘We have published a new data resource for academics, researchers and others with an interest in the criminal justice system. Criminal justice statistics pulls together sources for the main, routinely produced statistical publications on crime and justice from the major government departments, including the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics.’

full press release

Sentencing Council, 26th November 2018

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Bar Council reaction to Lord Chancellor’s AGFS announcement – The Bar Council

Posted November 27th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, criminal justice, fees, pilot schemes, press releases by sally

‘Responding to the Lord Chancellor’s announcement during Saturday’s Bar Council Annual Conference of more funding for the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) Andrew Walker QC, Chair of the Bar, said: “The Lord Chancellor’s announcement that there will be further funding for the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), following the recent consultation, is welcome. So too are his comments about the future – about the scope to improve the way in which criminal defence advocates are paid, and his commitment to working together with the professions to make criminal advocacy sustainable.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 26th November 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Scrapping juries in rape trials risks rise in miscarriages of justice – The Guardian

‘There is no evidence juries are failing their duty. Abolishing them could increase pressure on judges to boost conviction rates.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Criminals may escape conviction due to lack of resources for forensics, says Lord Chief Justice – Daily Telegraph

‘Criminals may be escaping conviction because of a lack of resources for forensic investigations, the Lord Chief Justice warned yesterday.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 20th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Scrap juries in rape trials, labour MP suggests – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2018 in criminal justice, inquiries, juries, news, rape, statistics, trials, victims by sally

‘Juries may need to be scrapped in rape trials because of the dominance of rape myths in society and “shockingly low” charging and conviction rates, the House of Commons will hear.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecutor wants more convictions for crimes against elderly – BBC News

‘The head of the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales says he wants to see more prosecutions of people who commit crimes against older people.’

Full Story

BBC News, 19th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals: Diversity and Judgecraft – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals: Diversity and Judgecraft.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 14th November 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov

Creating a ‘zero tolerance’ culture for disclosure failings across the criminal justice system – Attorney General’s Office

Posted November 15th, 2018 in attorney general, criminal justice, disclosure, news by sally

‘The Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC MP, has today published the Government’s Review of the efficiency and effectiveness of disclosure in the criminal justice system.’

Full review

Attorney General’s Office, 15th November 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Give victims right to challenge police and parole decisions, say MPs and Lords – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 13th, 2018 in compensation, consultations, criminal justice, disclosure, news, parole, police, victims by sally

‘Crime victims must get new legal rights to challenge parole and police decisions, a new all party group of MPs and Lords will demand today (Tues).’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 13th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New research questions link between austerity and legal aid cuts – The Bar Council

‘New research commissioned by the Bar Council reveals the full scale of a decade of dis-investment in justice and argues that decisions to make wholesale budget cuts cannot be blamed on austerity measures alone.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 1st November 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Prisons are new frontline in fighting crime, says Gauke – The Guardian

Posted November 2nd, 2018 in crime, criminal justice, news, police, prisons by sally

‘Jails have emerged as a new frontline in fighting crime because advances in technology mean prison walls alone are no longer effective in stopping criminals, the justice secretary has told police chiefs.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Justice campaign’ needs new approach, say experts – Legal Futures

Posted November 2nd, 2018 in civil justice, criminal justice, legal profession, media, news, rule of law by sally

‘Lawyers have been urged to look at radical new approaches to ‘rebrand’ justice so as to build public and political understanding of its value.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal law not keeping pace with digital world – report – The Guardian

‘Online communications law is incoherent and fails to protect victims of abuse from harassment such as “deepfake” pornography, according to a report by the Law Commission.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com