Legal help for vulnerable ‘at risk’ – BBC News
“The support people with autism get from the police and criminal justice system could be hit by Home Office cuts, a senior legal figure has warned.”
BBC News, 15th November 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: criminal justice
Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses publishes new report – Ministry of Justice
“Louise Casey, the independent Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses, has today published a new report on improving support for victims in the criminal justice system.”
Ministry of Justice, 3rd November 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Red tape swamping the criminal justice system, warns watchdog – Daily Telegraph
“Red tape swamping police and prosecutors is at ‘unacceptable’ levels, a watchdog warned today as it revealed officers and officials have to go through 1,000 different steps just to deal with a simple burglary.”
Daily Telegraph, 3rd November 2010
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Black people six times more likely to face drug arrest – The Guardian
“Black people are six times more likely to be arrested than white people for drug offences and 11 times more likely to be imprisoned, according to new research claiming to show the racial bias of the criminal justice system.”
The Guardian, 31st October 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Civil sanctions are no soft option – The Guardian
“The Law Commission’s proposals on regulation are welcome – but no easy alternative to a busybody state.”
The Guardian, 26th August 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Simplifying the Criminal Law – Law Commission
“We have published a consultation paper proposing changes to the law relating to the offences of public nuisance and outraging public decency.”
Law Commission, 31st March 2010
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Public to have bigger say in criminal sentencing – Daily Telegraph
“Members of the public are to be given a much bigger say in the process which sees criminals having their sentences increased if they are ruled to be too lenient.”
Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2010
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Brown defends silence over jailing of Venables – The Independent
“The Prime Minister has defended the Government’s refusal to explain why one of the murderers of James Bulger has been returned to prison, as new claims emerged that the killer had a recent history of violence and drug abuse.”
The Independent, 5th March 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
LCJ warns of ‘undoubted danger’ to administration of justice – Law Society’s Gazette
“The lord chief justice has warned that budgetary pressures on the prosecution and the courts are having a ‘very real impact’ on the administration of justice and said there is ‘an undoubted danger’ that the situation could worsen.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 11th February 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Bar Council launches Judicial Review of Government’s Consultations on Criminal Legal Aid – The Bar Council
“In accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review Claims, solicitors acting for the Bar Council have today written to the Legal Aid Minister, Lord Bach and to the Chairman of the Legal Services Commission, Sir Bill Callaghan in order to advance proceedings for judicial review of the Government’s consultations on criminal legal aid. ”
The Bar Council, 10th February 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Bar Council to launch legal action against MoJ – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Bar Council and the Criminal Bar Association are set to take the government to court for the first time in 20 years over what they claim are ‘inadequate and unfair’ consultations on new fees for criminal legal aid work.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 8th February 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Attorney General: Keynote Speech – CPS National Schools Project Launch – Attorney General’s Office
“Attorney General: Keynote Speech – CPS National Schools Project Launch.”
Attorney General’s Office, 4th February 2010
Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk
Junior Criminal Bar under threat from botched Legal Aid Reforms warns Commons Committee – The Bar Council
“The influential House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has today (2 February) published a damning report on the Legal Services Commission’s handling of legal aid reform.”
The Bar Council, 2nd February 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Lord Chief Justice Publishes Administration of Justice Review – Judiciary of England & Wales
“The Lord Chief Justice’s ‘Review of the Administration of Justice in the Courts’ was published today. His report covers matters of importance to the judiciary relating to the administration of justice in England and Wales during the 2008-2009 Legal Year (1 October 2008 – 30 September 2009).”
Judiciary of England & Wales, 3rd February 2010
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Criminal justice measures in force – Ministry of Justice
“Changes to the law over evidence and bail are among some of the new measures that will, from today, further rebalance the criminal justice system in favour of victims and the law-abiding majority.”
Ministry of Justice, 1st February 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
MPs warn of criminal justice ‘crisis’ – Law Society’s Gazette
“A committee of MPs has warned that the criminal justice system is ‘facing a crisis of sustainability’ as government spending on prisons takes resources away from other aspects of criminal justice.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 18th January 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
The Big Question: Do juryless trials risk obscuring the transparency of justice? – The Independent
“Why are we asking this now?
This week Britain’s first crown court criminal trial to take place without a jury in more than 400 years started at the Royal Courts of Justice. The case, involving four men accused of a £1.75m armed robbery, is being heard by a judge, sitting alone, who will decide upon the men’s guilt or otherwise.”
The Independent, 14th January 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Young black people and the criminal justice system: second annual report – Ministry of Justice
“Second annual report to the Home Affairs Select Committee on progress made in taking forward the recommendations of its inquiry.”
Ministry of Justice, 10th December 2009
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Court of Appeal (Criminal) Review of the Legal Year 2008/2009 – Judiciary of England and Wales
“Court of Appeal (Criminal) Review of the Legal Year 2008/2009.”
Judiciary of England and Wales, 11th December 2009
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
