The inside story of two rape trials: ‘It’s as bad as I’ve ever known it’ – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2024 in barristers, criminal justice, news, rape, sexual offences, trials by sally

‘In sexual assault cases, the work of prosecution barristers is complex, poorly paid – and essential. With conviction rates extraordinarily low and barristers quitting criminal practice in droves, the Guardian shadowed one prosecutor for two years.’

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The Guardian, 17th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Update law on computer evidence to avoid Horizon repeat, ministers urged – The Guardian

‘Ministers need to “immediately” update the law to acknowledge that computers are fallible or risk a repeat of the Horizon scandal, legal experts say.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Somerset women in custody offered alternative to court – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2024 in courts, criminal justice, news, rehabilitation, women by tracey

‘Women in Somerset who’ve been arrested for the first time for low-level crime are being offered an alternative to going to court.’

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BBC News, 8th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brand new guide to help public easily access court hearings – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 2nd, 2024 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, Ministry of Justice, news, tribunals by tracey

‘People are being encouraged to see how justice is done in courtrooms with the publication of a new and simple “how to” guide for attending court hearings today.’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th December 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Troubles legacy act: Ireland takes human rights case against UK – BBC News

‘The Irish government is to begin a legal challenge against the UK government over its decision to offer immunity for Troubles-era crimes.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New strategy to tackle organised crime – Home Office

‘A new strategy aimed at tackling the growing threat of serious and organised crime has been announced by the Home Secretary as the government steps up action to clamp down on criminal gangs operating in and against the UK.’

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Home Office, 13th December 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

MoJ says it is working on making court records more accessible following MP’s outrage at £7,500 bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 27th, 2023 in bills, criminal justice, judgments, Ministry of Justice, news, victims by tracey

‘Ministry of Justice officials are working on ways to make transcripts of court proceedings available to victims of crime, a minister has revealed. But, speaking in parliament last week, Mike Freer MP did not respond to calls for immediate legislation to make this possible.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 26th November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘It risks miscarriages of justice’: MPs oppose rap lyrics being used as evidence in UK trials – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in artistic works, criminal justice, evidence, media, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

‘The lawyer Shami Chakrabarti, the DJ Annie Mac and Labour MPs Nadia Whittome and Kim Johnson are among the figures lending support to a new campaign to change how rap lyrics are used as evidence in UK criminal hearings.’

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The Guardian, 22nd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Serious Crime Bulletin – Issue 3 – October 2023 – Red Lion Chambers

Posted November 22nd, 2023 in chambers articles, criminal justice, news by sally

‘The Serious Crime Bulletin is a quarterly brief providing a snapshot of prominent decisions and news with implications for general crime practitioners.’

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Red Lion Chambers, 27th October 2023

Source: redlionchambers.co.uk

Victims to be protected through Sentencing Reforms – Ministry of Defence

‘Cowardly domestic abusers will continue to face time behind bars under legislation laid in Parliament today which will also see the most horrific murderers face life behind bars and rapists locked up for longer.’

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Ministry of Defence, 14th November 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Possession of nitrous oxide is now illegal – Home Office

Posted November 10th, 2023 in criminal justice, drug abuse, drug offences, news by tracey

‘Possession of “laughing gas” is now illegal with repeat serious users facing up to 2 years in prison and dealers up to 14 years.’

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Home Office, 8th November 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas possession becomes illegal – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2023 in criminal justice, drug offences, news by sally

‘Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as NOS, has become a criminal offence in the UK.’

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BBC News, 8th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims will have say in jurisdiction of criminal cases involving armed forces – Law Society’s Gazette

‘For the first time, the views of alleged victims will be considered when deciding whether the civilian or military justice system should deal with criminal cases involving a member of the armed forces.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th October 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law compelling convicts to be in court for sentencing expected in King’s Speech – The Independent

Posted October 25th, 2023 in criminal justice, government departments, judges, judiciary, news, trials by sally

‘A law allowing judges to force convicted criminals to be in court for their sentencing will be in the King’s Speech, the Justice Secretary has indicated.’

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The Independent, 25th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Woman raped by ex-partner left traumatised by English family courts – The Guardian

‘A woman who was raped by her former partner has told how her fight for justice in the family courts left her traumatised.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Drug-spiking reports rise fivefold but proportion leading to charges fall – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2023 in criminal justice, drug offences, news, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘Drug-spiking incidents reported to the police have increased five-fold in five years, yet the proportion leading to a criminal charge is falling, freedom of information (FoI) requests show.’

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The Guardian, 23rd October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prison reforms will cut reoffending and put worst offenders behind bars for longer – Ministry of Justice

‘A fundamental shake-up of the justice system that takes dangerous offenders off the streets for longer while rehabilitating lower risk offenders has been outlined today by Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk.’

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Ministry of Justice, 16th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Nitrous oxide to be illegal from November – Home Office

‘Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”, will be illegal from 8 November 2023.’

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Home Office, 18th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Courts increase sentences for child sex offenders – Attorney General’s Office

‘Figures released as part the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme annual statistics for 2022 show there were 23 child sex offence sentence increases. This was followed by 10 sentences increased for rape offences and 7 for cases involving grievous bodily harm.’

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Attorney General's Office, 17th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

“Relatively straightforward” for barristers to avoid cab-rank rule – Legal Futures

‘It seems “relatively straightforward” for barristers to avoid the cab-rank rule by relying on exemptions, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 17th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk