Pair in DNA database legal battle – BBC News
“Two British men are due to appear before Strasbourg’s European Court of Human Rights to try to get their DNA removed from the UK national database.”
BBC News, 27th February 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: criminal records
Cannabis users to face fixed penalty – Daily Telegraph
“Tens of thousands of people caught with a single joint of cannabis will get an unofficial criminal record that could blight their future employment prospects under new police proposals, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.”
Daily Telegraph, 17th February 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Background checks will not force sex offenders to hide, Smith says – The Guardian
“The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, yesterday insisted that new powers for parents to check for criminal backgrounds of those who care for their children will not drive convicted sex offenders underground.”
The Guardian, 18th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Legal Opinion: Police face legal challenge over criminal records checks – The Independent
“If you have done nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear. But, asks Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, what if the police could disclose unproven allegations to your employer?”
The Independent, 30th January 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Sex offenders’ mug shots ‘aged’ – BBC News
“A ‘most wanted’ website showing images of sex offenders has marked its first anniversary by posting age-progressed photographs of people it is hunting.”
BBC News, 16th November 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Police ordered to delete old records of one-time cautions – OUT-LAW.com
“Four English police forces have been ordered to delete criminal records because they have been kept for too long.”
OUT-LAW.com, 1st November 2007
Source: www.out-law.com
Police ordered to destroy decades-old petty crime records – The Independent
“Four police forces in England and Wales have been ordered to destroy criminal records of minor offences committed by teenagers who have gone on to lead unblemished adult lives but claim they are still being punished for their past misdemeanours.”
The Independent, 1st November 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Thumbs up for ID card / Criminal record check trial – Home Office
“Plans for a new service using ID cards to help make Criminal Records checks faster and more robust have been given a resounding thumbs-up by volunteers in a trial of the new process.”
Home Office press release, 1st October 2007
Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Regina v Campbell (Kenneth) – Times Law Reports
Propensity and credibility distinction unrealistic
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“Once a defendant’s previous convictions had been admitted in evidence, the jury could attach significance to them in any respect in which they were relevant.”
The Times, 4th July 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Single mothers could be charged over sex offender disclosures – The Times
“Single mothers could be prosecuted if they disclose the criminal history of a new boyfriend to friends and neighbours under proposals outlined to tackle child sex offenders announced yesterday.”
The Times, 14th June 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Charity warns over paedophile information laws – Reuters
“Moves to allow parents the right to information about people in contact with their child could hinder work to manage sex offenders, a leading children’s charity said on Wednesday.”
Reuters, 13th June 2007
Source: www.reuters.com
Paedophile review snubs Sarah’s Law – The Guardian
“Proposals to allow the public open access to information about convicted paedophiles have been ruled out by the Government.”
The Guardian, 9th June 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Parents to see sex crime records – BBC News
“Parents will get the right to ask for details about people who are in regular contact with their children following a review of information on paedophiles.”
BBC News, 9th June 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sex-offender computer system hits delay – The Independent
“Moves to help police track sex offenders across the country have been delayed because of computer problems, prompting claims that public safety could be endangered as a result.”
The Independent, 29th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Civil rights fears over DNA file for everyone – The Guardian
“Civil liberties groups are warning that the details of every Briton could soon be on the national DNA database, raising fresh concerns of a ‘surveillance society’. Controversial plans being studied by the government would see the DNA of people convicted of even the most minor, non-imprisonable offences, such as dropping litter, entered on the national database.”
The Guardian, 27th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Crimes backlog four times worse – BBC News
“The number of serious offences committed by Britons abroad which the Home Office failed to record was four times higher than first thought”
BBC news, 23rd May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Soham criminal records deadline missed again – Reuters
“Potential killers may be slipping through the judicial net because the government has again missed a deadline, set in the wake of the Soham schoolgirl murders, for speeding up the recording of criminal convictions.”
Reuters, 22nd May 2007
Source: www.reuters.com
