Underfunded justice system ‘crumbling’, top criminal barrister says – The Guardian

‘Failures to disclose evidence in rape prosecutions are a sign of the “dystopian disaster” engulfing the criminal justice system that has been caused by chronic government underfunding, the head of the criminal bar has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police forces and prosecutors failing to carry out ‘basic’ procedure in rape cases, Attorney General says – Daily Telegraph

‘The failings which have lead to a nationwide review of all live rape and serious sexual assault cases were caused by police forces and prosecutors not carrying out “basic” procedure, the Attorney General has suggested.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Disclosure – Joint statement from Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions and Sara Thornton, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council – Crown Prosecution Service

‘”Today we met with Chief Constables to discuss further how we can improve the disclosure process.’

Press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 24th January 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Hundreds of cases dropped over evidence disclosure failings – BBC News

Posted January 24th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, news, police, rape, statistics by tracey

‘The number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence increased by 70% in the last two years, the BBC can reveal.’

Full Story

BBC News, 24th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stay silent during rape and attackers may assume consent, warns DPP – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2018 in consent, Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, noise, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘Rape victims have been warned by the director of public prosecutions that if they stayed silent during the assault their attackers may have assumed consent was given and therefore could escape being charged.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

No one innocent is in prison due to disclosure failures, claims DPP after string of rape cases collapse – The Independent

Posted January 19th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, news, prosecutions by tracey

‘Britain’s most senior prosecutor has claimed that no innocent people are in prison because of failures to disclose vital evidence, despite admitting there is a “systemic issue”.
Critics dismissed Alison Saunders’ assurance as “impossible” as they follow the collapse of several high-profile rape cases which were undermined by phone messages and pictures uncovered by lawyers.’

Full Story

The Independent, 18th January 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Oxford University student cleared of rape charge as yet another case collapses days before trial begins – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, news, police, prosecutions, rape by tracey

‘An Oxford University student has become the latest accused rapist to have his case dropped against him after two years on bail amid wider public concern about the actions of police and prosecutors.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

We need to improve disclosure, CPS admits as rape trial abandoned – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 17th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, news, rape by tracey

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has admitted that it needs to improve its disclosure of unused material after a rape trial was abandoned yesterday because vital phone evidence was not disclosed.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 16th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

John Worboys victims demand CPS reassess 93 allegations against him – The Guardian

‘Lawyers representing victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys are demanding prosecutors reassess 93 cases for which he was not previously prosecuted.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge criticises prosecutors after another blunder in a sex case – Daily Telegraph

‘A judge has criticised prosecutors after they failed to hand over crucial evidence that could have exonerated a wealthy businessman standing trial for alleged sexual assault.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 2nd January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Student wrongly accused of rape says he will sue police and CPS as he questions why he was made to stand trial – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 18th, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, news, police, rape by sally

‘A student wrongly tried for rape after police failed to hand over vital evidence that exonerated him has vowed to sue the police and the CPS as he called for a change to the system.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Scotland Yard carrying out ‘urgent assessment’ after rape trial collapses – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, delay, disclosure, evidence, news, police, rape by tracey

‘Scotland Yard is carrying out an “urgent assessment” after a rape prosecution collapsed due to the late disclosure of evidence that undermined the case.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of murdered Muslim teenager say they feel discriminated against by police after they fail to convict anyone for eight years – The Independent

Posted December 13th, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, double jeopardy, murder, news, police, retrials by sally

‘AbdulKarim Boudiaf was 18 when he was fatally shot in the neck while walking with friends outside a pub in north London in 2009. A man stood trial for his death, but no one has ever been convicted. His family tell The Independent they feel discriminated against because of their race and class background.’

Full Story

The Independent, 12th December 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Terry Adams pays back £750,000 from proceeds of crime – Daily Telegraph

‘One of London’s most notorious former crime bosses has paid back almost three quarters of a million pounds in ill gotten gains, after being warned he would go back to prison if he failed to pay.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK justice system failing defendants with mental health issues – charity – The Guardian

‘Specialist prosecutors should review all decisions to charge suspects with mental health vulnerabilities and the defence of insanity should be amended, a law reform charity has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Men jailed over huge £100m tax fraud – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Five men have been jailed today (November 10) for their part in a £100m tax fraud.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 10th November 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Appeal court throws out libel claim over CPS press release – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Lay readers understand the special meaning of words used by lawyers, the Court of Appeal has said, dismissing a libel claim over a Crown Prosecution Service press release.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 18th October 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CPS report shows more offenders are being successfully prosecuted for sexual crimes than ever before – Crown Prosecution Service

‘More defendants than ever before are being prosecuted and convicted for sexual offences across England and Wales, new figures reveal today. The Crown Prosecution Service’s 10th Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) report outlines the huge increases in convictions for rape (48%) and other sexual offences (79%) that have been witnessed in the decade since the first VAWG report was published in 2007-08.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 10th October 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Fifth of CPS cases are alleged sex crimes or domestic abuse – The Guardian

‘Alleged sex crimes and domestic abuse offences now account for one in five cases pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service, it has been revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

DPP – John Harris Memorial Lecture – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 20th, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, mental health, news, terrorism by sally

‘Speech from Alison Saunders, DPP, on developments in technology and society, and addressing terrorism, fraud and mental health issues.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 5th September 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk