MR: ‘Very disappointing’ end to court modernisation programme – Legal Futures

‘The court modernisation project ends this month with the “very disappointing” outcome of only 23% of civil cases being digital end to end, the Master of the Rolls told MPs this week.’

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Legal Futures, 21st March 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Probation Service problems in England and Wales leaving public at risk, watchdog finds – The Guardian

‘The Probation Service in England and Wales “has too few staff” with “too little experience and training” and leaves members of the public at risk, an official watchdog has found.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisons set to run out of spaces again within a year despite early release scheme, MPs warn – The Independent

‘Overcrowded prisons will face “total gridlock in a matter of months” and run out of space in 2026 despite emergency measures to release prisoners early, MPs have warned.’

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The Independent, 14th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pre-recorded evidence has no impact on rape conviction rates, MoJ claims – Law Society’s Gazette

‘There is no evidence to suggest that pre-recorded video evidence from complainants and witnesses in sexual offence trials reduces jury conviction rates, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sentencing body defends changes after ‘two-tier’ row – BBC News

‘The body advising judges on criminal sentences has hit back at the justice secretary’s call for it to scrap new guidance on sentencing offenders from ethnic monitories.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice secretary set for showdown with judges over sentencing guidelines – The Independent

‘Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood is set for a confrontation with the Sentencing Council later this week after they wrote to her warning her against “dictating” to judges over new measures which she fears will create a “two tier” legal system.’

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The Independent, 10th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tough controls considered to regulate private prosecutors – Ministry of Justice

‘Private prosecutions allow people to pursue justice where state prosecutors cannot, or choose not, to prosecute. However, the improper actions of some organisations have resulted in serious and often life-changing miscarriages of justice. Examples include the Post Office Horizon scandal, which saw failings in the prosecutorial practices leading to hundreds of innocent postmasters being wrongfully convicted.’

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Ministry of Justice, 6th March 2025

Source: www.gov.uk

“Time to review” selection and return to practice of salaried judges – Legal Futures

‘A report for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has called for a review of the selection process used by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for salaried judges. It also called for new guidance from the MoJ on whether salaried judges should be allowed to return to practice after leaving the bench.’

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Legal Futures, 28th February 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Keeping us ahead of the world” – Arbitration Act receives Royal Assent – Legal Futures

Posted February 27th, 2025 in arbitration, Law Commission, London, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The Arbitration Act received Royal Assent yesterday, with the government declaring it would keep the UK “ahead of the rest”.’

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Legal Futures, 25th February 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law Commission proposes reforms on how possible miscarriages of justice are handled – The Guardian

‘More potential wrongful convictions could be sent back to the appeal court under proposals to change the way the miscarriages of justice watchdog decides cases.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Landmark reform: no time limit for Child Sexual Abuse claims – Kingsley Napley Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Blog

‘Earlier this month, the Government announced landmark reform to child sexual abuse personal injury claims. In legislation expected to be put before parliament next year, the 3-year time limit to bring such claims, which begins to run from a Claimant’s 18th birthday, will be abolished. The burden of proof on determining whether there can be a fair hearing will also shift, from the Claimant to the Defendant.’

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Kingsley Napley Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Blog, 20th February 2025

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Independent Sentencing Review – gov.uk

Posted February 18th, 2025 in criminal justice, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, sentencing by tracey

“The Independent Sentencing Review, chaired by David Gauke, has published Part 1 of the report.”

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gov.uk, 18th February 2025

Source: www.gov.uk

Prison accused of lack of candour in probe into three self-inflicted deaths in 19 days – including ex Dreamboys boss – The Independent

‘A coroner has accused prison bosses of “failing to act with candour” as she investigated three self-inflicted deaths in just 19 days at a scandal-hit prison, including that of the former head of the Dreamboys stripper group.’

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The Independent, 14th February 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MoJ to pay Andrew Malkinson ‘significant’ sum over wrongful rape conviction – The Guardian

‘Andrew Malkinson is to be given a payout by the Ministry of Justice, more than a year and a half after the court of appeal declared his innocence.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ apologises to woman subjected to racism in prison mother and baby unit – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2025 in children, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, racism, women by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice has apologised to a black woman who suffered racist abuse in a prison’s mother and baby unit where her son was referred to as a “monkey”.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil protester has prison sentence extended – BBC News

‘A 78-year-old climate protester has had her prison sentence extended by 20 days for being “unlawfully at large”, after the authorities failed to find a tracking bracelet that fitted her.’

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BBC News, 26th January 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government announces reprieve for archive of historic wills – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 13th, 2025 in archives, consultations, Ministry of Justice, news, wills by sally

‘Controversial proposals to replace archived will documents with digital copies in order to save storage costs have been dropped, the Ministry of Justice has announced. In a move that will be welcomed by historians, a minister said the ‘indispensable bridge’ to the past would be preserved.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th January 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Transparency board calls for judicial review hearings to be broadcast – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Transparency and Open Justice Board has recommended that Administrative Court hearings should be broadcast in an effort to boost open justice.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th January 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Record numbers of children in England jailed many miles from their families – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable children are being jailed many miles from their families at record levels, a Guardian investigation has found, prompting warnings that the government is breaking the law.’

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The Guardian, 6th January 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Father who set himself alight on indefinite jail term refused hospital care as family loses hope – The Independent

‘A father who has developed paranoid schizophrenia and psychosis in prison after serving almost 13 years for stealing a phone will not be transferred to a secure hospital, his devastated family has learnt.’

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The Independent, 3rd January 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk