Criminal prosecution delays hit record 708 days – BBC News

‘Delays in prosecuting suspected criminals have hit a record 708 days for the average time it takes to go from offence to completion of a case.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ threatened with fine over huge data request backlog – Legal Futures

Posted January 20th, 2022 in data protection, delay, fines, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has threatened to fine the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) if it fails to deal with thousands of outstanding subject access requests (SARs).’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 19th January 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Family mediation scheme to help thousands more parents – Ministry of Justice

‘Thousands more separating parents will avoid stressful courtroom battles as the Government boosts its landmark family mediation scheme with an additional £1.3 million.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 16th January 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Government breached duty over solicitor-judge’s disability struggles – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has been criticised by an employment tribunal for a “lack of coordination and pre-planning” that resulted in a solicitor-judge bringing a disability discrimination challenge against the justice secretary over her struggles to secure reasonable adjustments.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 17th January 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court dismisses JR over immigration detainees’ legal advice – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court has dismissed a judicial review brought against the lord chancellor over immigration detainees’ access to justice.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 13th January 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Video-witnessed wills extended until 2024 – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Legislation introduced during the pandemic allowing wills to be witnessed over Zoom and Skype will be extended until January 2024, the government announced today.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 11th January 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Breastfeeding voyeurs targeted by new proposed offence in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Voyeurs who record images of breastfeeding women without permission and domestic abusers who escape jail because of time limits on prosecutions are being targeted by proposals put before parliament on Tuesday.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Information Commissioner’s Office challenged over Whitehall JR submissions – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Public law specialists have begun legal proceedings against the Information Commissioner’s Office over publication of Whitehall submissions on judicial review that have influenced controversial reforms.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 20th December 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court makes “first” compulsory ADR order in commercial case – Legal Futures

Posted December 15th, 2021 in company law, dispute resolution, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘A High Court master has made the first ever order for compulsory alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in commercial litigation, according to a City litigator.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th December 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Plan to reform Human Rights Act – Ministry of Justice

‘The Human Rights Act will be revised under plans unveiled by the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab today (14 December).’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 14th December 2021

Source: www.gov.uk

Rape ‘scorecards’ reveal CPS will miss prosecution targets – The Guardian

‘Rape “scorecards” published for the first time reveal that the Crown Prosecution Service will miss performance targets dictated by the government after a collapse in prosecutions for the crime.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Remand inmates in England and Wales ‘facing second Christmas behind bars’ – The Guardian

‘Some defendants will be facing “a second Christmas behind bars without the opportunity to prove their innocence”, a legal charity has warned, as the number of remand prisoners in England and Wales detained longer than the legal custody limit continues to rise.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Raab eyes “drastic action” to keep family disputes out of court – Legal Futures

‘Justice secretary Dominic Raab is “in the market for something quite drastic and bold” to reduce the number of private law family cases in the courts, he said yesterday.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 1st December 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Official judgment portal set to go live – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 29th, 2021 in archives, internet, judgments, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘Nearly 50,000 court judgments have been set up to be posted online in the first phase of the government’s plan to create a cutting-edge free repository of legal information, the Gazette can reveal. The service, hosted by the National Archives, will go live next April when the Ministry of Justice’s contract with the British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) expires.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 29th November 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Consultation to enhance legal support for those facing eviction or repossession – gov.uk

‘People at risk of losing their home are set to benefit from enhanced legal support following a consultation launched by the government today
.’

Full Story

gov.uk, 25th November 2021

Source: www.gov.uk

‘Harper’s law’ may not deliver promised mandatory life sentences for killing police, experts say – The Independent

‘Legal experts have raised questions over a law the justice secretary promised would mean “mandatory life sentences” for people who accidentally kill police officers.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘No alternative’ to new walkouts in legal aid dispute, says QC – The Guardian

‘A former barrister who led the first strike at the England and Wales bar has said he “can’t see any alternative” to fresh industrial action in a dispute over legal aid fees.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

England’s austerity-hit courts losing days of work to collapsing ceilings, broken lifts and Arctic conditions – The Independent

‘England’s courts are so run-down they are losing days of work to collapsing ceilings, broken lift and Arctic conditions, the Lord Chief Justice has said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 16th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Super courtroom’ to open in Loughborough to deal with gang trials – BBC News

Posted November 9th, 2021 in courts, drug trafficking, gangs, Ministry of Justice, money laundering, murder, news by tracey

‘A “super courtroom” has been built to help deal with gang trials with large numbers of defendants.’

Full Story

BBC News, 9th November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice warns government over ‘value of the rule of law’ in courts funding plea – The Independent

“In his annual report, published on Friday [5th November], Lord Burnett of Maldon warned that the only way to cut record waiting times was to run crown courts at full capacity for the ‘foreseeable future’.”

Full Story

The Independent, 5th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk