Category: Ministry of Justice

Dodgy drug test results – what should I do? – Transparency Project

Posted November 27th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, evidence, family courts, forensic science, Ministry of Justice, news, placement orders by sally

‘On 21 November the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal’s Service issued advice for those concerned about potentially unreliable forensic toxicology (drug) tests in some family cases. The advice also relates to criminal trials, but this post looks at the issue for people who have been involved with a family court case and who are worried that the test results may have been dodgy.’

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Transparency Project, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Guidance on unreliable or manipulated forensic toxicology tests – Family Law

Posted November 27th, 2017 in criminal justice, evidence, family courts, forensic science, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has released guidance for those concerned about potentially unreliable forensic toxicology tests. This follows police investigations into the potential manipulation of forensic toxicology test results at two private companies, Trimega Laboratories Limited and Randox Testing Services. The test results were used as expert evidence in England and Wales. The guidance includes examples which aim to help people understand where toxicology tests may have been used as part of decision making in court cases, and provides advice for those who believe their case may have been adversely affected by manipulated test results.’

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Family Law, 24th November 2017

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

MoJ reveals massive budget cut as new advice deserts open – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 20th, 2017 in budgets, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The deeply worrying scale of the budgetary pressures bearing down on the Ministry of Justice is laid bare in new figures which will dampen already faint hopes of public funding reform. In a written parliamentary answer, justice minister Dominic Raab revealed that the MoJ will have suffered a cumulative 40% real terms cut in its budget over the fiscal decade ending in 2020.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th November 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministry of Justice abandons court battle on prisoners’ legal aid – The Guardian

Posted November 8th, 2017 in appeals, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by sally

‘Legal aid for prisoners will be restored for three key categories of claims after the Ministry of Justice abruptly abandoned what was expected to become a supreme court battle.’

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The Guardian, 7th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Serious Fraud Office zeros in on large-scale fraud as prosecutions for other offences fall – The Independent

Posted November 6th, 2017 in compensation, fraud, freedom of information, law firms, Ministry of Justice, news, prosecutions, Serious Fraud Office, statistics by sally

‘As the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) increasingly focuses on large-scale frauds, the overall number of fraud prosecutions in the UK is falling, new figures show.’

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The Independent, 5th November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government: ‘now is not the right time’ for review of marriage law – Family Law

Posted October 30th, 2017 in family courts, Law Commission, marriage, Ministry of Justice, news, reports, statute law revision by sally

‘The Government has informed the Law Commission that ‘now is not the right time’ for a full review of marriage law.’

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Family Law, 27th October 2017

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Violence and self-harm in UK prisons continue to surge – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2017 in assault, death in custody, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, reports, self-harm, statistics, violence by sally

‘Violence in prisons has increased to record levels, according to new figures released by the Ministry of Justice, with 27,193 incidents of assault and serious assault in the year to June 2017.’

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The Guardian, 26th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice in jeopardy: government defies backlash to confirm ‘reckless’ legal aid cuts – Law Society Gazette

Posted October 25th, 2017 in consultations, criminal justice, evidence, fees, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, solicitors by michael

‘The government is to press ahead with reform of legal aid fees paid to solicitors in criminal cases – despite 97% of submissions to a consultation vehemently opposing the plans. Representative bodies have this afternoon condemned the decision as ‘reckless’, claiming it places justice in jeopardy.’

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Law Society Gazette, 24th October 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministry of Justice begins process of refunding £33m in employment tribunal fees – Litigation Futures

Posted October 23rd, 2017 in employment tribunals, fees, Ministry of Justice, news, repayment by sally

‘The government expects to refund £33m to employment tribunal claimants after the Supreme Court ruled tribunal fees unlawful.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th October 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Senior judge warns over ‘shaming’ impact of legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2017 in budgets, family courts, judges, judiciary, legal aid, legal representation, legislation, litigants in person, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘One of the most senior family court judges has warned about the impact of legal aid cuts and said it was “shaming” to preside over cases in which individuals are forced to represent themselves.’

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The Guardian, 13th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Killer drivers to receive life sentences in law change – BBC News

Posted October 16th, 2017 in criminal justice, Ministry of Justice, news, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘Drivers who kill someone in the most serious cases of dangerous and careless driving will now face life sentences.’

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BBC News, 15th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministry of Justice “set to repeat mistakes of LASPO”, warns MASS chairman – Litigation Futures

Posted October 12th, 2017 in consultations, insurance, Ministry of Justice, news, personal injuries by sally

‘ASPO has not brought down insurance premiums, stopped referral fees or seen accident victims benefit from the promised 10% uplift in damages, and the Ministry of Justice is set to repeat its mistakes in the Civil Liability Bill, the chairman of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS) claimed yesterday.’

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Litigation Futures, 12th October 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Making Britain the safest place in the world to be online – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 11th, 2017 in codes of practice, education, government departments, health & safety, internet, Ministry of Justice, press releases, reports, statistics, taxation by sally

‘Britain is to become the safest place in the world to be online thanks to new proposals announced today by Culture Secretary Karen Bradley.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 11th October 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Child Protection in Sport chief says loophole must be closed – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 11th, 2017 in charities, child abuse, Ministry of Justice, news, sexual offences, sport, young persons by sally

‘British sport’s most senior child protection officer has condemned what she branded “a lack of will” to change the law to prevent coaches having sex with 16 and 17-year-olds under their care on the back of football’s paedophile scandal.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th October 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sex abuse victims ‘failed’ by criminal payout scheme – BBC News

Posted October 2nd, 2017 in charities, child abuse, criminal injuries compensation, Ministry of Justice, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is to be investigated over concerns it is failing child sex abuse victims, the Victims’ Commissioner has told 5 live Investigates.’

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BBC News, 1st October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs given early chance to scrutinise discount rate reform legislation – Litigation Futures

Posted September 18th, 2017 in compensation, insurance, legislation, Ministry of Justice, news, personal injuries, rates, select committees by sally

‘The justice select committee has accepted an invitation by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft legislation to reform the discount rate.’

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Litigation Futures, 18th September 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

‘They funked it’ – LCJ’s dismay at inaction on older recorders – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2017 in judges, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, recruitment, retirement, select committees by sally

‘The lord chief justice has urged the government to deal with the thorny issue of forcing retirement upon part-time recorders believed to be clogging up the judicial system.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council responds to Lammy Review – The Bar Council

Posted September 11th, 2017 in criminal justice, diversity, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, press releases, reports by sally

‘Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity and Social Mobility Committee, said today’s publication of the Lammy Review was a major contribution to the important and urgent task of securing a fair and equal criminal justice system.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 8th September 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Young black people nine times more likely to be jailed than young white people – report – The Guardian

Posted September 4th, 2017 in criminal justice, gangs, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, news, race discrimination, reports, statistics, young persons by sally

‘Young black people are nine times more likely to be locked up in England and Wales than young white people, according to Ministry of Justice analysis.’

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The Guardian, 1st September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Administrative’ solution to employment tribunal fee issues imminent – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 25th, 2017 in case management, employment tribunals, fees, HM Courts Service, Ministry of Justice, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘A short stay on employment tribunal claims brought “in reliance upon” the Supreme Court’s recent finding that the fee regime introduced in 2013 was unlawful has been lifted by the tribunal service.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th August 2017

Source: www.out-law.com