‘Soft sentence’ correction scheme extended to terror offences – Ministry of Justice

’19 terror-related offences will be added to Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to keep families and communities safe.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 15th July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Disclosure of judge’s handwritten notes – the ICO speaks – Panopticon

Posted July 12th, 2017 in data protection, disclosure, judges, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Some of you may have read in last week’s Guardian of an ICO ruling which resulted in the Ministry of Justice handing over a judge’s handwritten notes under data protection legislation (if not, see the article here). If you did read the article, it may be that you are now scratching your head trying to work out why and how the notes came to be disclosed. Well you need scratch no longer – here is the ICO decision letter (for which thanks to Mrs Percival).’

Full Story

Panopticon, 11th July 2017

Source: panopticonblog.com

New criminal tagging system scaled back after ministry failings – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2017 in electronic monitoring, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘A new tagging system to monitor criminals has been dramatically scaled back and is running at least five years behind schedule after a series of expensive failings by the Ministry of Justice, the government’s spending watchdog has found.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Chancellor swearing-in speech: David Lidington – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 21st, 2017 in lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news, parliament, speeches by sally

‘Full text of the speech given by the Rt Hon David Lidington at his Lord Chancellor swearing-in ceremony in June 2017.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 19th June 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Privatised probation programme ‘could be dropped with negligible impact’ – The Guardian

‘A key part of the government’s probation privatisation reforms could be dropped tomorrow without any impact on the resettlement of prisoners, a joint report by the chief inspectors of probation and prisons has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Families of men who killed themselves at Woodhill jail lose high court case – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2017 in human rights, judicial review, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘The relatives of two inmates who killed themselves at a prison with the highest rate of self-inflicted deaths in England and Wales have lost a high court case calling for action to protect prisoners.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lionel Cohen Lecture by the Lord Chief Justice: The judiciary within the state – governance and cohesion of the judiciary – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Lionel Cohen Lecture by the Lord Chief Justice: The judiciary within the state – governance and cohesion of the judiciary.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 22nd May 2017

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

New fast-track immigration appeal rules proposed – Ministry of Justice

‘A new fast-track system to speed up immigration and asylum appeals for those in detention has been drawn up.’

Full press

Ministry of Justice, 18th April 2017

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

Justice Secretary Liz Truss ‘could be stripped of Lord Chancellor role’ after series of mishaps – The Independent

‘Cabinet ministers are reportedly urging Theresa May to sack Liz Truss from her role as Lord Chancellor after a series of embarrassing mistakes.’

Full story

The Independent, 6th April 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Extremism in prisons to be tackled by specialist task force – BBC News

‘A specialist team of counter-terrorism experts aimed at tackling extremism in prisons is being launched on Monday.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Private companies could pull out of probation contracts over costs – The Guardian

‘Two of the private companies that provide 50% of probation services in England and Wales have confirmed to MPs they will have to consider quitting if a Ministry of Justice review fails to deliver improvements.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Four ‘supersized’ prisons to be built in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2017 in Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by sally

‘The justice secretary is to announce plans to build four new “supersized” jails in England and Wales, creating a total of 5,000 modern prison places.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

News focus: ‘Virtual justice’ and the IT panacea – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Just over six years ago, a taxpayer funded independent study of a pilot “virtual court” concluded that: “A rollout based on the pilot’s performance and parameters is likely to cost more money than it saves. A break-even scenario may be achieved, but this is still likely to be a challenge.” ‘

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th March 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Greater protection for rape victims and children at risk of grooming – Ministry of Justice

‘New offence of sexual communication with a child will be introduced, and measures to support victims of sex crimes accelerated.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 19th March 2017

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

Legal problem and resolution survey 2014 to 2015 – Ministry of Justice

‘These reports present the findings from the Legal Problem and Resolution Survey 2014 to 2015, a telephone survey of 10,058 adults in England and Wales.’

Full reports

Ministry of Justice, 3rd march 2017

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

MPs raise concerns over tougher knife crime guidelines’ impact on prison populations – The Independent

Posted March 8th, 2017 in Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, select committees, sentencing, violence, weapons by tracey

‘MPs have raised concerns over tougher knife crime sentencing guidelines due to the “substantial” impact it could have on the escalating prison population in Britain.’

Full story

The Independent, 8th March 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Drugs seized 30 times a day in prisons, according to new data – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2017 in drug offences, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘Drugs were seized almost 30 times a day in prisons in England and Wales last year with the weight of the illegal substances confiscated reaching 225kg. The figures come from new government analysis documenting the epidemic of drugs being smuggled into the penal network.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Just 10% of people with legal problems turn to a solicitor, major research finds – Legal Futures

‘Only 10% of people with legal problems use a solicitor, and often only after approaching other sources of advice first, major government research has revealed.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 6th March 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Thousands spent on judges’ security amid growing hostility – The Guardian

‘Ministry of Justice says security was upgraded at judges’ homes, with figures showing many in judiciary fear for safety.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK prisons ‘holding child inmates in solitary confinement against UN torture rules’ – The Independent

‘British prisons are holding child inmates in solitary confinement in an alleged breach of UN torture rules and British law, The Independent has found. Lawyers in one case have launched legal action against the Government in the High Court.’

Full story

The Independent, 21st February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk