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.’

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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.’

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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.’

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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.’

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The Independent, 21st February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Expert witnesses: science friction – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Experts and their evidence are under hostile scrutiny amid fears over a decline in standards, reports Grania Langdon-Down.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th February 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence killer David Norris to sue government – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2017 in assault, damages, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by sally

‘One of the men who murdered Stephen Lawrence is attempting to sue the government after he was attacked in jail while awaiting trial.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Liz Truss rejects calls to cut sentences to reduce prison population – The Guardian

‘The justice secretary, Liz Truss, is to reject making deep cuts in the record 85,000 prison population in England and Wales warning that such “quick fix” solutions would put the public at greater risk.’

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The Guardian, 13th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Violent abusers to be prevented from cross-examining ex-partners in court – The Guardian

‘Domestic violence victims will no longer face the threat of being interrogated by their former partners in court under proposed legislation.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Society challenges government’s ‘concern’ for road accident victims – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Plans to increase the small claims limit will create difficulties for road accident victims, the Law Society has warned, as the government begins considering more than 9,000 responses to its proposals for tougher punishment for dangerous drivers.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ: employment tribunal fees review ‘imminent’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 25th, 2017 in employment tribunals, fees, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The government’s long-awaited review into employment tribunal fees is “imminent”, MPs have been assured. However, the Ministry of Justice’s response to questions in the House of Commons today suggests the controversial fees will not be scrapped.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Discount rate announcement set to go ahead after ABI loses judicial review bid – Litigation Futures

‘The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has today lost its High Court bid to halt the Lord Chancellor announcing the outcome of the consultation on the discount rate.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th January 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Lawyers divided on new white-collar crime offences – Law Society’s Gazette

‘US-style ‘vicarious liability’ and new ‘failure to prevent’ offences are under consideration in long-awaited government proposals to reform the law on corporate criminal liability published today. Initial reaction from corporate crime specialists was divided, with some lawyers seeing the proposals as a climb-down while others described them as a new burden on business.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 13th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Justice denied: the damning results of the latest report on the impact of legal aid cut – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘Secretary of State for Justice, Liz Truss, recently announced that the government would soon confirm the time-table for the post legislative review of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). There has been growing pressure on ministers for some time to announce this (see “Back to the drawing board”, 166 NLJ 7698 13 May 2016, p 6). The Legal Action Group (LAG) hopes that the review will be used as an opportunity by the still relatively new team at the top of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to look at funding the provision of early advice in civil legal cases.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 11th January 2017

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

MoJ plan to impose fixed-term contracts on judges “could be unlawful” – Legal Futures

Posted December 21st, 2016 in diversity, fees, fixed-term contracts, judges, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Plans by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to impose fixed-term contracts on fee- paid judges could be unlawful, the Bar Council has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 21st December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Thousands left homeless by shortage of legal aid lawyers, say charities – The Guardian

‘Thousands of people are being made homeless every year because they cannot find lawyers to help them resist eviction, charities are warning.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Secure schools’ pilot scheme for young offenders – BBC News

Posted December 12th, 2016 in education, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, reports, young offenders by sally

‘Two “secure schools” are to be opened for teenage offenders in England and Wales in a bid to improve education within the youth justice system.’

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BBC News, 11th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ says it sets no travel time target when closing courts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 2nd, 2016 in budgets, courts, Ministry of Justice, news, transport by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice has denied ever promising a benchmark figure for an acceptable maximum public transport travel time for people attending court when it considers court closures. In a letter to House of Commons justice select committee chair Bob Neill MP, permanent secretary Richard Heaton said access to justice was “not just about” court proximity.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 30th November 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ unmoved by MPs’ damning verdict on court fee hikes – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 11th, 2016 in budgets, civil justice, fees, Ministry of Justice, select committees by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice shows no sign of backing down over court fee hikes, despite a damning verdict from an influential group of MPs. The Commons justice committee called in June for an overhaul of employment tribunal fees and the scrapping of this year’s increase in the divorce petition fee. The government initially stood firm on the necessity of the fees – and a full response to the committee now suggests that position has not changed.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th November 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

See you in court: judges prepare to sue lord chancellor – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Ministry of Justice has refused to comment ahead of a potentially embarrassing case in which serving judges will sue the lord chancellor over their pension arrangements.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th November 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ rules out homicide law review – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 4th, 2016 in homicide, Ministry of Justice, news, select committees by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice has dismissed calls to create US-style degrees of murder, ruling out a consultation due to an ‘already full programme’ of reform and legislation. In a letter to the chair of the House of Commons justice committee this week, justice minister Sir Oliver Heald said he did not share concerns that the law needed to be urgently reformed.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd November 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk