Legal aid JR to be heard in run-up to Christmas – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A judicial review of the lord chancellor’s decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees for solicitors by the minimum 15% recommended by a government-commissioned review will be heard in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Gazette has learned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK response to UN Committee Against Torture’s list of issues – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 17th, 2023 in Ministry of Justice, news, torture, United Nations by tracey

‘The UN Committee Against Torture presented a List of Issues prior to submission of the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is part of the reporting cycle under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This paper is the response submitted by the UK government to the Committee.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Sexual violence victims in UK forced to wait years for counselling and support – The Guardian

‘Victims of sexual violence in England and Wales are facing waits of up to two and a half years for counselling, help with the legal system and trauma therapy, according to figures obtained by the Observer.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal aid cuts denying vulnerable women access to justice, says thinktank – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable women in England and Wales, including survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, are being denied justice because of cuts to the civil legal aid budget, a thinktank has said.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice secretary asks for review of child murderer’s release from prison – The Guardian

‘The justice secretary has asked the Parole Board to reconsider its decision to allow the double child-killer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Backlog of adult rape cases in courts in England and Wales hits record high – The Guardian

‘The backlog of adult rape cases in crown courts in England and Wales has risen to almost four times the level it was in 2019.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

End to Friday prison releases calls time on damaging race against the clock- Ministry of Justice

Posted June 30th, 2023 in bills, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, recidivists, statistics by tracey

‘Thousands of prisoners vulnerable to addiction, mental health issues or homelessness will no longer be released on Fridays as a new Bill to reduce reoffending becomes law today (29 June 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Pioneering initiative to force offenders to get clean or face jail time – Ministry of Justice

‘Criminals serving community orders for low level offences will be closely monitored by judges as part of a new pilot forcing offenders to clean up their acts or be put behind bars.’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Retired judges ‘should get a practising certificate’ before returning – report – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 30th, 2023 in barristers, judges, judiciary, Law Society, Ministry of Justice, news, retirement by tracey

‘Retired judges wishing to return to legal work should obtain a practising certificate from the Law Society or Bar Standards Board, an academic report has suggested.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Offenders on clean-up duty in anti-social behaviour crackdown – Ministry of Justice

‘New Community Payback teams to clean up fly-tipping or vandalism within 48 hours.’

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Ministry of Justice, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Society secures JR permission over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has been granted permission to take the government to court over its decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended by the Bellamy review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Serial killer Levi Bellfield wins battle to marry in prison – The Independent

‘Serial killer Levi Bellfield is to be allowed to marry after prison officials accepted there is no way to stop him under current laws.’

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The Independent, 16th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Role of Lord Chancellor “at risk of being downgraded” – Legal Futures

Posted June 15th, 2023 in budgets, courts, delay, lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The role of Lord Chancellor is “at risk of being downgraded” because the operation of the courts is now “only a very small part” of what the office-holder does, the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ sets up online procedure rule committee for Civil, Family and Tribunal jurisdictions – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a new committee to help guide judges, legal representatives and litigants through online court procedures.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New how-to guide to help families access trust funds of disabled young adults – Ministry of Justice

‘Parents who care for disabled young people will be better supported to access vital savings – including Child Trust Funds – thanks to the launch of a new easy-to-use guide.’

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Ministry of Justice, 9th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Time from issue to trial in county court hits record high of 80 weeks – Legal Futures

‘The number of claims lodged at the county court has returned to near pre-Covid levels but the time between issue and trial has reached a new all-time high, according to the latest government figures.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Access to vital legal support extended to millions of vulnerable people – Ministry of Justice

‘Domestic abuse victims and children are among millions more people who will have access to legal aid under major government investment to support those who need it most.’

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Ministry of Justice, 25th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Time to look again at the lord chancellor’s role – lord chief justice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 25th, 2023 in lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news, speeches by tracey

‘The time may have come for the role of lord chancellor to be looked at again, the lord chief justice said yesterday as he attended the swearing in of the seventh holder of the ancient post in six years.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Trolls who encourage serious self-harm to face jail – Ministry of Justice

‘Vile trolls who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to encourage others to cause themselves serious harm will face prosecution as part of an overhaul of online safety laws announced today (18 May 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 18th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Sex abuse victims ‘must get specialist support’ – BBC News

‘Encouraging abuse victims to come forward without a specialist support system in place is “totally irresponsible”, campaigners have said.’

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BBC News, 15th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk