Rape courts pilot in England dismissed as ‘gimmick’ amid low conviction rates – The Guardian

‘The announcement of three specialist courtrooms to prosecute rape cases has been dismissed as a “gimmick” that does not address the chronic underfunding of the justice system that led to a fall in convictions.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paper-only small claims pilot “likely to do injustice” to litigants – Legal Futures

Posted May 24th, 2022 in county courts, litigants in person, news, pilot schemes, small claims by sally

‘A pilot scheme that will see small claims cases determined on the paper in six county courts from next month is “likely to do injustice” to litigants, an academic has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 24th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ denies new pilot scheme removes right to a trial – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 16th, 2022 in county courts, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, small claims, trials by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has denied it is removing litigants’ right to a trial – despite testing a new scheme where judges can resolve cases before a hearing without the consent of both parties.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pilot scheme paves way for victims’ right to attend Parole Board hearings – The Independent

Posted May 5th, 2022 in news, parole, pilot schemes, private hearings, victims by sally

‘Victims could attend full Parole Board hearings for criminals hoping to be freed from jail for the first time as early as next month.’

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The Independent, 4th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New Judgment: R (on the application of Coughlan) v Minister for the Cabinet Office [2022] UKSC 11 – UKSC Blog

Posted April 28th, 2022 in elections, identification, local government, news, pilot schemes, ultra vires by sally

‘This appeal concerns a challenge brought by the Appellant to orders made by the Respondent in respect of Braintree District Council and nine other local authorities (“the Pilot Orders”). These Pilot Orders authorised schemes to temporarily change the rules set out in secondary legislation governing local elections. These schemes, which were implemented in ten local authority areas in respect of the local government elections in May 2019, each introduced a new requirement for some form of voter identification for those local elections.’

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UKSC Blog, 27th April 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Supreme Court to issue ruling next week on lawfulness of voter ID pilot schemes – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court will next week (27 April) issue its ruling on whether the voter identification (“ID”) pilot schemes that were implemented in the May 2019 local government elections were lawful.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Blueprint for family court monitoring mechanism unveiled – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 30th, 2021 in domestic violence, family courts, news, pilot schemes, victims by tracey

‘A monitoring mechanism to improve the family court’s response to domestic abuse will be piloted next spring, the domestic abuse commissioner and victims commissioner have revealed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th November 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Great deal more to do’: senior judges report on diversity progress – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Senior judges have praised the progress made so far by a strategy to improve diversity on the bench since it was unveiled a year ago. However, the first annual update report stops short of guaranteeing higher numbers of judges from underrepresented groups next year, with the judiciary’s diversity chief acknowleding “there is a great deal more to do”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th November 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Domestic violence victim says UK justice system is ‘like the abuse’ – BBC News

‘A traumatised domestic abuse victim has said her experience of the justice system was so bad it was “like the abuse has continued”.’

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BBC News, 10th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More rape trials to allow pre-recorded evidence – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of alleged sexual violence in London and the north east will be spared live cross-examination from today, as part of a pilot scheme to make trials less traumatic for complainants.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th September 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Evaluation of flexible court hours stresses need to get lawyers onboard – Legal Futures

Posted August 3rd, 2021 in courts, flexible working, legal profession, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Flexible operating hours (FOH) can make it easier for people to access civil and family justice, but there needs to a lot more work to bring solicitors and barristers on board, research into two pilot schemes has said.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court warns uncooperative parties against “litigation warfare” – Legal Futures

‘A High Court judge has warned against “litigation warfare” as he pleaded with the parties in a construction dispute to co-operate in the face of spiralling costs.’

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Legal Futures, 30th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Fury as Buckland brings back extended court operating hours – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government could face legal and strike action over its decision to resurrect extended court operating hours as part of the widely-trailled “Beating Crime Plan” unveiled today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Longer court hours re-emerge despite concerns over impact – Legal Futures

Posted July 28th, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, courts, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Extended operating hours in the courts – bitterly opposed by the legal profession – have returned, at least for now, in the guise of “temporary operating arrangements” (TOA).’

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Legal Futures, 27th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Knife Crime Prevention Orders begin in London – Home Office

‘Court orders preventing young people from carrying knives and becoming embroiled in serious violence are now being piloted in London, Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced.’

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Home Office, 7th July 2021

Source: www.gov.uk

Disclosure pilot scheme still unfit for purpose, most lawyers say – Litigation Futures

Posted May 19th, 2021 in disclosure, news, pilot schemes, solicitors, statistics by sally

‘Seven in 10 lawyers consider the disclosure pilot scheme unfit for purpose, with many believing it has exacerbated the adversarial environment, new research has found.’

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Litigation Futures, 19th May 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Mental health tests in the presence of counter-terror units ‘unethical’, says charity – The Guardian

‘Mental health assessments are being conducted in the presence of police in little-known hubs that embed nurses and psychologists with counter-terrorism units, raising “serious ethical concerns”, a medical charity has said.’

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The Guardian, 19th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

London-wide launch of operation to convict those who assault NHS staff – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted April 1st, 2021 in assault, doctors, hate crime, news, nurses, paramedics, pilot schemes, prosecutions by tracey

‘Known as Operation Cavell, the initiative will see a senior officer review all reports of assaults and hate crime against NHS staff. Following a three-month pilot, the National Health Service (NHS), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have been working in partnership to launch the scheme today (Wednesday, 31 March) which aims to increase convictions and protect NHS staff on the frontline.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 31st March 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Supreme court to hear challenge to UK’s voter ID trial in 2019 election – The Guardian

‘The supreme court is to hear a challenge to the government’s decision to hold voter ID trials in 2019 in a case that could have implications for the wider rollout of the scheme.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crime: Thieves, robbers and burglars to be fitted with GPS tags – BBC News

‘Prolific burglars, robbers and thieves are to be tagged with GPS trackers in a bid to stop them reoffending.’

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BBC News, 17th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk