Category: press releases

Bringing the law on firearms up to date – Law Commission

Posted December 17th, 2015 in firearms, Law Commission, legislation, press releases, reports by tracey

‘In a report published today, we make recommendations to solve pressing problems that undermine the effectiveness of the law governing the acquisition and possession of firearms. The existing law is confused, unclear and difficult to apply. There are over 30 pieces of overlapping legislation, some of the key terminology – such as “lethal”, “component part” and “antique” – is not clearly defined, and the law has fallen out of step with developments in technology.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 16th December 2015

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Outdated marriage law in need of reform – Law Commission

Posted December 17th, 2015 in Law Commission, legislation, marriage, press releases, reports by tracey

‘The law that governs how and where couples in England and Wales can marry is badly in need of reform, according to the Law Commission.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 17th December 2015

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Northern burglary gang receive increased prison sentences – Attorney General’s Office

Posted December 11th, 2015 in appeals, burglary, conspiracy, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has today increased the unduly lenient sentences of Richard Copeland, Glenn Milburn and Ian Froom for a spate of burglaries in the north east of England.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 10th December 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Beccles rapist to spend longer in prison – Attorney General’s Office

Posted December 4th, 2015 in appeals, press releases, rape, sentencing by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal today increased the unduly lenient sentence handed to rapist Martin Tom.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 3rd December 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Courts – Written statement to Parliament – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 3rd, 2015 in costs, courts, criminal courts charge, criminal justice, press releases by tracey

‘The courts take money from offenders in a number of ways, including fines, the victim surcharge, compensation orders, prosecution costs and the Criminal Courts Charge. This array of penalties, fines and charges is complex and confusing. I have therefore asked my department to review the entire structure, and purpose, of court-ordered financial impositions for offenders, in order to bring greater simplicity and clarity to the system.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 3rd December 2015

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

Four defendants, including a senior NHS manager, convicted of defrauding or conspiring to defraud the NHS of over £3m – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 1st, 2015 in fraud, health, money laundering, press releases by tracey

‘Four defendants have been convicted at Leeds Crown Court of money laundering and fraud offences. The main defendant, Neil Wood, was a senior manager within NHS England, responsible for assessing and providing training for NHS managers. The other defendants were friends, associates and family members of Mr Wood.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 27th November 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bar regulator announces important developments in the 2016 Bar Professional Training Course – Bar Standards Board

Posted December 1st, 2015 in barristers, examinations, legal education, press releases, universities by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has three announcements to make about the BPTC today. First, today the regulator is publishing statistics about students and providers of the BPTC. Second, there will be changes to the formats of the centralised assessments. Third, the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT), which is an entry requirement, will be deferred until at least March 2016, pending completion of a review.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 1st December 2015

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council urges outright ban on all inducements beyond ‘kickbacks’ – The Bar Council

Posted December 1st, 2015 in advocacy, barristers, consultations, fees, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Council has urged all inducements, not just referral fees, between advocates and litigators be outlawed in its response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation Preserving and Enhancing the Quality of Criminal Advocacy.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Prisons announcement – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 26th, 2015 in press releases, prisons, rehabilitation, women by tracey

‘Written Ministerial Statement made by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 25th November 2015

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

Spending Review 2015 – Bar Council response – The Bar Council

Posted November 26th, 2015 in barristers, budgets, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, fees, press releases by tracey

‘Chairman of the Bar Council Alistair MacDonald QC said: “Investment to modernise courts and tribunals is vital to the successful reform of our criminal justice system and today’s Ministry of Justice settlement safeguards the £700 million announced earlier this year.”‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 26th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Polling shows public lack confidence in justice system – The Bar Council

Posted November 26th, 2015 in citizens advice bureaux, civil justice, legal representation, press releases, pro bono work, reports by tracey

‘Polling results in the Citizens Advice report, Responsive justice: How citizens experience the justice system, show that voters lack confidence in our legal system and have concerns over access to justice.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 24th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Two sentenced for plotting to bring up to three tonnes of cocaine to the streets of Europe – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted November 20th, 2015 in drug trafficking, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘Anthony Dennis and Anthony Wilson were sentenced yesterday at the Old Bailey to over 25 years for a major drug smuggling operation.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 19th November 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Court charge creates “perverse incentive” for guilty pleas – The Bar Council

Posted November 18th, 2015 in costs, criminal courts charge, criminal justice, guilty pleas, Ministry of Justice, press releases, statistics by tracey

‘Criminal court charges create perverse incentives for the innocent to plead guilty, warns Bar Council chairman Alistair MacDonald QC, ahead of today’s parliamentary debate. He also points out that we still do not know if the Government is on track to raise £265 million it proposed to bring in over the course of this Parliament.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 17th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Woman sentenced for racist abuse on London bus – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted November 17th, 2015 in harassment, press releases, racism, sentencing, suspended sentences by tracey

‘Simone Joseph, 37, was sentenced today at Hendon Magistrates’ court to 16 weeks suspended for 18 months for racially aggravated intentional harassment. This relates to an incident on a 206 bus on 13th October 2015.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 13th November 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Two-tier contracts delayed – Bar Council response – The Bar Council

Posted November 17th, 2015 in barristers, contracts, delay, press releases by tracey

‘Chairman of the Bar Alistair MacDonald QC said:”The Bar Council has always opposed the two-tier scheme and has consistently asked the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Aid Agency to re-consider these plans. We therefore welcome today’s decision to postpone the implementation of the scheme in the light of the legal challenges which have been brought.”‘

Full press release

The Bar Council. 13th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Offences against the person – modernising the law on violence – Law Commission

Posted November 6th, 2015 in assault, Law Commission, press releases, violence by tracey

‘New rules are needed to tackle violent offences and make better use of court time, according to the Law Commission.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 3rd November 2015

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Bar Council comments on Draft Investigatory Powers Bill – The Bar Council

Posted November 6th, 2015 in bills, codes of practice, investigatory powers, legal profession, press releases, privilege by tracey

‘Responding to the publication of the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill, Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “The ‘double lock’ requirement of needing both judicial and senior ministerial authorisation for the most intrusive investigatory powers is not as secure as it is made out to be.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 5th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Exeter rapist sees sentence increase – Attorney General’s Office

Posted November 6th, 2015 in appeals, press releases, rape, sentencing by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal today quashed the 6 year sentence given to Exeter rapist Lawrence Fernandes and increased it to 12 years.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 4th November 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Respect the client’s right to legal privilege – MPs warned – The Bar Council

Posted November 2nd, 2015 in bills, investigatory powers, legal profession, press releases, privilege by tracey

‘The statutory protection of legally privileged communications between lawyers and their clients should be high on the agenda when Parliament debates major new surveillance legislation next month. The Bar Council and The Law Society have called for legal professional privilege to receive statutory protection in the forthcoming Investigatory Powers Bill.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 22nd October 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Devon carer’s sentence increased to 15 years for sex attack on elderly patients – Attorney General’s Office

Posted November 2nd, 2015 in care workers, elderly, press releases, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has increased a 10 year sentence to 15 years for a care worker who sexually attacked three elderly residents in her care.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 27th October 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/ago