Man fined for swallowing goldfish on film – BBC News
‘A 20-year-old man from Suffolk has been fined £200 after he was filmed swallowing two goldfish as part of a ‘Neknominate” online dare.’
BBC News, 23rd July 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: private prosecutions
Campaign group is ‘appalled’ after proposed case accusing defence companies of torture equipment marketing collapses – The Independent
‘State prosecutors were yesterday accused of “abject failure” to ensure two defence companies answer allegations of marketing torture equipment at the world’s largest arms fair in London after a private case against the firms collapsed.’
The Independent, 10th July 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Private Prosecutions: The foundations are laid – Six Pump Court
‘The headline in The Guardian on Wednesday 29th January 2014 (“Metropolitan Police accused of acting on behalf of big business”) would undoubtedly have caused a stir amongst private prosecutors, public prosecutors, the police, the Home Office and others interested in the issue of commercial organisations seeking redress in the criminal courts in relation to crimes committed against them. The story, based upon observations made by the Lord Chief Justice in a recent Court of Appeal case, queried the efficacy of private prosecutions brought in such circumstances and – quoting labour MP Tom Watson and Jenny Jones, a London assembly member for the Green party – suggested that they represented the “…creeping privatisation of policing…”. The former spoke of “…two tier-policing where corporate interests can buy the time of the police…” whilst the latter complained, “I hate the thought that if you are rich you can buy more justice than if you are poor…”. And yet at a time when funding for public bodies – and in particular prosecuting authorities – is under such severe strain, it is inevitable that there will be a growing demand for the private sector to operate in areas that were once solely or mainly inhabited by the state. Private prosecutions are here to stay – that much is clear from the case concerned. But are the criticisms levelled against them fair? And what is the real impact of the case on private prosecutions, confiscation and compensation and the very real problem of fraud on commerce? ‘
Six Pump Court, 5th February 2014
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
RSPCA risks losing power to prosecute – Daily Telegraph
‘The RSPCA’s role in prosecuting cases of animal cruelty could be overhauled to restore public confidence.’
Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Police for hire: Judge hits out at Met’s agreement to aid Virgin Media in a private prosecution – The Independent
‘The UK’s most senior judge has criticised a deal that saw the Metropolitan Police agree to help Virgin Media in a private prosecution of a gang of fraudsters in exchange for a share of the compensation, it was reported.’
The Independent, 30th January 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
City solicitors struck off after private prosecution win High Court appeal – Legal Futures
‘Two City solicitors struck off following a rare private prosecution before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) have won a High Court battle that gives them a second chance to fight the allegations against them.’
Legal Futures, 15th January 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
RSPCA hires former CPS lawyer to review its prosecutions policy – Daily Telegraph
‘The RSPCA has bowed to pressure from MPs and campaigners and hired a senior lawyer to carry out a £50,000 review into its controversial prosecutions policy.’
Daily Telegraph, 19th December 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
RSPCA accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after Ledbury Hunt case collapses – Daily Telegraph
“The RSPCA has been accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after its latest case involving a hunt collapsed. The charity accused Will Goffe, 33, of hunting a fox with a hound while out with the Ledbury Hunt, near Malvern in Worcestershire. However, the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. It is the fourth failed RSPCA hunt prosecution this year.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th November 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Private citizen wins right to prosecute Met police worker – The Independent
“Scotland Yard is facing fresh embarrassment after a citizen won the right to launch what is thought to be an unprecedented private prosecution of a police employee for perverting the course of justice.”
The Independent, 18th October 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Private Criminal Prosecutions in Financial Remedies Cases – Family Law Week
“Andrzej Bojarski, Kate Tompkins and Cameron Crowe, barristers at 36 Bedford Row, combine their expertise in unravelling complex financial arrangements on divorce and prosecuting serious crimes to consider whether the criminal courts might offer opportunities for a spouse in an exceptional case when all conventional options in the family courts have been exhausted.”
Family Law Week, 6th February 2013
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Regina (Gujra) v Crown Prosecution Service – WLR Daily
Regina (Gujra) v Crown Prosecution Service [2012] UKSC 52; [2012] WLR (D) 330
“The Crown Prosecution Service, in deciding whether to use its statutory power to take over and discontinue a private prosecution on the ground that there was insufficient evidence, was entitled to apply the same test as that applicable to Crown prosecutors when conducting public prosecutions, namely that a prosecution should not be continued unless it was more likely than not that the defendant would be convicted.”
WLR Daily, 14th November 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
DIY Law – BBC Law in Action
“Joshua Rozenberg looks at DIY law – what it is like to represent yourself as a litigant in person – and whether the CPS should be allowed to shut down private prosecutions.”
BBC Law in Action, 30th October 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
R (on the application of Gujra) v CPS – headnotes – The Guardian
“Supreme court to decide whether the CPS can take over private prosecutions in order to discontinue them.”
The Guardian, 4th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Babar Ahmad and Syed Ahsan private prosecution rejected – BBC News
“A second bid to bring a private prosecution against two suspected terrorists to keep them in the UK has been rejected by a district judge.”
BBC News, 4th October 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Briton launches prosecution against terror suspects to prevent extradition – The Guardian
“A Newcastle businessman who opposes Britain’s extradition agreement with the US has begun a private prosecution against two British terror suspects to prevent them being tried in America.”
The Guardian, 6th September 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Dale Farm council urged to drop private prosecution of protesters – The Guardian
“A council is seeking to privately prosecute two dozen protesters for obstructing bailiffs during the eviction of Dale Farm, after police and the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge them.”
The Guardian, 18th May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Smiley Culture’s death in police raid does not justify charges, IPCC rules – The Guardian
“Police have been criticised by an independent watchdog for a botched raid that led to the death of reggae star Smiley Culture, it was revealed on Tuesday.”
The Guardian, 29th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Consumers should have private rights of redress against unfair business practices, OFT says – OUT-LAW.com
“New laws are needed to give consumers better rights to take private action against businesses that adopt unfair commercial practices, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 1st August 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
