Barristers to quit RASSO work, survey suggests – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government’s commitment to deliver “swifter justice” for rape victims is in jeopardy after a survey conducted by the Criminal Bar Association revealed that barrister numbers to prosecute rape cases will shrink by nearly one-third.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK police to charge more abusers with manslaughter after suicide of partner – The Guardian

‘A senior police chief has unveiled a plan to charge more domestic abusers with manslaughter after their partners take their own lives. It comes after the death of Kiena Dawes, whose partner Ryan Wellings was cleared of manslaughter but convicted of domestic abuse.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Black student accuses Met and CPS of misusing laws over use of N-word – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2025 in Crown Prosecution Service, hate crime, minorities, news, police, prosecutions by sally

‘A 22-year-old black student has accused police and prosecutors of misusing hate speech laws intended to protect minorities after she was charged for using the N-word in a tweet.’

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The Guardian, 21st March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecutors told to do more to strip ‘revenge porn’ abusers of victim images – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service is to update its guidance on so-called “revenge porn” crimes to stop perpetrators being allowed to keep explicit photos of their victims.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA under fire for ignoring ‘legal intimidation’ tactics – Law Society’s Gazette

‘An MP yesterday criticised the Solicitors Regulation Authority for failing to sanction lawyers who were facilitating “legal intimidation” on behalf of a Russian warlord. Lloyd Hatton, a member of the all-party anti-corruption parliamentary group, said regulators were allowing lawyers to be used as “hired guns” by rich and powerful clients.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Revenge porn’ abusers allowed to keep devices with explicit images – The Guardian

‘Perpetrators of “revenge porn” offences are being allowed to keep explicit images of their victims on their devices, after a failure by prosecutors to obtain orders requiring their deletion.’

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The Guardian, 22nd February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Taxi drivers “operating” within an area – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 19th, 2025 in licensing, local government, news, prosecutions, taxis by sally

‘A council has been ordered to pay the costs of an “improper” prosecution of a private hire operator. Matt Lewin explains why.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th February 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bits of interest – Nearly Legal

‘A couple of brief notes on things of interest.’

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Nearly Legal, 16th February 2025

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

CPS updates deaths in custody legal guidance – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted February 3rd, 2025 in Crown Prosecution Service, death in custody, news, police, prosecutions by sally

‘Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “Criminal prosecutions brought against police officers for actions taken in the course of their duties are extremely rare and these decisions are only made after careful consideration of all the relevant evidence and circumstances.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 31st January 2025

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

How Are Health And Safety Offences Prosecuted In England And Wales? – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Posted January 15th, 2025 in chambers articles, health & safety, local government, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Tanveer Qureshi has written an informative article on health and safety offences prosecuted in England and Wales.’

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4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, 9th January 2025

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Prosecutors publish updated ‘deception as to sex’ guidance – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Updated prosecution guidance, which clarifies the law on when deceiving someone or failing to disclose birth sex could affect consent in rape cases, has been published today by the Crown Prosecution Service.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 13th December 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Ealing comedy. Getting statutory nuisance very wrong – Nearly Legal

Posted December 16th, 2024 in local government, magistrates, news, nuisance, prosecutions by sally

‘Ferko v Ealing Magistrates Court & Ors (2024) EWHC 2592 (Admin). This was an appeal by case stated to the High Court from a decision of Ealing Magistrates Court on a statutory nuisance/section 82 Environmental Protection Act 1990 prosecution. It is also a remarkable illustration of just how wrong the Magistrates can get such a prosecution, as well as being a helpful primer to constituent elements of an EPA prosecution case.’

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Nearly Legal, 15th December 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

CPS sets out Action Plan to tackle disproportionality in charging decisions – Crown Prosecution Service

‘An ambitious plan to tackle racial disproportionality and safeguard fair prosecution decision-making for all has been published today by the Crown Prosecution Service.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 28th November 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Domestic abuse cases rarely convicted, data shows – BBC News

Posted November 28th, 2024 in domestic violence, news, police, prosecutions, statistics by sally

‘Fewer than half of domestic abuse cases in England and Wales end up as police-recorded crimes, and most of these do not lead to a prosecution, government figures suggest.’

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BBC News, 27th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law firm’s poor work did not undermine rapist’s conviction – Legal Futures

‘The Court of Appeal has upheld the safety of a man’s conviction for rape despite the Legal Ombudsman criticising his solicitors’ poor conduct of the case.’

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Legal Futures, 25th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Why didn’t police prosecute ‘brutal’ abuser linked to Church of England? – BBC News

‘John Smyth’s death in 2018 meant an “appalling abuser” associated with the Church of England escaped justice for crimes stretching back decades. Smyth used his role in a Christian charity to assault over 100 children and young men – and the Archbishop of Canterbury resigned after being criticised in a scathing report earlier this month. Now, an advocate for the victims of John Smyth tells the BBC the police were not “sufficiently curious” when told about him.’

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BBC News, 17th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council prosecutes pair after finding licensed taxi business used unlicensed taxi driver – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 12th, 2024 in licensing, local government, news, prosecutions, taxis by sally

‘Two men have been prosecuted by Lichfield District Council after licensing officers caught a licensed taxi company handing business to a driver without a taxi licence.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th November 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Only one in 10 sexual assault survivors in England and Wales would report crime again, survey shows – The Guardian

Posted November 12th, 2024 in mental health, news, police, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, statistics, victims by sally

‘Rape victims in England and Wales have echoed the message of Gisèle Pelicot in France that “shame belongs to perpetrators, not them”, in the largest ever survey of rape and sexual assault survivors, according to the government’s key adviser on the crime.’

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The Guardian, 12th November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police watchdog lead defends Chris Kaba decision – BBC News

‘The man who led the investigation into the shooting of Chris Kaba has defended the decision that led to a firearms officer being unsuccessfully tried for murder.’

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BBC News, 4th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service launches Go Prosecute – a brand-new barrister development programme – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted October 30th, 2024 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, news, pilot schemes, prosecutions by sally

‘Go Prosecute, a brand-new development programme for newly qualified barristers to gain invaluable prosecution experience, has been launched by the Crown Prosecution Service.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 28th October 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk