Caroline Flack: Who decides whether someone should go on trial? – BBC News

Posted February 18th, 2020 in assault, domestic violence, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

‘TV presenter Caroline Flack was found dead in her home on Saturday, weeks before she was due to stand trial for assaulting her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.’

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BBC News, 17th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crimes unreported as public lose faith in police – BBC News

‘Victims are no longer reporting some crimes to police because so many offenders are never brought to justice. A new report said the public are losing faith in the criminal justice system and have “rumbled” that police do not have the capacity to investigate.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS knew rape ‘ambition’ could have perverse consequences – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Crown Prosecution Service was aware in 2015 that its conviction rate “levels of ambition” could have unintended consequences, the Gazette can reveal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th February 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Police sending a third fewer rape cases to prosecutors, figures show – The Guardian

‘Rape victims are finding it increasingly difficult to access justice as police refer fewer cases to the Crown Prosecution Service and fewer allegations of rape are being prosecuted and convicted, according to new figures.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Have confidence, come forward, rape victims urged – BBC News

‘”Have confidence, come forward,” the director of public prosecutions has told victims of rape, as the number of prosecutions continues to fall.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell Tower fire: Firms want immunity over evidence – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2020 in evidence, fire, health & safety, immunity, inquiries, news, prosecutions by tracey

‘Firms involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower have asked the public inquiry into the fire for a guarantee that anything they say in the hearings will not be used for any prosecution.’

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BBC News, 29th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Call for new law to protect victims in the justice system – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2020 in courts, criminal justice, news, prosecutions, statistics, victims by sally

‘Ministers have been urged to introduce a “victims’ law” to stop people losing faith in the criminal justice system. The move comes after new data revealed that the number of crime victims who decline to press charges has more than doubled in five years.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crime: Number of suspects charged by police hits new low – BBC News

‘Only about one in 14 crimes reported to police lead to a suspect being charged, official statistics have shown.’

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BBC News, 23rd January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuse cases abandoned too quickly when victims retreat – study – The Guardian

‘Police and prosecutors are dropping domestic abuse cases far too readily when victims become reluctant to pursue complaints against often violent partners, an official inspectorate report has warned.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fake lawyer who represented clients in High Court faces jail time – Daily Telegraph

‘A man who pretended to be a qualified and experienced solicitor as he represented clients at the High Court is facing a possible jail sentence.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prison sentences for fly-tippers as government announces new ‘waste police’ unit – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 16th, 2020 in environmental protection, hazardous substances, news, prosecutions, waste by sally

‘Fly-tippers will face prison, the environment secretary has said, as the government announces a new “waste police” unit.f

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Daily Telegraph, 15th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Manchester sex abuse: ‘Fundamental flaws’ left children unprotected – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2020 in news, prosecutions, reports, sexual offences, social services by sally

‘Police and social workers investigating child sex exploitation in Manchester knew children were suffering “the most profound abuse… but did not protect them”, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 14th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police errors may have let abusers of up to 52 children escape justice – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2020 in child abuse, news, police, prosecutions, sexual offences, social services by sally

‘Up to 52 children may have been victims of a sex abuse scandal in Greater Manchester, with most offenders getting away with their crimes because of errors by police and children’s services, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 14th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS ‘struggling to cope’ in disclosing evidence to defendants – report – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, news, police, prosecutions, reports by tracey

‘A shortage of prosecutors and experienced police officers has left investigators “struggling to cope” with obligations to disclose key evidence to defendants in criminal trials, according to a critical inspectorate report.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Young victims of trafficking—prosecution or protection? – Counsel

‘The growth in ‘county lines’ cases involving young defendants, themselves victims of trafficking, poses particular issues: practical steps that may assist practitioners and recent case law principles.’

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Counsel, January 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

MS patient found not guilty of cultivating cannabis for medical use – Garden Court Chambers

‘Carlisle Court acquitted an MS patient today of cultivating cannabis, following the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to offer evidence in court today on a public interest basis.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 6th January 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Rape convictions: Justice system near ‘breaking point’, says watchdog – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2019 in budgets, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, reports by tracey

‘A review of record low rape conviction rates has found a justice system “close to breaking point” because of cuts. The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (CPSI) said a “damning” number of cases are lost during “under-resourced” police investigations. But it rejected claims that prosecutors are unfairly selective about cases they charge.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Paedophile who preyed on girl, 13, spared jail after backlogs delayed his case – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 12th, 2019 in child abuse, delay, news, prosecutions, sentencing, sexual offences, suspended sentences by tracey

‘A paedophile who admitted having sex with a 13-year-old girl has been spared jail after backlogs meant his case took over two years to come before the courts.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

State accountability for killings of civilians by soldiers in Northern Ireland: can the UK duck out? – Red Lion Chambers

‘On Nov 11, 2019, the Conservative Party announced rather unclear plans to take legal steps to ensure that inquest juries in Northern Ireland could not return verdicts of unlawful killing in relation to actions by UK soldiers (and presumably other state agents such as the RUC police) in operations during The Troubles. The plans also apparently include barring prosecutions for any alleged unlawful acts during such operations during The Troubles (there is no statute of limitations on serious criminal offences in the UK so this would be an entirely novel step).’

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Red Lion Chambers, 14th November 2019

Source: www.redlionchambers.co.uk

Borough council secures guilty pleas for plying for hire during Cheltenham Festival – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 4th, 2019 in guilty pleas, insurance, licensing, local government, news, prosecutions, taxis by tracey

‘Cheltenham Borough Council has successfully prosecuted five drivers for unlawfully plying for hire during Cheltenham Festival 2019.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th December 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk