Lucy Letby: police and CPS handling of case raises new concerns about convictions – The Guardian

‘When the public inquiry into the crimes of the former nurse Lucy Letby opened in Liverpool last month its chair, Lady Justice Thirlwall, dismissed concerns about the safety of the convictions as “noise”. The judge cautioned that questions being raised were increasing the distress of parents whose children had died or been harmed.’

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The Guardian, 10th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crime victims in UK fight ‘devastating’ practice that stops appeal after a case is dropped – The Guardian

‘A “draconian” practice that stops crime victims challenging last-­minute decisions to drop their cases is leading to miscarriages of justice and must urgently be reformed, campaigners say.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS twice did not prosecute Fayed over sex abuse claims – BBC News

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has said that it twice considered bringing charges against ex-Harrods owner Mohammed Al Fayed but concluded there was no realistic prospect of a conviction.’

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BBC News, 22nd September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women ‘disheartened’ by UK decision to halt Harvey Weinstein charges – The Guardian

‘Women who were key to exposing the disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein have told of their frustration at the decision by UK prosecutors to discontinue two indecent assault charges against him.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man convicted in ‘landmark’ FGM conspiracy case – BBC News

Posted September 10th, 2024 in conspiracy, female genital mutilation, news, prosecutions by sally

‘A former PhD student has been found guilty of conspiring to commit female genital mutilation (FGM) in what has been described as a “landmark case”.’

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BBC News, 9th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met Police ‘didn’t get everything right’ as report shows impact of protests on tourism and public services – The Independent

‘The Metropolitan Police “didn’t get everything right” in policing recent large-scale protests, as a new report reveals the impact caused on tourism, retail and public service finances.’

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The Independent, 9th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Half of rape investigation team members not fully qualified, police watchdog warns – The Independent

Posted August 23rd, 2024 in delay, news, police, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘Half of staff on rape investigation teams are not fully qualified and are still training, police inspectors have warned. A progress review of nine forces who have adopted a new model to transform the way police respond to rape and sexual offences – known as Operation Soteria – found major changes are still needed to make it a success on a national scale.’

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The Independent, 22nd August 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Half of rape investigation team members not fully qualified, police watchdog warns – The Independent

Posted August 22nd, 2024 in delay, news, police, prosecutions, rape, reports by sally

‘Half of staff on rape investigation teams are not fully qualified and are still training, police inspectors have warned.’

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The Independent, 22nd August 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Thousands of train fare prosecutions to be quashed – BBC News

Posted August 16th, 2024 in compensation, fines, news, prosecutions, railways by sally

‘As many as 74,000 prosecutions for alleged rail fare evasion in England and Wales are set to be quashed following a landmark ruling.’

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BBC News, 15th August 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman paid £35,000 over CPS’s decision to drop rape case after ‘sexsomnia’ claim – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2024 in compensation, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, sleepwalking by sally

‘A woman has been awarded £35,000 in compensation from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after her rape case was dropped over claims that she could have had an episode of a rare sleep condition called sexsomnia.’

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The Guardian, 15th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Local authority prosecutions and abuse of process – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 12th, 2024 in abuse of position of trust, licensing, local government, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Recorder Zeb, sitting with two Justices in the Bristol Crown Court on appeal, recently found Bristol City Council had behaved in a way which “offends the sense of justice and fairness” in a prosecution against Wyldecrest Park Management Limited. Scott Stemp explains why.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th August 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Are the authorities powerless to stop Tommy Robinson’s online output? – The Guardian

Posted August 6th, 2024 in internet, media, news, prosecutions, public order by sally

‘New laws may make it easier to pursue far-right activist over alleged role in spreading disinformation.’

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The Guardian, 6th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Southall Black Sisters’ chief calls out ‘racist’ UK legal system after assault case collapses – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2024 in assault, minorities, news, prosecutions, women by sally

‘The leader of an advocacy group representing black and minority ethnic women has criticised an “institutionally racist” and “unfair” legal system after an assault case against her and her two friends collapsed.’

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The Guardian, 10th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon – Crown Prosecution Service

‘CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 26th June 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

The Post Office Horizon scandal and the role of prosecutors – Mills & Reeve

‘Largely thanks to the prime-time ITV dramatization, the Post Office Horizon scandal has brought to light the serious shortcomings in the way the Post Office handled the private prosecution of sub-postmasters. Whilst this has shocked the nation, unfortunately the actions of the Post Office in its role as prosecutor comes as no surprise for those with experience of public prosecutors.’

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Mills & Reeve, 26th June 2024

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Police pay legal fees over parking ticket – BBC News

Posted June 24th, 2024 in fees, news, parking, police, prosecutions by sally

‘Police have agreed to pay the £1,500 legal fees of a driver they wrongly prosecuted for a parking offence.’

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BBC News, 24th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman who sued therapist for sexual assault wins £217,000 damages – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2024 in damages, negligence, news, personal injuries, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘A woman who claimed she was raped by a therapist who said penetration could help ease her trauma has been awarded more than £200,000 in damages in a high court ruling after she sued him over the alleged assaults.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Acid offences up 75% in UK but only 8% go to court, data suggests – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2024 in assault, hazardous substances, news, prosecutions, statistics by sally

‘Acid attacks and other offences involving corrosive substances in the UK have risen by 75% in a year but only 8% of cases led to criminal charges or a summons, figures suggest.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic violence victims left open to attacks as restraining order breach prosecutions plummet for abusers – The Independent

Posted June 4th, 2024 in domestic violence, news, prosecutions, restraining orders, victims by sally

‘Thousands of vulnerable women face the threat of a violent domestic abuser returning to the household, with convictions for breaches of restraining orders plummeting, The Independent can reveal. Analysis of Ministry of Justice data shows convictions for breaches dropped by 44 per cent between 2018 and 2023.’

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The Independent, 3rd June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Post Office scandal: Police to deploy 80 detectives for criminal inquiry – The Guardian

‘Police are planning to deploy 80 detectives for their criminal inquiry into the Post Office scandal, the Guardian has learned, but victims will face a long wait to discover if charges will follow.’

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The Guardian, 27th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com