Abu Qatada could face prosecution in UK, says Theresa May – The Guardian

Posted April 18th, 2013 in bail, evidence, news, prosecutions, terrorism by sally

“The home secretary, Theresa May, has said police are examining evidence seized over the recent arrest of Islamic cleric Abu Qatada to see if he can be prosecuted in UK courts.”

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The Guardian, 18th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Facebook comment leaves juror facing contempt charge – The Guardian

Posted April 18th, 2013 in contempt of court, internet, juries, news, prosecutions by sally

“A juror will be prosecuted for contempt of court after allegedly writing on Facebook that he wanted to “f*** up a paedophile” during the trial of a convicted child sex offender.”

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The Guardian, 17th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rise in convictions of badger cruelty as RSPCA accused of using law to get to hunts – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 15th, 2013 in animal cruelty, hunting, licensing, news, prosecutions, statistics, video recordings by sally

“Badger cruelty prosecutions have almost doubled in five years, according to new figures, as the RSPCA is accused of using the law to target huntsmen.”

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Daily Telegraph, 14th April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prosecuting sexual assault: ‘Raped all over again’ – The Guardian

Posted April 15th, 2013 in cross-examination, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, suicide, trials, witnesses by sally

“Frances Andrade’s experience in the witness box left her feeling violated. Within days she had killed herself. Is it time we changed the way we prosecute sexual assault?”

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The Guardian, 13th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mid Staffs hospital death prompts criminal investigation – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2013 in health & safety, hospitals, news, prosecutions by sally

“A criminal investigation has begun into the death of a diabetic woman at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said.”

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The Guardian, 12th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police go back over cases of female genital mutilation – The Independent

Posted April 8th, 2013 in child abuse, female genital mutilation, news, prosecutions by sally

“Police and prosecutors are reviewing hundreds of historic cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in a bid to bring the first prosecution in Britain since the practice was ruled illegal in 1985. Legal experts are already examining six cases referred by police, and scores more are also being considered. Tens of thousands of women and girls in the UK are believed to have been subjected to the horrifying ordeal, which is also known as “cutting”, in which the genitals of women and girls are severed by unqualified people in the belief that it will preserve the victim’s virginity. It can result in infections, infertility and, in extreme cases, death.”

Full story

The Independent, 7th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Behind the scenes at the Crown Prosecution Service – BBC News

“The BBC’s Legal Correspondent Clive Coleman went to see Brian Altman QC who is soon to retire, as First Senior Treasury Counsel, a post that that has seen him prosecute some of the biggest and most notorious criminal cases of recent times.”

Listen

BBC News, 4th April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cold-calling prosecutions planned – Law Society’s Gazette

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is ready to prosecute up to a dozen more companies who carry out cold-calling and send spam text messages.

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rape myths not behind low conviction rate, says leading family lawyer – The Guardian

Posted March 25th, 2013 in news, prosecutions, rape, statistics, victims, witnesses by sally

“Helen Reece argues lack of independent witnesses is main cause of conviction rate which is similar to that of other crimes.”

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The Guardian, 25th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The case for the prosecution: independence and the public interest – Speech by the Attorney General

Posted March 15th, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, police, prosecutions, public interest, speeches by tracey

“Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP considers some options for reform of prosecution policy. Originally given at Queen Mary University of London School of Law, 13th March 2013.”

Full speech

Attorney-General’s Office, 13th March 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Police ‘should be given more powers to charge offenders’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 14th, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, speeches by sally

“Police should be given more powers to decide whether to charge offenders in routine, non-contested cases to free up prosecutors to focus on more serious crimes, the Attorney General has said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

False allegations of rape and domestic violence are few and far between – The Guardian

Posted March 13th, 2013 in domestic violence, news, prosecutions, rape, wasting police time by sally

“Our new report shows that while false allegations must be taken seriously they are relatively rare and are often complex cases.”

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The Guardian, 13th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Under the spotlight: perverting the course of justice and wasting police time in cases involving allegedly false rape and domestic violence allegations – Crown Prosecution Service

“The first ever study by the Crown Prosecution Service into so-called false allegations of rape and domestic violence is being published today by the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 12th March 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Rape investigations ‘undermined by belief that false accusations are rife’ – The Guardian

Posted March 13th, 2013 in news, prosecutions, rape, victims, wasting police time by sally

“A ‘misplaced belief’ that false accusations of rape or domestic violence are commonplace may be undermining police and prosecutors’ efforts to investigate such crimes, the director of public prosecutions has warned.”

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The Guardian, 13th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sign error on M42 motorway may mean speeding let-off – BBC News

Posted March 11th, 2013 in enforcement, news, prosecutions, road traffic offences by sally

“Thousands of motorway speeding convictions could be overturned because the font used to display the numbers on some variable speed limit signs may not have complied with traffic regulations.”

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BBC News, 9th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prosecutor demands overhaul of sexual abuse investigations – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2013 in child abuse, news, prosecutions, sexual offences by sally

“Sweeping changes to the way alleged sex offenders in England and Wales are investigated must be introduced in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal and other child exploitation cases, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, has said.”

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The Guardian, 6th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leaked email shows CPS puts cost first, quality second – The Bar Council

Posted February 25th, 2013 in barristers, budgets, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, along with the Criminal Bar Association and Circuit Leaders have today published evidence that the Crown Prosecution Service (‘CPS’) has adopted deliberate practices not to instruct the correct advocate for a given case if there is a financial interest to the CPS in keeping the work in-house.”

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The Bar Council, 25th February 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

RSPCA could hire ‘experienced criminal barrister’ to review prosecutions, Attorney General suggests – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 25th, 2013 in animals, barristers, budgets, charities, news, private prosecutions, prosecutions by sally

“Britain’s most senior law officer has told the head of the RSPCA that he could consider hiring an experienced criminal lawyer to review the charity’s controversial prosecution policy.”

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hacking: No charges for ex-NoW deputy editor – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in evidence, inquiries, interception, media, news, prosecutions, telecommunications by sally

“The former deputy editor at the now-defunct News of the World newspaper will not face any charges regarding phone hacking, the CPS has announced.”

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BBC News, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

LSC drops legal aid contract changes – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 11th, 2013 in contracts, disclosure, Law Society, legal aid, news, prosecutions by sally

“The Legal Services Commission has agreed to drop controversial changes to ongoing legal aid contracts following talks with the Law Society.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 11th February 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk