Resentencing of prisoners trapped under indefinite jail terms not ‘adequately explored’, committee warns – The Independent

‘The government has been urged to reconsider resentencing thousands of prisoners trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms.’

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The Independent, 29th November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice Committee Launches New Inquiry Into Rehabilitation And Resettlement – Each Other

‘The Justice Committee has launched its first new inquiry of the Parliament, into reoffending in England and Wales. MPs on the newly appointed cross-party Committee, chaired by Labour MP Andy Slaughter, will examine the levels of reoffending in England and Wales.’

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Each Other, 26th November 2024

Source: eachother.org.uk

Carr hits out over civil digitisation and criminal court sitting days – Legal Futures

‘The Lady Chief Justice yesterday complained to MPs about the government’s decisions to reduce the digitisation of civil justice and limit sitting days in the criminal courts.’

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Legal Futures, 27th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tory pair backed ‘rushed and misjudged’ asylum site purchase, watchdog says

Posted November 15th, 2024 in asylum, government departments, immigration, news, select committees by sally

‘Leading Tories Robert Jenrick and Oliver Dowden were on the committee that backed plans for the “rushed and misjudged” £15m purchase of an asbestos-ridden site for asylum accommodation, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has disclosed.’

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The Guardian, 15th November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Labour will have ‘blood on its hands’ if it rejects review of indefinite jail terms – The Independent

‘Families are warning the government will have “blood on its hands” if it turns its back on 3,000 prisoners as Labour is set to reject a review of cruel indefinite jail terms, The Independent has learned.’

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The Independent, 30th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Stephen Tierney: Towards a Principle of Positive Engagement?: The House of Lords Constitution Committee reports on The Governance of the Union – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Over the past decade the House of Lords Constitution Committee has immersed itself in the principles, purposes and operation of devolution. Last week marked 10 years since the referendum on Scottish independence, and in that time the Committee has published multiple reports on the changing face of the territorial constitution, offering encouragement, detailed critique and practical recommendations. A number of these publications are cited in the introduction to its most recent report on The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative Consent, which is published today. This report addresses the new system of intergovernmental relations introduced in 2022, the operation of the Sewel convention, the use of secondary legislation in devolved areas and plans by the new Labour Government for further devolution in England. Most notably, it recommends that a “principle of positive engagement” be added to the existing principles for intergovernmental relations, currently listed in The Review of Intergovernmental Relations policy document of January 2022.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 27th September 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Public Inquiries | Enhancing Public Trust: Key recommendations from the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee report – 2 Hare Court

Posted September 25th, 2024 in chambers articles, inquiries, news, select committees by tracey

‘On Monday, the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee published its report on recommended reforms to the work of statutory inquiries. The report is published in the context of 18 public inquires taking place in the UK this year alone, and recent significant developments in the Grenfell Tower, Infected Blood, Post Office and Covid-19 Inquiries. Some of the report’s recommendations extend beyond statutory inquiries, to include major inquests.’

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2 Hare Court, 19th September 2024

Source: www.2harecourt.com

‘Hundreds’ of prisoners freed early in England and Wales not fitted with tags – The Guardian

‘Prisoners freed early to ease overcrowding in jails have not been fitted with electronic tags despite it being a condition of their release, prompting criticism from a parliamentary watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Public inquiries should be shorter and recommendations tracked, Lords says – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2024 in accidents, building law, construction industry, delay, fire, inquiries, news, select committees by tracey

‘Public inquiries should be shortened and the progress of their recommendations tracked, according to a House of Lords committee, which says a major overhaul is required to restore public confidence among victims and survivors.’

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The Guardian, 16th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Peers support widening SRA’s fining and investigative powers – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) needs more powers to prevent misconduct by law firms involved in strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), peers have urged.’

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Legal Futures, 15th May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

County court has “borne brunt” of court reform failure – Legal Futures

Posted May 9th, 2024 in budgets, civil justice, county courts, news, select committees by sally

‘The county court has “borne the brunt” of the failure of the court modernisation programme to deliver, a former adviser to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 8th May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Nearly 3,000 people are languishing in jail unfairly. We must set them free – Bob Neill – The Guardian

Posted May 2nd, 2024 in imprisonment, news, parole, select committees, sentencing by sally

‘There is consensus in parliament that indeterminate sentences are unjust. So why is the government dragging its heels?’

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The Guardian, 2nd May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inquiries Update: Three Things You Need to Know – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

‘Achas Burin updates readers on three essential news items concerning the future of Public Inquiries: the commencement of the Lampard Inquiry, the Norton committee reviewing Inquiries and the government consultation on apologies following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 17th April 2024

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Legal Services Act does not appear to provide stable long-term framework for regulation of legal professions: Justice Committee – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Legal Services Act 2007 does not appear to provide a stable long-term framework for the regulation of the legal professions, the Justice Committee has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd April 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Rwanda bill could become law without independent scrutiny, says ex-watchdog – The Guardian

‘Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation bill could be forced on to the statute books without fulfilling the government’s legal commitment to independent scrutiny, the former borders watchdog has told peers.’

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The Guardian, 19th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Assisted dying / assisted suicide – an informer – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘In light of the publication of the Westminster Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee’s (very good) report on assisted dying / assisted suicide on 29 February 2024 and as a modest contribution to informing debate about these issues, I have recorded an ‘informer,’ in which I give an overview of the current law in England & Wales and worldwide, set out some of the reasons why people might want change, and some reasons why people are concerned about it, and then look at what the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities might say of relevance. It is quite a lot for half an hour, and it goes without saying that it is a video which engages with difficult matters.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 29th February 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

UK’s Rwanda bill ‘incompatible with human rights obligations’ – The Guardian

‘The UK government’s controversial Rwanda legislation that deems the African country as a safe place to deport people to is fundamentally incompatible with Britain’s human rights obligations and places it in breach of international law, according to a damning parliamentary report.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ Finds Public Engagement Crucial In Shaping Sentencing Policies – Each Other

Posted February 7th, 2024 in Ministry of Justice, news, select committees, sentencing by sally

‘In a significant step towards fostering transparency and inclusivity within the criminal justice system, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has acknowledged the pivotal role public opinion plays in shaping sentencing policy. This revelation comes in response to a landmark report titled “Public Opinion and Understanding of Sentencing”, published by the justice committee in November 2023.’

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Each Other, 5th February 2024

Source: eachother.org.uk

‘Women sit next to abusers at music industry parties’ MPs warn – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2024 in equality, harassment, news, reports, select committees, sexual offences by tracey

‘The music industry is still a “boys’ club” where sexual harassment and abuse are common, MPs warned in a report. The Women and Equalities Committee said musicians have to sit beside sexual abusers at parties and events, due to a “culture of silence”.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Courts “could cope” with large number of Post Office appeals, says LCJ – Legal Futures

‘The courts “could cope” with a large volume of criminal appeals in the wake of the Post Office scandal, the Lady Chief Justice told MPs yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 17th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk