Fears honour-based abuse could go undetected due to ‘short-sighted’ government plans to scrap term – The Independent

‘Ministers are considering dropping references to honour-based abuse in the recording of crimes such as forced marriage, coercive control and female genital mutilation, raising concerns offences could go undetected.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Deep crisis’ in British prisons as use of force against inmates doubles – The Guardian

Posted January 4th, 2021 in news, prison officers, prisons, standards, statistics, violence by sally

‘The use of force against inmates has doubled over the past decade, amid continuing concern over high levels of violence and disorder in prisons. A loss of experienced prison staff, overcrowding and a subsequent growth in violence against both prisoners and staff has been blamed for force being used 49,111 times in England and Wales in the 12 months before the Covid pandemic began.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tough new domestic abuse tsar prepares to shape laws to protect threatened women – The Guardian

‘As violence soars in locked-down homes, Nicole Jacobs explains how, as commissioner, she can make a difference.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Significant leap in number of women applying for silk – Legal Futures

‘Some 116 new QCs were named yesterday, with the appointment body revealing that more women applied for silk this year and the majority were successful – unlike men.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 17th December 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police accused of not taking honour-based abuse seriously as figures reveal 64% fall in recorded offences – The Independent

‘Police have been accused of not taking honour-based abuse seriously as new figures reveal a 64 per cent fall in the number of offences recorded.’

Full Story

The Independent, 17th December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grooming gangs come from ‘diverse backgrounds’, says Home Office as review finally published – The Independent

‘Grooming gangs come from “diverse backgrounds”, a Home Office review has concluded. The research, originally promised by Sajid Javid in 2018, was published on Tuesday following a government U-turn. The Home Office previously said releasing the paper would not be in the “public interest”, in response to a Freedom of Information request by The Independent, but committed to making it public after a petition signed by more than 130,000 people.’
Full report

Full Story

The Independent, 15th December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law conversion course applications jump by nearly a quarter since pandemic – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, legal education, news, statistics, universities by tracey

‘According to the Central Applications Board (CAB), applications for the GDL increased by 22.5% from 2019 to 2020. Numbers are rising and providers say it’s down to Covid. “We have had a bumper GDL intake this year, which I reckon is our highest intake for years,” says Tony Storey, programme leader at Northumbria University.

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rape and sexual assault: ‘Money needed’ to speed up investigations – BBC News

‘Police and prosecutors need more resources as sexual assault and rape investigations are taking longer, a charity that supports victims has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 14th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Financial Remedy Update, December 2020 – Family Law Week

‘Sue Brookes Principal Associate, Family Lawyer, Collaborative Lawyer and Mediator for Mills & Reeve LLP considers the important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during November 2020.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 10th December 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Fifth femicide census shows “a serious failing and indicates a lack of will to tackle root causes” of killings of women by men in the UK – Family Law

Posted December 10th, 2020 in homicide, news, reports, statistics, victims, women by tracey

‘The Femicide Census has produced its fifth, and most comprehensive, report to date of women killed by men in the UK.’

Full Story

Family Law, 9th December 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Stalking analysis reveals domestic abuse link – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 10th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, domestic violence, news, stalking, statistics by tracey

‘Stalking is increasingly being recognised as a form of domestic abuse within the criminal justice system, with CPS analysis finding the majority of offences are committed by ex-partners.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 4th December 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Law Society: Race inclusion in profession not improving quickly enough – Legal Futures

‘Actions to improve race inclusion in the solicitors’ profession are not delivering change quickly enough, Law Society research has found, highlighting a significant ethnicity pay gap.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th December 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK should ban use of spit hoods and Tasers on children, says Unicef – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2020 in children, human rights, minorities, news, police, restraint, statistics, weapons by sally

‘The use of Tasers and spit hoods on children should be banned in the UK, the global humanitarian organisation for children Unicef has recommended.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Commercial Court urges more use of junior advocates – Litigation Futures

‘The Commercial Court and COMBAR are looking at ways to ensure that junior advocates can get more time on their feet, encouraging solicitors and clients to consider their use on discrete issues.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 4th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Young black males in London ’19 times more likely to be stopped and searched’ – The Guardian

Posted December 3rd, 2020 in London, minorities, news, police, reports, statistics, stop and search, young persons by tracey

‘Young black males in London were 19 times more likely to be stopped and searched than the general population, a study of official data shows.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Abuse of older people reaches ‘unprecedented level’ during pandemic – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 30th, 2020 in charities, coronavirus, elderly, news, sexual offences, statistics, victims by sally

‘Abuse of older people is at “unprecedented levels” – with almost 2.7 million victims thought to be affected in the UK, a charity has said.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 30th November 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government urged to fix ‘disastrous state’ of rape prosecutions – The Guardian

‘An alliance of women’s organisations is calling for radical reforms to address the “disastrous state” of rape investigations and prosecutions, including a ministerial lead, a commission on juries and a ban on the use of sexual history evidence.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB publishes its first Regulatory Decisions Report – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its first annual Regulatory Decisions Report. It covers the year ending on 31 March 2020.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 27th November 2020

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Fifth of crimes involved domestic abuse in first England and Wales lockdown – The Guardian

Posted November 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, crime, domestic violence, news, statistics by tracey

‘One in five offences recorded by police during and immediately after the first national lockdown in England and Wales involved domestic abuse, figures have revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic abuse victims with ‘trapped capital’ should not be denied legal aid, court rules – The Guardian

‘Victims of domestic abuse should not be denied legal aid because they have assets trapped in a home, the high court has ruled.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com