CPS announces review findings for first 200 cases under coronavirus laws – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Prosecutors have reviewed more than 200 finalised cases under the coronavirus legislation up to the end of April, with any incorrect charges withdrawn and overturned.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 15th May 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Covid-19 “exacerbating” inequality in profession – Legal Futures

‘Women lawyers are worried that the coronavirus crisis is exacerbating inequalities in the profession, with the pandemic hitting them hard, a survey has found.’

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Legal Futures, 15th May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Plans for early prisoner release shelved by government – BBC News

Posted May 11th, 2020 in coronavirus, early release, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘Proposals to release some offenders from prison earlier than planned have been shelved by the government.’

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BBC News, 10th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Surge in stalking victims seeking help during UK lockdown – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2020 in coronavirus, harassment, internet, news, police, stalking, statistics by sally

‘Stalking support services and police forces have recorded a surge in perpetrators turning to online tactics to harass their victims during the coronavirus lockdown.’

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The Guardian, 8th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police urged to justify use of stun guns against black men – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police and the Greater Manchester force have been urged to make clear whether or not the use of stun guns against black men by officers this week was proportionate and reasonable.’

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The Guardian, 10th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: UK detention centres ’emptied in weeks’ – BBC News

Posted May 7th, 2020 in coronavirus, detention, immigration, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of people held in UK immigration removal centres has dropped by more than two thirds during the pandemic, figures reveal.’

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BBC News, 7th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Video hearings “more likely to lead to convictions” – Legal Futures

‘Video hearings in certain criminal cases are more likely to lead to defendants receiving a prison sentence, a major study has found.’

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Legal Futures, 6th May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Protecting domestic violence victims in lockdown – The Guardian

‘Kate, a call handler for a domestic violence charity, discusses the challenges of trying to deal with the rising number of calls during lockdown. Guardian reporter Helen Pidd has been reporting on the domestic violence cases being heard at Manchester magistrates court over the past few weeks.’

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The Guardian, 6th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court hearings running at half pre-virus level – Legal Futures

‘The courts and tribunals in England and Wales are now conducting almost half as many civil and criminal hearings as they did before the coronavirus crisis, a justice minister said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 5th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Coronavirus: Courts must resume to deal with ‘backlog of cases’ – BBC News

‘Victims are being left in “distressing limbo” due to a growing backlog of cases during the coronavirus pandemic, a top Cardiff barrister has warned.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women launch legal action to stop military courts trying UK rape cases – The Guardian

‘Three women serving in the armed forces have begun legal action aimed at preventing the military courts from trying UK rape cases, complaining that the conviction rate is five to six times lower than in civilian courts.’

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: More than 9,000 fines for lockdown breaches – BBC News

‘More than 9,000 fines have been issued in England and Wales for breaching coronavirus lockdown restrictions.’

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BBC News, 30th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coronavirus: Jury trials face ‘biggest change since WW2’ – BBC News

‘Coronavirus could prompt the biggest changes to jury trials since World War Two, the head of judiciary in England and Wales has told the BBC.’

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BBC News, 30th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuse prosecutions fell by 24% at end of 2019 – The Guardian

‘The number of domestic abuse prosecutions fell by almost a quarter in the last three months of 2019, compared to the previous year, according to quarterly figures released by the Crown Prosecution Service. Rape prosecutions also fell 23% in the last three months of 2019 compared to a year prior, maintaining a historic low.’

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The Guardian, 30th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus could cause ‘unprecedented’ backlog of court cases – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2020 in barristers, budgets, coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, delay, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The coronavirus outbreak could lead to court case delays of up to six months and record prisoner numbers once the lockdown has been lifted, according to a leading Whitehall thinktank.’

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The Guardian, 29th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Only 33 prisoners in England and Wales released under anti-coronavirus measures – The Guardian

Posted April 28th, 2020 in coronavirus, early release, news, statistics by sally

‘Only 33 prisoners have been released under emergency measures announced by the government to combat the spread of Covid-19 in jails in England and Wales, MPs have heard.’

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The Guardian, 27th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Convicted terrorists less likely to reoffend than other criminals – study – The Guardian

Posted April 28th, 2020 in news, recidivists, statistics, terrorism by sally

‘Convicted terrorists are extremely unlikely to reoffend compared with other prisoners, research by academics and security services in Europe has found.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Charges and cautions for domestic violence rise by 24% in London – The Guardian

Posted April 27th, 2020 in charities, coronavirus, domestic violence, families, news, police, statistics by sally

‘Police have warned of a looming rise in reported domestic abuse cases with some victims currently suffering in silence fearing if their abuser is arrested and becomes unemployed, they and their children will be plunged into poverty.’

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The Guardian, 24th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: Internet child abuse images ‘not being deleted’ – BBC News

‘Coronavirus has led to a “global slowdown” in the removal of internet child abuse images, say campaigners.’

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BBC News, 27th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Knife offences hit record high in 2019 in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2020 in news, offensive weapons, police, statistics, violence by sally

‘The number of offences involving knives recorded by police in England and Wales in 2019 was the highest on record, official statistics show, with big cities driving up the numbers.’

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com