UK domestic abuse helplines report surge in calls during lockdown – The Guardian

‘A helpline for perpetrators of domestic abuse who are seeking help to change their behaviour has received 25% more calls as the Covid-19 lockdown continues, fresh figures show.’

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The Guardian, 9th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Most chambers “face collapse” without government cash – Legal Futures

Posted April 3rd, 2020 in barristers, budgets, coronavirus, news, pupillage, statistics by sally

‘More than half of barristers’ chambers will go out of business within six months if they do not receive financial support from the government during the coronavirus crisis, the Bar Council has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Number of potential modern slavery victims in UK rises by 52% – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2020 in forced labour, news, statistics, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘The number of potential modern slavery victims identified in the UK has risen by 52% in a year to a record high, official figures have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 2nd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Privately educated lawyers dominate corporate work – Legal Futures

‘The proportion of solicitors who attended state schools is creeping upwards, but those who went to fee-paying schools dominate corporate work, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 31st March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Number of outstanding crown court cases reaches two-year high – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of outstanding crown court cases in England and Wales has reached the highest level for two years, figures show, amid growing concerns about pressures on the criminal justice system caused by the Covid-19 crisis.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Warning over rise in UK domestic abuse cases linked to coronavirus – The Guardian

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

‘There has been a rise in domestic abuse incidents directly related to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a police leader.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Secret policy change by CPS cut number of rape trials, high court told – The Guardian

‘A legal challenge over alleged changes to Crown Prosecution Service policy on bringing charges in rape cases has been dismissed by the high court.’

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The Guardian, 17th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ealing rape victim’s family donate £10,000 to legal claim against CPS – The Guardian

‘The family of Jill Saward, the Ealing rape victim who became a leading figure in the fight against sexual violence, has donated thousands of pounds to a legal challenge against the Crown Prosecution Service.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS failed to tell inspectors of internal review revealing rape case failings – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service conducted a secret internal review that exposed its failings in rape cases – but failed to share it with inspectors who were conducting an official inquiry for a major government investigation into rape, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 15th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA: “Solicitors conceal disability for fear of harming careers” – Legal Futures

‘Many disabled solicitors have downplayed the extent of their disability because they do not trust law firms to meet their needs, research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 16th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New bill aims to protect UK shop workers from soaring abuse – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2020 in bills, news, police, sale of goods, statistics, threatening behaviour, violence by sally

‘Shop workers across the UK will be better protected from soaring levels of violence, verbal and physical abuse under proposed legislation to be put before the House of Commons.’

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The Guardian, 16th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Lacklustre’ response to suicides at London jail despite warnings, report finds – The Independent

Posted March 13th, 2020 in drug abuse, news, ombudsmen, prisons, standards, statistics, suicide by sally

‘A prison in London has shown a “lacklustre” response to self-inflicted deaths despite major warnings that it must improve and widespread concerns over failures across the penal estate to respond to inmate suicides.’

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The Independent, 12th March 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Domestic abuser police officers ‘protected’, campaigners claim – BBC News

‘Some police officers accused of domestic abuse are being protected from facing justice, campaigners claim.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DWP employees with disabilities paid almost £1m in discrimination cases across four years – The Independent

‘The Department for Work and Pensions has had to pay out almost £1m to employees with disabilities in discrimination cases in the space of four years.’

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The Independent, 9th March 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Child slavery victims ‘falling through cracks’ as Home Office delays support promised four years ago – The Independent

‘The Home Office has been criticised for allowing thousands of child trafficking victims to “fall through the cracks” by failing to implement a policy designed to protect them for four years after it first pledged to do so.’

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The Independent, 5th March 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK freed 42 terrorists in year before law to detain extremists for longer – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2020 in news, parole, prisons, probation, proscribed organisations, statistics, terrorism by sally

‘More than 40 convicted terrorists were released from prison in the year before emergency legislation was introduced to keep jailed extremists locked up for longer, figures reveal, while the number of far-right detainees has surged.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gambling Commission is “a small regulator in a huge and fast-evolving industry”, warns spending watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 2nd, 2020 in budgets, gambling, news, ombudsmen, regulations, statistics by sally

‘Even if the Gambling Commission were to make recommended improvements, it is “a small body that is unlikely to be fully effective in regulating a challenging and fast-changing industry within the current system”, the National Audit Office has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Prisons: what’s gone wrong & how to fix it – Counsel

‘An abysmal mess? What our prisons tell us about our country today – by Nick Hardwick.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Who gets silk? 2019 – Counsel

Posted February 20th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, news, queen's counsel, statistics by sally

‘Celebrating the 114 new silks – plus forensic analysis of the 2019 cohort and what it says about equality of opportunity in the profession and health of the Bar –by David Wurtzel.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Equitable briefing – Counsel

Posted February 19th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by sally

‘Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not: why equitable briefing is the most pressing practice issue for the Bar in 2020 – writes Lucy Barbet.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk