Suspects left in legal limbo by delays to inquiries, say solicitors – The Guardian

‘Suspects are increasingly being left in legal limbo as they are subjected to inquiries lasting years that sometimes end with the case being dropped, a survey of criminal solicitors has revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Payday lenders being ‘bombarded’ by spurious claims – The Guardian

‘Compensation claims management firms looking for the next big earner after the PPI scandal have been accused of bombarding the much-criticised payday lending sector with complaints that are often spurious and sometimes without the knowledge of borrowers.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

The CPS is failing rape victims. That’s why we’re taking legal action – The Guardian

‘Reported rapes have soared, but cases reaching court have plummeted. Our coalition of women’s groups won’t stand for it.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers twice as likely as solicitors to make bench – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Solicitors applying to be judges are half as likely to succeed as barristers, figures published by the Judicial Appointments Commission indicate.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 6th June 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court judges’ pay raised to £236,000 a year to fill vacancies having ‘serious impact’ on courts – The Independent

Posted June 6th, 2019 in courts, delay, judiciary, news, pensions, remuneration, statistics by tracey

‘The government has increased the pay of High Court judges by 25 per cent to almost £240,000 a year in a bid to fill vacant posts.’

Full Story

The Independent, 5th June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Junk food adverts from McDonald’s, M&S and Asda banned for targeting children online – The Independent

Posted June 6th, 2019 in advertising, children, food, health, internet, news, ombudsmen, statistics by tracey

‘Junk food adverts from McDonald’s, Marks & Spencer and Asda have been banned after they were discovered on children’s websites and YouTube channels.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Inquiry into Liverpool Community Health failures expected – BBC News

‘An independent inquiry into a failed NHS trust is expected to be announced later – amid concerns that 150 deaths were not properly investigated.’

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BBC News, 6th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Charity pours scorn on quality of immigration detainees’ advice – Legal Futures

‘Legal representation for immigration detainees is very poor, including the quality of advice given by solicitors, according to a charity that challenges detention in removal centres and prisons.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Number of PI claims “largely static” over past year – Legal Futures

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in news, personal injuries, statistics by sally

‘The number of personal injury claims registered with the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) increased marginally over the last year, but still remain low compared to recent history.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 31st May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Victims in religious institutions less likely to report sexual abuse, says inquiry – The Independent

Posted May 30th, 2019 in child abuse, Christianity, clergy, news, sexual offences, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Children who suffer sexual abuse are significantly less likely to report it if it is being perpetrated in a religious institution, according to a major analysis of survivors’ experiences. A study by the Truth Project, part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), drew upon the experiences of 183 individuals who were abused as children in religious institutions, or by clergy or church staff in other settings.’

Full Story

The Independent, 30th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Report calls for end to “macho culture” of chambers – Legal Futures

Posted May 30th, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, gender, news, statistics, women by tracey

‘The “macho culture that can pervade chambers” must go if the Bar is to improve its gender balance, a report by a specialist discrimination law firm run by a QC has concluded.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Home Secretary: EU Settlement Scheme is performing well – Home Office

‘Home Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed that more than 750,000 applications have now been received for the EU Settlement Scheme.’

Full press release

Home Office, 30th May 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Children whitening skin to avoid racial hate crime, charity finds – The Guardian

Posted May 30th, 2019 in charities, children, hate crime, news, racism, statistics by tracey

‘The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said racial abuse and bullying of children had risen by one-fifth since 2015-16 to more than 10,000 incidents recorded by police last year.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police ordered to use bail to protect victims after suspected rapists and murderers freed – The Independent

‘Police officers have been told to use bail conditions to protect the public after new rules saw thousands of suspected sex attackers and violent criminals released without any restrictions. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has released guidance to all officers and staff emphasising that pre-charge bail is a “legitimate tool” in the wake of government changes in 2017.’

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The Independent, 27th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More prisoners to be temporarily released for work as government relaxes rules – The Independent

Posted May 28th, 2019 in employment, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics, violence by tracey

‘More prisoners are to be temporarily released for work, education or to see loved ones after the government relaxed rules.’

Full Ministry of Justice press release

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The Independent, 28th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Revealed: single offender has been jailed nearly 200 times -The Guardian

‘A single offender has been sentenced to almost 200 jail terms of less than six months in their lifetime, new figures reveal, renewing calls for an overhaul of the justice system to curb the use of ineffective short sentences. The highest number of previous immediate prison sentences of under six months given to an offender sentenced in 2018 in England and Wales was 198, according to a response to a freedom of information request submitted by the charity Revolving Doors.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Investigation into the response to cheating in English language tests – National Audit Office

Posted May 24th, 2019 in auditors, examinations, fraud, immigration, press releases, statistics, visas by tracey

‘The National Audit Office (NAO) has today published its investigation into the Home Office’s response to widespread cheating by international students in English language tests. Clearly widespread cheating did take place but some people may have been wrongly accused and in some cases, unfairly removed from the UK.’

Full press release

National Audit Office, 24th May 2019

Source: www.nao.org.uk

UN highlights role of legal aid cuts in “immiseration” of millions – Legal Futures

‘The decimation of legal aid has contributed to “the systematic immiseration of millions across Great Britain”, the UN’s expert on poverty and human rights said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Victims of rape and violence being left in dark about attackers’ whereabouts by authorities – The Independent

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in news, notification, probation, rape, sexual offences, statistics, victims, violence by tracey

‘Victims of rape and violence are being “let down” and left in the dark about their attackers’ whereabouts, a report has found. The service provided by the National Probation Service (NPS) was “poor”, HM Inspectorate of Probation said in the wake of criticism over “black cab rapist” John Worboys case.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Number of UK child slavery cases up by nearly 800% in two years, figures show – The Independent

‘Child slavery cases in the UK have surged by nearly 800 per cent in just two years, new figures show. Data published in the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme’s annual report show there were 475 police operations into child slavery in the UK last month, compared with 53 in April 2017.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk