Further CPS cuts impossible as workload grows, says new boss – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service cannot sustain further cuts because digital technology is imposing heavy additional workloads on its lawyers, Max Hill QC, the new director of public prosecutions, has told MPs.’

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The Guardian, 4th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Windrush: ‘Home Office ignored warnings’ – BBC News

‘Home Office processes led to wrongful detentions and deportations of members of the Windrush generation, says a National Audit Office report.’

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BBC News, 5th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prosecutions of parents for child cruelty and neglect double in five years – Daily Telegraph

‘The number of parents prosecuted for child cruelty or neglect has doubled to almost 17,000 in the past five years amid concerns over rising drug and alcohol misuse and mental ill health, police figures reveal today.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th December 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Female genital mutilation cases more than double in a year in UK – The Guardian

Posted November 30th, 2018 in female genital mutilation, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of girls in England who have experienced or are believed to be at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) has more than doubled in a year, according to assessments by council social workers.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

A third of prisons hold at least one transgender inmate, MoJ says – The Guardian

Posted November 30th, 2018 in news, prisons, statistics, transgender persons by sally

‘More than a third of prisons in England and Wales hold at least one transgender inmate, official statistics have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Secretary gives backing to police who ram scooter criminals – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2018 in motorcycles, news, police, statistics by tracey

‘he Home Secretary has offered his backing to police who ram moped thieves from their scooters saying it is “exactly what we need”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rogue landlords: 90% of local authorities fail to issue fines – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in enforcement, fines, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, statistics by tracey

‘Almost 90% of local authorities failed to use new powers to fine rogue landlords last year, in the latest finding to suggest tenants are being failed by a lax enforcement regime.’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog to launch investigation into UK funerals over ‘unjustified’ price hikes – The Independent

Posted November 29th, 2018 in bereavement, budgets, burials and cremation, competition, news, statistics by tracey

‘The UK funeral market could be the subject of the competition watchdog’s next investigation, after the regulator said it had “serious concerns” with the sector due to “unjustified” price hikes of more than 66 per cent over the last 10 years.’

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The Independent, 29th November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminal justice statistics – new resource – Sentencing Council

Posted November 27th, 2018 in criminal justice, press releases, statistics by tracey

‘We have published a new data resource for academics, researchers and others with an interest in the criminal justice system. Criminal justice statistics pulls together sources for the main, routinely produced statistical publications on crime and justice from the major government departments, including the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics.’

full press release

Sentencing Council, 26th November 2018

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Some 125 barristers earned more than £1m last year – Legal Futures

Posted November 27th, 2018 in barristers, budgets, consultations, fees, licensing, news, remuneration, statistics by tracey

‘There were around 125 barristers reporting fees of more than £1m last year, and another 200 who brought in more than £500,000, new figures from the Bar Council have suggested.
The Bar Council, including the Bar Standards Board, is set to raise an extra £900,000 by imposing higher practising certificate fees (PCFs) on barristers earning more than £500,000 for the first time.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 27th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

NHS to look into deaths of 100,000 mental health patients a year – The Guardian

‘The NHS is to start investigating the deaths of more than 100,0000 mental health patients a year in a drive to cut the number of fatalities linked to poor care.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police ‘picking up pieces of mental health system’, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2018 in budgets, mental health, news, ombudsmen, police, statistics by tracey

‘Overstretched police forces are having to “pick up the pieces of a broken mental health system” on top of tackling crime, the emergency services watchdog has found. More than half of all mental health patients who need help in a place of safety are taken there in a police car rather than an ambulance, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scrapping juries in rape trials risks rise in miscarriages of justice – The Guardian

‘There is no evidence juries are failing their duty. Abolishing them could increase pressure on judges to boost conviction rates.’

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The Guardian, 22nd November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Significant number” of barristers struggling with CPD regime – Legal Futures

Posted November 23rd, 2018 in barristers, continuing professional development, news, statistics by sally

‘A “significant number” of barristers are still unaware that a new scheme for continuing professional development (CPD) has been in force for nearly two years or are unclear on how it works, Bar Standards Board checks have found.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Junk food ad ban on London transport to take effect in February – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2018 in advertising, budgets, food, London, news, obesity, statistics, transport by sally

‘Junk food adverts will be banned on London Underground, train, tram and bus services from February under plans announced by London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan.’

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The Guardian, 23rd November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Litigants in Person – an inherent problem with the justice system – Family Law Week

Posted November 21st, 2018 in budgets, legal aid, legal representation, litigants in person, news, statistics by tracey

‘Matthew Richardson, barrister at Coram chambers considers the fundamental problem with re-shaping our justice system around a huge increase in litigants in person, caused by the removal of legal aid provision from most cases.’

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Family Law Week, 9th November 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Woman who died in prison was left alone in cell after being found with ligatures around her neck, inquest finds – The Independent

‘“Deeply inadequate” prison procedures contributed to the death of a young woman who was left alone in her cell after being found with ligatures around her neck, an inquest has found.’

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The Independent, 20th November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Scrap juries in rape trials, labour MP suggests – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2018 in criminal justice, inquiries, juries, news, rape, statistics, trials, victims by tracey

‘Juries may need to be scrapped in rape trials because of the dominance of rape myths in society and “shockingly low” charging and conviction rates, the House of Commons will hear.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lewis Graham: Lady Justices and Dissent on the Court of Appeal of England and Wales – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted November 20th, 2018 in appeals, gender, judgments, judiciary, news, statistics, women by sally

‘Much has been said on the gender imbalance of the senior courts of England and Wales. Since the House of Lords became the Supreme Court in 2009, a total of 22 men have sat as full-time Justices, compared to just three women, all of whom are currently serving. Justifiably, a lot of attention has fallen on Lady Hale, an outspoken exponent of greater judicial diversity and current Court President.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 15th November 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Tests see 90% of pubs fail to stop children accessing 18+ gaming machines – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 19th, 2018 in children, gambling, licensed premises, news, statistics by sally

‘Tests on a sample of pubs in England indicate that almost 90% failed to prevent children accessing 18+ gaming machines, the Gambling Commission has revealed.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 16th November 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk