The Wall of Silence – BBC Law in Action
“What can the police and courts do when witnesses are too scared to testify – especially to the most violent of crimes?”
BBC Law in Action, 10th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: witnesses
Law Reform, Victims and Witnesses Bill – Ministry of Justice
“The Law Reform, Victims and Witnesses Bill aims to deliver a more effective, transparent and responsive justice system for victims, witnesses and the wider public.”
Ministry of Justice, 9th June 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Police staff to patrol youth courts in knife crime crackdown – The Guardian
“Dedicated police staff are to patrol London’s youth courts to encourage knife crime victims and witnesses to testify against their attackers.”
The Guardian, 28th May 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Police get new powers to wage war on gangs – The Times
“Witnesses who give evidence against gang members will be guaranteed their anonymity as soon as they come forward so they can be free from fear of reprisals, The Times has learnt.”
The Times, 22nd May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Draft legislative programme: new proposals to empower the individual – Ministry of Justice
“New proposals to give greater protection to victims and witnesses in court are among those set out in the Ministry of Justice’s contribution to the Draft Legislative Programme announced by the Prime Minister today.”
Ministry of Justice, 14th May 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Related link: Preparing Britain for the Future – the Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09 (PDF)
Regina v L (Evidence of wife) – Times Law Reports
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“There was no requirement to tell a wife that she was not a compellable witness against her husband before interviewing her about a crime of which her husband was suspected.”
The Times, 14th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
R v L – WLR Daily
R v L [2008] EWCA Crim 973; [2008] WLR (D) 142
“There was no requirement to tell a wife that she was not a compellable witness against her husband before interviewing her about a crime of which her husband was suspected.”
WLR Daily, 8th May 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
MY (Turkey) v Secretary of State for Home Department – Times Law Reports
MY (Turkey) v Secretary of State for Home Department
Court of Appeal
“Where an immigration judge found a witness to be reliable and accepted his evidence, it was inappropriate and an error of law for another immigration judge at a second hearing to attack the credibility of the same witness.”
The Times, 21st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
CPS announces the roll out of two key justice initiatives – Crown Prosecution Service
“The national roll-out of two new initiatives – pre-trial interviews with witnesses and conditional cautions – has now been completed across England and Wales.”
Crown Prosecution Service, 1st April 2008
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
Letting a child witness have his day in court – The Times
“Some prosecutors feel that children and vulnerable adults cannot cope with courtroom pressures. All that is about to change.”
The Times, 1st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Judge agrees to hold murder trial in secret – The Guardian
“Much of a murder trial will be held in secret for reasons of ‘national security’, an Old Bailey judge ruled yesterday.”
The Guardian, 16th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Media challenge national security claim for secrecy in murder trial – The Guardian
“Media organisations including the Guardian yesterday challenged a demand unprecedented in modern times – that witnesses at a forthcoming murder trial should be heard in secret, for ‘national security’ reasons.”
The Guardian, 15th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lottery winner who took holiday instead of giving evidence is jailed – The Guardian
“A chip shop worker who won £1m on a national lottery scratchcard in October has been jailed for contempt of court after she flew off on holiday instead of appearing as a witness in a criminal trial.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Regina v Adams – Times Law Reports
Court of Appeal, Criminal Division
“It was not good enough to ensure the attendance of a witness to leave making contact until the last working day before the trial.”
The Times, 14th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Inner West London Assistant Deputy Coroner v Channel 4 Television Corporation and Another – Times Law Reports
Inner West London Assistant Deputy Coroner v Channel 4 Television Corporation and Another
“Courts should avoid trying to fit a coroner’s application for a witness summons into the template of civil litigation; because of the inquisitorial nature of an inquest, a more flexible approach should be taken.”
The Times, 11th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note that the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Reluctant election trial witnesses ‘risking jail’ – The Times
“Five witnesses who refused to turn up for an election trial yesterday amid allegations they were scared of intimidation by Labour are to be warned by police to attend or risk jail.”
The Times, 5th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Convicting rapists and protecting victims – justice for victims of rape – Attorney General’s Office
“Response to consultation”
Attorney General’s Office, 27th November 2007
Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk/
Witnesses face pre-trial quizzing – BBC News
“Prosecuting lawyers and barristers will be allowed to interview their witnesses before the start of a trial to assess the reliability of their evidence.”
BBC News, 27th November 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Elderly witnesses to testify from home – The Times
“Frail and vulnerable elderly people will be able to give evidence from their own homes via video link to courts in a drive to prosecute more crimes against old people.”
The Times, 8th November 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
