“The number of criminals sent to prison by magistrates in England and Wales varies dramatically depending on which court does the sentencing, research reveals today.”
The Independent, 22nd April 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“There are unacceptable delays in Magistrates’ Courts which slows down justice for victims, said Justice Minister Damian Green as he announced plans to modernise the system.”
Ministry of Justice, 19th February 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Scores of Britain’s most dangerous criminals have walked out of open prisons over the past year, official statistics disclosed yesterday.”
Daily Telegraph, 28th January 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“One in four violent criminals are avoiding court as magistrates warned the excessive use of cautions by police has ‘got out of hand’.”
Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“A senior judge has warned magistrates to maintain their distance from police and crime commissioners (PCCs), in the latest demonstration of unease about the recently elected new posts.”
The Guardian, 5th January 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Regina v Bateman; Regina v Doyle: [2012] EWCA Crim 2158; [2012] WLR (D) 355
“Where an offender was committed to the Crown Court by the magistrates’ court under paragraph 11(2)(a) of Schedule 12 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to be dealt with in respect of the commission of an offence committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence imposed by the Crown Court, the Crown Court’s sentencing powers in relation to other offences in respect of which the offender was committed under section 6(2) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 were limited by section 7(1) of the 2000 Act to those of the magistrates’ court.”
WLR Daily, 27th November 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
“More offenders will be ‘let off’ with cautions and fines following the introduction of police and crime commissioners, magistrates fear.”
Daily Telegraph, 19th November 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Police have become judge and jury dispensing inappropriate summary justice on the streets, the country’s leading magistrates have warned.”
Daily Telegraph, 6th November 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Thousands more people will benefit from flexible courts, Criminal Justice Minister Damian Green said today as he unveiled a list of dozens of new pilot areas.”
Ministry of Justice, 11th October 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“A substantial increase in the number of flexible criminal justice pilot schemes across England and Wales is to be announced by the government.”
BBC News, 11th October 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines which includes Update 9 (the update on the Victim Surcharge) are now available to download.”
Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines (PDF)
Sentencing Council, 1st October 2012
“Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to pilot Sunday magistrates’ courts have been hit by a technical hitch after prisons said they could not accept new prisoners on that day, writes Elizabeth Davidson. However, its pilot of full-day Saturday courts is still on schedule to begin in the Manchester area this weekend, despite vocal opposition from local criminal lawyers, some of whom claim taking part could leave them vulnerable to expensive employment tribunal claims.”
LegalVoice, 27th September 2012
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
“Sir Paul Stephenson, Britain’s former top policeman, spends a day at a magistrates’ court, and is shocked by what he finds.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Related link: Our creaking courts: a day inside Westminister Magistrate’s
“Fast-track courts have dealt with more than 80 ‘Olympic crimes’ so far during the course of the 2012 Games, the Ministry of Justice has revealed.”
The Guardian, 29th Auguest 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Media Protection Services Ltd v Crawford and another [2012] EWHC 2373 (Admin); [2012] WLR (D) 250
“The laying of an information by a director of a private limited company, acting for reward on behalf of a client in the course of its business, constituted acting as a solicitor within the meaning and in breach of section 20 of the Solicitors Act 1974 and carrying on a reserved legal activity, namely the conduct of litigation, contrary to the Legal Services Act 2007, with the result that the proceedings were void.”
WLR Daily, 16th August 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
“Judges and magistrates have been banned from blogging about their jobs. This is not helpful.”
The Guardian, 14th August 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The senior judge who banned magistrates from standing as candidates in November’s police commissioner elections has backed down and said they need not resign as JPs unless they are elected.”
The Guardian, 10th August 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Plans for the first police commissioner elections this autumn have been thrown into fresh disarray with the disclosure that magistrates – who make up a significant number of the candidates – have been banned from standing.”
The Guardian, 9th August 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“‘Flash incarceration’ of offenders who breach court orders, widespread naming online of those convicted, more witnesses giving evidence via videolink and Sunday court sittings are among measures outlined in government plans to speed up justice.”
The Guardian, 13th July 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Criminal cases could be dealt with in days or even hours under plans to bring in “swift and sure justice”, ministers will say on Friday.”
The Guardian, 13th July 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
