Sobriety tags launched in England to tackle alcohol-fuelled crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Sobriety tags and drinking bans aimed at reducing alcohol-fuelled crimes launch in England today (Wednesday 31 March), following a successful rollout in Wales.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 31st March 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Home Office ‘presenting opinion as fact’ on immigration issues, lawyers warn – The Independent

‘Prominent barristers have accused the Home Office of misleading the public on immigration issues in the UK in breach of the civil service code and equating “child rapists” with “failed asylum seekers”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 29th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice overhaul to better protect the public and back our police – Ministry of Justice

‘Cutting crime and building safer communities will be at the heart of new legislation unveiled in Parliament today (9 March 2021).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 9th March 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

New laws to protect victims added to Domestic Abuse Bill – Home Office

‘A raft of new amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill will be presented, providing greater protections for victims and further clamping down on perpetrators.’

Full press release

Home Office, 1st March 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Reforms to laws around intimate image abuse proposed to better protect victims – Law Commission

‘Proposals to improve protections for victims whose intimate images are taken or shared without their consent have today [26 February 2021] been published by the Law Commission of England and Wales.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 26th February 2021

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/

New witness statements Practice Direction approved – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted February 19th, 2021 in civil procedure rules, evidence, practice directions, press releases, witnesses by tracey

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee has approved new Practice Direction PD57AC which seeks to promote and enforce best practice on the preparation of witness statements.’

Full text

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 18th February 2021

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Requirement for all parole hearings to be held in private to be relaxed – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 9th, 2021 in parole, press releases, privacy, private hearings, victims by tracey

‘The rule which currently requires all parole hearings to be held in private will be relaxed as part of the government’s efforts to increase public confidence in the process.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 8th February 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

An introduction to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa – Home Office

Posted February 1st, 2021 in China, colonies, government departments, Hong Kong, immigration, press releases, visas by tracey

‘This leaflet provides the key points of the Hong Kong BN(O) visa, including who can apply, how to apply, costs and eligibility requirements.’

Full leaflet

Home Office, 31st January 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Over 30 years of the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme – Attorney General’s Office

Posted February 1st, 2021 in appeals, criminal justice, press releases, sentencing, victims by tracey

‘For over 30 years the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme has helped victims of crime get justice. The scheme was launched in 1989 following public outcry over a series of controversial sentencing decisions, including the 1986 “Ealing vicarage rape” case where 21-year-old Jill Saward was raped by burglars at her father’s vicarage.’

Attorney General’s Office, 1st February 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Diversity at the Bar is gradually improving but more progress is needed, says BSB report – Bar Standards Board

Posted January 29th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, equality, press releases, statistics by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its annual report on Diversity at the Bar. The report shows that the profession became increasingly diverse in 2020 and that a greater proportion of barristers disclosed their demographic data.’

Press release

Full report

Bar Standards Board, 29th January 2021

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Law Commission seeks views on smart contracts – Law Commission

Posted December 17th, 2020 in computer programs, contracts, Law Commission, press releases by tracey

‘The Law Commission has today [17 December 2020] launched a call for evidence to help ensure that the technology of smart contracts can thrive in England and Wales.’

Full press release

Law Comission, 17th December 2020

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

New surrender scheme starts to keep dangerous weapons off the streets – Home Office

Posted December 11th, 2020 in firearms, government departments, offensive weapons, police, press releases, violence by tracey

‘Measures to keep dangerous weapons off the streets are a step closer today with the opening of a surrender scheme, under prohibitions introduced in the Offensive Weapons Act.’

Full press release

Home Office, 10th December 2020

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Family Justice Board statement: Priorities for the family justice system – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 11th, 2020 in families, family courts, press releases by tracey

‘The Family Justice Board has produced a statement, that summarises the priority actions it intends to pursue in response both to immediate pressures within the family justice system, and to bring about longer-term reform.’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 10th December 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Child Trust Fund court fees waived for parents – Ministry of Justice

‘Parents or guardians of children who lack mental capacity can ask for court fees to be waived when seeking access to a Child Trust Fund, the government has announced today (1 December, 2020).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 1st December 2020

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

BSB publishes anti-racist statement – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) last night agreed an anti-racist statement which aims to reduce race inequality at the Bar of England and Wales.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 27th November 2020

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

BSB publishes its first Regulatory Decisions Report – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its first annual Regulatory Decisions Report. It covers the year ending on 31 March 2020.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 27th November 2020

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Immigration Act receives Royal Assent: free movement to end on 31 December 2020 – Home Office

Posted November 12th, 2020 in brexit, EC law, freedom of movement, immigration, legislation, press releases by tracey

‘The Immigration Act has today (Wednesday 11 November 2020) received Royal Assent and been signed into law. This means free movement will end around seven weeks from now, at 11pm on 31 December 2020.’

Full press release

Home Office, 11th November 2020

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

What about me?: Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 12th, 2020 in children, divorce, family courts, parental responsibility, press releases by tracey

‘A report by the Family Solutions Group, entitled What about me?: Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation, has been published.

President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, said: “This report brings together the various lines of thinking of recent years aimed at finding a better way to achieve good co-parenting between separated parents. It is an important and impressive document.”‘

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 12th November 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Helen’s Law receives Royal Assent – Ministry of Justice

‘Killers who withhold information on their victims could spend longer behind bars.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 4th November 2020

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2020 – 2025 launched – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 5th, 2020 in diversity, judiciary, press releases by tracey

‘The Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy has been published today (Thursday 5 November). It sets out the ambition, aim and objectives for the judiciary over the next five years.’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 5th November 2020

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk