‘Nine more prisoners trapped on indefinite jail terms have had their sentences referred to the Court of Appeal by the miscarriages of justice watchdog.’
The Independent, 24th September 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A father-of-two has become the first man jailed following an anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth after admitting throwing a plastic bottle and swearing at police.’
BBC News, 24th September 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Pressure to cut the number of prisoners on remand has led to “dangerous and prolific offenders” being granted bail, the country’s most senior police officer said after a paedophile was allowed to return to his flat that overlooked a children’s playground.’
The Guardian, 24th September 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Prison governors in England and Wales have been warned against using unsafe cells to cope with overcrowding, according to documents leaked to the BBC.’
BBC News, 24th September 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A new government recruitment campaign is underway to sign up thousands of additional magistrates in a bid to reduce court backlogs.’
The Independent, 24th September 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court has, once again, rejected a challenge to the compatibility of primary legislation with the ECHR. It has ruled that section 128(1) of the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Act 2022 (amending the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997) is compatible with Articles 5, 7 and 14 of the Convention. The case is R (Quaye) v Secretary of State for Justice [2026] UKSC 34.’
Administrative Court Blog, 23rd September 2026
‘A dentist has been jailed today for defrauding the NHS out of more than £92,500 by manipulating more than 1,000 claims for dental work. Fariba Shameli, 52, previously operated Findon Dental Care in Worthing. The prosecution’s case was that she submitted 1,037 false claims to the NHS between March 2013 and June 2018. The Crown’s evidence included a detailed analysis of Shameli’s patient records, records from private dental laboratories and witness statements from 13 patients and a trainee dentist. There were two trials.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 21st September 2026
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘Paul Newman KC looks at three recent Supreme Court cases on the importance of purpose in construing statutes, and considers how they affect the future interpretation of pensions legislation.’
Pensions Barrister, 24th September 2026
Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com
‘The association between the Chancellor Ockleton’s comment on a potential “needless waste of water” and his refusal on an application for a 940-litre “portable immersion baptistery” have been widely mis-reported in the press and social media. Actually, he stated (at [32]) that “the waste of water was ‘not relevant to the legality of the present proposals, (and presumably trigger Duffield considerations) but one to which the proposal…draws immediate attention’” [32]. The concise summary of the judgment produced by the Ecclesiastical Law Association is reproduced below.’
Law & Religion UK, 23rd September 2026
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘Published in July 2025, the AI Action Plan for Justice set out the Ministry of Justice’s approach to the proportionate and responsible adoption of AI across the justice system. This update looks at progress made in the first year against the plan’s commitment to strengthen our foundations, embed AI across the justice system, and invest in our people and partners. It also introduces a new fourth strategic priority focused on identifying and responding to the emerging risks the justice system posed by AI. The update includes a link to a new Action Plan Explorer, providing specific detail on each action.’
Ministry of Justice, 24th September 2026
Source: www.gov.uk
‘A new campaign launched today (24 September 2026) is urging people from all backgrounds to consider becoming magistrates, by showing that many people already have the skills needed. Magistrates are local people who play a crucial role in delivering justice in their local communities.’
Ministry of Justice, 24th September 2026
Source: www.gov.uk
‘A paralegal who was convicted of a public order offence and lied to her employer about why she was not in work that day has been banned from the profession.’
Legal Futures, 24th September 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The UK should impose fewer short custodial sentences on women and invest more in community-based alternatives, according to a report by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).’
Law Society Gazette, 24th September 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Marriages are lasting longer than ever, according to official divorce statistics released today – despite divorce being ‘more accessible than ever’. However, longer marriages potentially mean greater complexity, family lawyers warn.’
Law Society Gazette, 23rd September 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice has launched a recruitment exercise for the next phase of its LawtechUK programme to nurture innovation in legal services. A new advisory board and ambassador network is to be established to champion the project.’
Law Society Gazette, 23rd September 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘On Monday 7th September 2026, Jamaica filed a petition with King Charles asking him to refer three specific questions on transatlantic slavery to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (‘JCPC’) under s.4 of the Judicial Committee Act 1833 (‘JCA’). The questions focus on whether enslavement in Jamaica was ever lawful and whether there is an obligation on the UK to provide some form of reparation. The move has raised a number of interesting constitutional questions. What exactly is the JCPC, and what is the monarch’s connection to it? How does the s.4 mechanism work, and what role does the monarch play in relation to it? Ultimately, what is the likelihood that King Charles will make the referral and, in the words of Jamaica’s Culture Minister, ‘allow our case to have a fair hearing in the British courts’?’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd September 2026
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘In Vince v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWCA Civ 899, the Court of Appeal held that an unfair processing compensation claim under data protection law provided redress against the seriously misleading publication of a juxtaposed headline and captioned photographs, even though this claim had not been raised in initial proceedings and redress was ruled out in defamation law. As with earlier cases, its facts confine it to the data protection/defamation interface whereas data protection law’s true potential will only be revealed when it is used with potent effect against journalistic privacy invasion/intrusion in the ordinary courts. Nevertheless, Vince’s clear focus on both the far-reaching and autonomous nature of data protection standards and the limits of its journalistic defence may help mainstream data protection law within journalistic proceedings and catalyse the recognition of new rights and remedies for the contemporary online media environment.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd September 2026
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The IFoA carried out a thematic review of the quality of expert reports produced by actuary PODEs and the way in which they work. A working party was set up to address the points raised, and this blog post launches its output in relation to standardisation and simplification of reporting.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 22nd September 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
‘Welcome to the sixth edition of Counsel magazine’s Bar Student & Pupillage Applicant Guide. Whether you are just beginning to explore a career at the Bar, starting your Bar training course or preparing to submit pupillage applications, we bring together practical advice, first-hand experiences and expert insight to help you navigate each stage of the journey. This edition also shines a spotlight on access to the Bar for those with visible and non-visible disabilities, including practical insights into securing the accommodations and support needed to thrive. And explore Counsel’s new Aspiring Barristers resource, which provides a wealth of content from previous guides; an excellent companion to this 2026 edition.’
Counsel, 22nd September 2026
‘A judge laid up at home in bed after surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon should not have heard an optician’s disciplinary appeal by video, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’
Legal Futures, 23rd September 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2026