Does the Coroners and Justice Bill go far enough – and is there enough money – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 19th, 2009 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“The Coroners and Justice Bill is the government’s attempt to implement that long-awaited reform. Some practitioners and pressure groups are concerned that the bill doesn’t go far enough, and that there isn’t enough money behind it to make it work. There is a real risk, they say, that this bill will come to be seen as a missed opportunity.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 18th June 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Coroners Bill: now the battle begins for legal aid and juries – The Times

Posted May 21st, 2009 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“With Jack Straw’s dropping of plans this week for secret inquests, one of the big battles in the Coroners and Justice Bill has been fought and won. But the Justice Secretary’s move does not guarantee the Bill a trouble-free ride.”

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The Times, 21st May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Statement on amendments to the Coroners and Justice Bill – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 18th, 2009 in coroners, inquests, juries, press releases by sally

“Jack Straw has made a written ministerial statement concerning amendments to the Coroners and Justice Bill.”

Full statement

Ministry of Justice, 15th May 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bar Council Remains Concerned Over Some Aspects of the Coroners and Justice Bill – The Bar Council

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in barristers, coroners, press releases by sally

“The Coroners and Justice Bill begins its Report Stage in the House of Commons today. The Bar Council, and the Criminal Bar Association, have welcomed Government concessions in relation to information sharing and in putting the decision for an inquest to be held without a jury into the hands of judges rather than the Secretary of State.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Council Condemns Data Sharing Threat in Coroners Bill – The Bar Council

Posted February 27th, 2009 in coroners, data protection, press releases by sally

“The Bar Council today issued a warning about the data sharing provisions of the Coroners and Justice Bill.”

Full press release 

The Bar Council, 25th February 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association Express Concerns Over Coroners and Justice Bill – The Bar Council

Posted January 26th, 2009 in coroners, criminal justice, press releases by sally

“The Bar Council and the Criminal Bar Association have voiced their concerns over the Coroners and Justice Bill, which receives its Second Reading in the House of Commons on Monday.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 25th January 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Charter for the bereaved offers families better service in coroners reforms – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 15th, 2009 in complaints, coroners, press releases by sally

“Bereaved families will have access to a new appeals and complaints system under a new ‘Charter for the Bereaved’ announced today in Parliament as part of the Coroners and Justice Bill published by the Justice Secretary Jack Straw.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 14th January 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Jack Straw: new laws focus on victims of crime and the bereaved – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 14th, 2009 in coroners, news, victims, witnesses by sally

“Modernisation of the coroners system and better protection for witnesses during criminal investigations were amongst the new measures announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw in Parliament today when he published the Coroners and Justice Bill.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 14th January 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Why only radical reform will regain the public’s confidence – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes illustrates dramatically a serious flaw in the framework governing coroners’ investigations — the inclusion in inquest findings of short-form verdicts such as accidental death, misadventure, natural causes, lawful killing and unlawful killing.”

Full story 

The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Mother’s campaign changes the law – BBC News

Posted December 5th, 2008 in burials and cremation, coroners, news by sally

“A Dorset mother forced to wait 18 months to bury her two-year-old son has been celebrating after her six-year campaign led to a change in the law.”

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BBC News, 4th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fees and allowances payable at inquest – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 1st, 2008 in coroners, fees, inquests, press releases by sally

“The Ministry of Justice has published details of revised fees and allowances payable by the coroner on holding inquests.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 1st October 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Relatives will be able to challenge coroner – The Times

Posted September 1st, 2008 in appeals, coroners, inquests, news by sally

“Bereaved relatives are to have a new right of appeal regarding inquest rulings, under an extensive reform of the coroners’ system.”

Full story

The Times, 1st September 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Police criticised over Whitear drug death – The Guardian

Posted July 18th, 2008 in coroners, drug abuse, news, police by sally

“The family of heroin addict Rachel Whitear yesterday vowed to continue to fight to find out how she died after an official report concluded that police botched the initial investigation into her death.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Coroner reform: stronger powers give families more involvement – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 27th, 2008 in coroners, press releases by sally

“New coroners’ powers to help prevent avoidable deaths were announced today (26 June) by Justice Minister Bridget Prentice in response to views expressed by bereaved families.”

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Ministry of Justice, 26th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Reporting deaths to the coroner and modernisation cremation regulations – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 21st, 2008 in burials and cremation, coroners, news by sally

“Bridget Prentice has made a written ministerial statement on the statutory duty to report deaths to the coroner and the modernisation and consolidation of the cremation regulations.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 21st May 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Draft legislative programme: new proposals to empower the individual – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 15th, 2008 in constitutional law, coroners, victims, witnesses by sally

“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.”

Full story

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)

Relatives’ champion who took the fight to ministers – The Times

Posted April 14th, 2008 in coroners, special report by sally

“Rarely a month goes by without a damning inquest verdict from Andrew Walker, highlighting failures by the Ministry of Defence.”

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The Times, 12th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

High Court rejects MoD attempt to ‘gag’ outspoken coroners over defence failures – The Times

Posted April 11th, 2008 in armed forces, coroners, news by sally

“The Government suffered its second important legal defeat in 24 hours today when a High Court judge rejected an attempt by Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, to ban coroners using phrases such as “serious failure” in their verdicts on dead soldiers.”

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The Times, 11th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Coroner reform changes – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 28th, 2008 in coroners, press releases by sally

“Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has said that the government remains committed to reforming the coroners system, placing the bereaved firmly at the centre of the process.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 27th March 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

MoD in court bid to silence critical coroners – The Independent

Posted March 18th, 2008 in armed forces, coroners, news by sally

“Defence Secretary Des Browne yesterday asked the High Court to outlaw the use of language strongly critical of the MoD in inquest verdicts on soldiers who have died on active service.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th March 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk