Honour-based abuse: Government rejects calls for legal definition – BBC News
‘The government has rejected calls for a legal definition of honour-based abuse.’
BBC News, 15th September 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: criminal justice
Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Commonwealth Judges and Magistrates Conference 2023 – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary
‘Open Justice Today Commonwealth Judges and Magistrates Conference 2023.’
Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 11th September 2023
Source: www.judiciary.uk
New collaboration on scoping study on international cooperation in criminal law – Law Commission
‘In a new initiative, the Law Commission of England and Wales has invited the Criminal Law Reform Now Network (CLRNN), an established research network, to look at whether a law reform project on international cooperation in criminal law is needed and, if so, what the scope might be.’
Law Commission, 7th September 2023
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Seventeen years: what does Andrew Malkinson’s wrongful conviction say about the appeals process? – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal overturned Andrew Malkinson’s conviction for rape and related assault offences, for which he had spent 17 years in prison. An appeal in 2006 upheld the verdict and applications to the Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC) in 2012 and 2020 were denied. Finally, a third application last year convinced the CCRC to order fresh DNA analysis. It was this evidence as well as treatment of some previously undisclosed information to do with Malkinson’s witness identification which secured his release.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 29th August 2023
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Andrew Malkinson: independent inquiry announced into wrongful conviction – The Guardian
‘Ministers have announced an independent inquiry into the circumstances and handling of the Andrew Malkinson case after he was exonerated last month over a rape for which he wrongly spent 17 years in prison.’
The Guardian, 24th August 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘An activist blob’: Tory party attacks on lawyers – a timeline – The Guardian
‘Critical language used to blame lawyers for thwarting immigration policy dates back to Boris Johnson era.’
The Guardian, 16th August 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Mum of Nikki Allan to sue Northumbria Police – BBC News
‘The mother of a girl murdered in 1992 says she is taking legal action against a police force over her 30-year wait for justice.’
BBC News, 9th August 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Government plans ‘strengthened’ out-of-court disposals – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The existing framework of out of court disposals, used when it is not in the public interest to go to court, has been described as ‘unwieldy’ by the government which is now proposing a “simplified, strengthened two-tier framework”.’
Law Society's Gazette, 2nd August 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Cases of two men convicted on corrupt police officer’s evidence referred back to courts – The Guardian
‘Two men who died with convictions based on evidence from a disgraced police officer with a history of racism and corruption have had their cases referred back to the courts.’
The Guardian, 4th August 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Views sought on criminal appeals process – Law Commission
‘On Thursday 27 July, the Law Commission of England and Wales is publishing a paper asking for views on whether and how the law governing appeals for criminal cases should be reformed.’
Law Commission, 26th July 2023
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Contempt threat against climate activist may undermine trial by jury, lawyers say – The Guardian
‘Leading lawyers have accused the government of undermining trial by jury after a climate activist was told she faces contempt proceedings over holding a sign outside court.’
The Guardian, 26th July 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Better support needed to prevent honour-based abuse remaining hidden crime – MPs – The Independent
‘Honour-based abuse should have a statutory definition in a similar way to domestic abuse, MPs said, as they warned it risks remaining a hidden crime without better victim support.’
The Independent, 19th July 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
New Judgment: R (on the application of Officer W80) v Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct and others [2023] UKSC 24 – UKSC Blog
‘W80, an armed police officer, shot Jermaine Baker dead in a police operation. Mr Baker was implicated in a plot to snatch two individuals from custody. The police had intelligence that the plotters would be in possession of firearms. W80’s account was that during the intervention, Mr Baker’s hands moved quickly up to a shoulder bag on his chest. Fearing for his life and those of his colleagues, W80 fired one shot. No firearm was found in the bag, but an imitation firearm was in the rear of the car.’
UKSC Blog, 5th July 2023
Source: ukscblog.com
Supreme Court backs civil law test for police disciplinary proceedings – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Supreme Court has ruled that the civil law test should be applied in police disciplinary proceedings and that public confidence is better served in doing so.’
Law Society's Gazette, 5th July 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Public confidence in justice system at risk due to delayed reforms, MPs warn – The Independent
‘Public confidence in the justice system is at risk of being undermined by the courts and tribunals service amid delays to key reforms, MPs have warned in a scathing report.’
The Independent, 30th June 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Society secures JR permission over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Law Society has been granted permission to take the government to court over its decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended by the Bellamy review.’
Law Society's Gazette, 22nd June 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Avon and Somerset Police ‘institutionally racist’, chief constable says – BBC News
‘A chief constable says she believes her own force is “institutionally racist”. Sarah Crew said she came to that conclusion after applying a series of criteria to Avon and Somerset Police following a report into the local criminal justice system.’
BBC News, 16th June 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Nearly 70% of rape victims drop out of investigations in England and Wales – The Guardian
‘Nearly 70% of rape survivors dropped out of the justice system in the fourth quarter of last year, according to official government data.’
The Guardian, 30th May 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Man jailed for life for murdering schoolgirl Nikki Allan in 1992 – The Guardian
‘A child killer who brutally murdered a “bright and sparky” seven-year-old girl and managed to escape justice for more than 30 years has been sentenced to life in prison.’
The Guardian, 23rd May 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
