Stop and search eight times more likely to target black people – The Guardian

‘The racial gap in the use of stop and search by police has grown in the past year, leaving black people eight times more likely to be targeted by officers than white people.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice in jeopardy: government defies backlash to confirm ‘reckless’ legal aid cuts – Law Society Gazette

‘The government is to press ahead with reform of legal aid fees paid to solicitors in criminal cases – despite 97% of submissions to a consultation vehemently opposing the plans. Representative bodies have this afternoon condemned the decision as ‘reckless’, claiming it places justice in jeopardy.’

Full Story

Law Society Gazette, 24th October 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Videolinks in court trials undermine justice system, says report – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2017 in courts, criminal justice, internet, news, reports, video recordings by sally

‘Video-conferencing threatens defendants’ rights and undermines trust in the justice system, according to a report on the government’s drive towards so-called “trial by Skype”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Junior barristers “bearing the brunt” of pressure in criminal courts – Legal Futures

Posted October 17th, 2017 in barristers, case management, courts, criminal justice, diversity, news by tracey

‘ “Concerned words” about diversity and social mobility need to be turned into action through changes to the way the criminal courts operate if junior barristers are to be retained, the Criminal Bar Association has warned.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 17th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Killer drivers to receive life sentences in law change – BBC News

‘Drivers who kill someone in the most serious cases of dangerous and careless driving will now face life sentences.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims need legally enforceable rights, commissioner says – The Guardian

Posted October 11th, 2017 in criminal justice, human rights, news, victims by tracey

‘The victims commissioner, Helen Newlove, has urged the government to guarantee victims legally enforceable rights within the criminal justice system.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Flasher conviction quashed because Facebook village gossip undermined fair trial – Daily Telegraph

‘A loner accused of chasing two women through a village while exposing himself has had his conviction quashed because residents had shared his image and gossiped about him on Facebook.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 28th September 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

DNA in the dock: how flawed techniques send innocent people to prison – The Guardian

Posted October 2nd, 2017 in criminal justice, DNA, evidence, forensic science, news by sally

‘Many juries believe crime-scene DNA evidence is watertight – but this is far from the case. As forensic technology gets ever more sophisticated, experts are only just realising how difficult interpreting the evidence can be.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

We need openness, not the “team view”, senior judges tell experts – Litigation Futures

Posted September 26th, 2017 in criminal justice, expert witnesses, inquests, news by sally

‘Senior judges have called on expert witnesses to show greater openness and avoid “hiding behind the team view”.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 25th September 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Prison ‘reboot’ may free up 7,000 prison places, says thinktank – The Guardian

Posted September 14th, 2017 in criminal justice, news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, reports by tracey

‘A “reboot” of the government’s “rehabilitation revolution”, including the early release of well-behaved prisoners, could free up more than 7,000 prison places, according to the latest report from a centre-right thinktank.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Council responds to Lammy Review – The Bar Council

Posted September 11th, 2017 in criminal justice, diversity, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, press releases, reports by tracey

‘Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity and Social Mobility Committee, said today’s publication of the Lammy Review was a major contribution to the important and urgent task of securing a fair and equal criminal justice system.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 8th September 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lammy review: final report – Official Publications

Posted September 8th, 2017 in bias, criminal justice, minorities, prosecutions, race discrimination, reports by tracey

‘An independent review into the treatment of, and outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system.’

Full report

Official Publications, 8th September 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/publications

DPP – John Harris Memorial Lecture – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 8th, 2017 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, mental health, police, speeches by tracey

‘Speech from Alison Saunders, DPP, on developments in technology and society, and addressing terrorism, fraud and mental health issues.’

Full speech

Crown Prosecution Service, 5th September 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Exposed: ‘racial bias’ in British criminal justice system – The Guardian

Posted September 8th, 2017 in bias, criminal justice, minorities, news, prosecutions, race discrimination, reports by tracey

‘Prosecutions against some black and minority-ethnic suspects should be deferred or dropped to help tackle the criminal justice system’s bias against them, according to a highly critical report written by the Labour MP David Lammy at the request of the prime minister.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Lord Chief Justice’s Report 2017 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 7th, 2017 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, judiciary, reports by tracey

‘The Lord Chief Justice has today laid his 2017 annual report before Parliament.’

Full report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th September 2017

Source: www.judciary.gov.uk

Young black people nine times more likely to be jailed than young white people – report – The Guardian

‘Young black people are nine times more likely to be locked up in England and Wales than young white people, according to Ministry of Justice analysis.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Families of people who died in police custody failed by system – report – The Guardian

‘A long-awaited unpublished official report into deaths in police custody says families who have lost loved ones have been failed by the system and recommends far-reaching reforms to the police, justice system and health service, the Guardian has learned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice secretary told to ‘get a grip’ on backlog of prisoners held beyond sentence – The Guardian

‘The chair of the Parole Board has expressed his frustration at the government’s failure to “get a grip” on the issue of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences under the discredited imprisonment for public protection (IPP) programme.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Call for rethink on judges expressing opinions – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 31st, 2017 in criminal justice, judges, judiciary, magistrates, news, reports by sally

‘A former Court of Appeal judge has stoked the debate about judicial independence by suggesting that rules preventing judges from speaking about their role fuel media and public distrust of the criminal justice system.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 28th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Record number of criminals have sentences increased – The Guardian

Posted July 31st, 2017 in attorney general, criminal justice, news, sentencing, statistics, victims by sally

‘A record number of criminals have had their sentences increased after victims and their families complained that they had been treated too leniently.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com