Female offenders have been failed agrees Hughes at prison event – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 17th, 2014 in children, codes of practice, criminal justice, legal aid, news, prisons, sentencing, women by sally

‘This is the “end of line as far as talk is concerned” concluded Felicity Gerry QC, bringing the interesting, illuminating and varied panel discussion to an end last night, challenging Simon Hughes MP to seize this opportunity to make his mark and make a real difference to women offenders.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th November 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Domestic Violence Prevention and Punishment – A Multi-faceted Approach – Family Law Week

Posted November 11th, 2014 in crime prevention, criminal justice, domestic violence, news by tracey

‘Syvil Lloyd Morris, Director of Famil Law at Bastian Lloyd Morris Solicitor Advocates, considers the developing interrelationship between the criminal and family jurisdictions in relation to cases of domestic violence.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 6th November 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Phasing in new legislation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The major piece of criminal law legislation for 2014 is the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. It has been brought gradually into force throughout the year.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd November 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Police cautions could be scrapped in reform of criminal punishments – The Independent

‘Police cautions could be scrapped under the Justice Secretary’s plans to stop victims feeling criminals have got away “scot-free”.’

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The Independent, 1st November 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

“Do not dismiss ABSs,” Lord Judge tells criminal law barristers – Legal Futures

‘Lord Judge, the former Lord Chief Justice, has warned criminal law barristers that the “old-fashioned chambers structures must be reconsidered” and they must not dismiss alternative business structures (ABSs) “out of hand”.’

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Legal Futures, 31st October 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Homeowners who fail to control Japanese knotweed face criminal prosecution under new anti-social behaviour laws – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 27th, 2014 in criminal justice, environmental protection, fines, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Home Office guidance updated this week says people can be fined up to £2,500 for not controlling invasive plant in move designed to tackle problem in residential areas.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pop-up courts for speeding fine cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 27th, 2014 in courts, criminal justice, fines, magistrates, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Ministers are considering introducing “pop up” courts for people who challenge speeding fines to be held in their own communities.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Retired judge Sir John Royce criticises legal cuts – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2014 in courts, criminal justice, judges, legal aid, lord chancellor, news by sally

‘A recently retired High Court judge has said he thinks government cuts to the legal system have gone too far.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New sentencing proposals emphasise seriousness of knife and gun robberies – Sentencing Council

Posted October 22nd, 2014 in criminal justice, firearms, news, psychiatric damage, robbery, sentencing by sally

‘Today [21 October], the Sentencing Council has published its proposals for how robbers should be sentenced by the courts.’

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Sentencing Council, 21st October 2014

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

A sixth of foreign criminals absconded before being deported from UK – The Guardian

Posted October 22nd, 2014 in criminal justice, deportation, immigration, news, reports, sentencing by sally

‘One in six foreign offenders living in the community have absconded, including 58 dangerous individuals who have been missing since 2010, the National Audit Office has revealed.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

2014 Kalisher Lecture on the future of forensic science in criminal trials by the Lord Chief Justice – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted October 17th, 2014 in criminal justice, expert witnesses, forensic science, speeches by tracey

‘The Rt. Hon. The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales gave the 2014 CBA Kalisher Lecture on the 14 October 2014.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 16th October 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Show us your evidence, Society tells MoJ consultation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has urged the Ministry of Justice to release for formal consultation a report on the criminal legal aid market which casts doubt on its controversial reform proposals.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th October 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Are juries being blinded by science? – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2014 in criminal justice, expert witnesses, forensic science, juries, Law Commission, news by sally

‘Expert witnesses are being subjected to greater scrutiny by the criminal courts, despite the government’s refusal to implement safeguards recommended by its own law reform advisers.’

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The Guardian, 15th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Developments in fundamental dishonesty – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted September 24th, 2014 in bills, costs, criminal justice, damages, medical treatment, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Personal injury practitioners will be aware of the significance of a finding of fundamental dishonesty in the context of Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting (“QoCs”) following the implementation of the Jackson reforms. In addition to this those words could soon take on a new significance in the context of a defendant’s liability to a claimant and consequent costs orders in personal injury claims.’

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 15th September 2014

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Proposed Legislative Changes To Judicial Review: The Current Position – No. 5 Chambers

Posted September 24th, 2014 in bills, costs, criminal justice, human rights, judicial review, news, public interest by sally

‘The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which introduces significant changes to judicial review, is making rapid progress through Parliament. The House of Lords Committee stage completed on 30 July 2014 and all that remains now is the House of Lords report stage due at the end of October, with royal assent expected by the end of the year. Whilst there are indications that certain members of the Lords disagree with some of the provisions and some may yet be amended or frustrated, the current version of the Bill retains the significant provisions on judicial review.’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 18th September 2014

Source: www.no5.com

Juvenile Offenders: A Different Approach Needed? – Part IV – No. 5 Chambers

‘In this series written for Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, Navpreet Virk and No5 member Richard Gibbs present the opposing arguments surrounding the manner in which the youth courts treat juveniles convicted of criminal offences and examine the countervailing arguments and policies. In the final part of this series, Richard Gibbs writes that the criminal justice system is predicated on finding the fairest way of dealing with juveniles.’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 10th September 2014

Source: www.no5.com

Feeling the pressure on prisoner release – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2014 in budgets, criminal justice, delay, judges, news, parole, prisons by sally

‘David Calvert-Smith leads a parole board confronted by an unprecedented backlog of hearings and little option but to keep inmates waiting in overcrowded prisons.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th September 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A bold new vision for the treatment of victims – Ministry of Justice

‘Victims’ rights will be enshrined in law as part of a major set of reforms announced by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling today.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 14th September 2014

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

Domestic Violence Update – the latest developments practitioners need to know about – Family Law Week

‘Mandip Ghai, solicitor and legal officer, with Rights of Women, updates practitioners on developments in the prevention of domestic violence.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 11th September 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Juvenile Offenders: A Different Approach Needed? – Part III – No. 5 Chambers

Posted September 10th, 2014 in children, criminal justice, internet, news, prisons, sentencing, young offenders, young persons by sally

‘In this series written for Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, Navpreet Virk and No5 member Richard Gibbs present the opposing arguments surrounding the manner in which the youth courts treat juveniles convicted of criminal offences and examine the countervailing arguments and policies. In the third of this four–part series, Richard Gibbs writes that the criminal justice system is predicated on finding the fairest way of dealing with juveniles.’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 3rd September 2014

Source: www.no5.com