CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon – Crown Prosecution Service

‘CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 26th June 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Tackling the regulation of sexually explicit deepfakes – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog

‘Artificial intelligence, and its use on social media, is making it continuously harder to distinguish between real and fake information online. Although fact checking is often required when considering written or spoken words, with the advent of so-called “deepfakes”, we now also need to fact check some of the images or videos we see online.’

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Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 25th June 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Four teenagers convicted over fatal stabbing of Kennie Carter in Manchester – The Guardian

‘Four teenagers have been found guilty of killing a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed in the chest in what prosecutors described as a “cowardly” revenge attack in Manchester.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

As a teenager, John was jailed for assaulting someone and stealing their bike. That was 17 years ago – will he ever be released? – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2024 in criminal justice, imprisonment, mental health, news, prisons, sentencing by michael

‘Indeterminate sentences are devastating to mental health, but prisoners with mental illness are less likely to be released. The result is a vicious cycle whereby the most vulnerable inmates often have the least chance of getting out – as John’s case shows.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Capacity, sexual relations, silos and public protection – an impossible tangle for the Court of Protection? – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘In A Local Authority v ZX [2024] EWCOP 30, HHJ Burrows was confronted, to his considerable (and understandable) disquiet, with the need to determine whether an 18 year old man had capacity to make decisions about engaging in sexual relations with others. His discomfort arose from the fact that the local authority was having to have recourse to the Court of Protection to respond to a situation where the man in question was posing a (largely self-reported, but on the face of it non-trivial) sexual threat to others, but whether neither mental health services nor the criminal justice system could respond.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 20th June 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Stephen Lawrence detectives will not face charges – BBC News

‘Four retired detectives who ran the first Stephen Lawrence murder investigation should not face criminal charges for their actions in the case, a review has concluded.’

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BBC News, 18th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Clash Averted: Nealon and Hallam v United Kingdom and the Presumption of Innocence – Constitutional Law Association

‘On 11 June 2024, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights handed down its judgment in Nealon and Hallam v United Kingdom. The case is important for two reasons: firstly, because it provides a long-awaited clarification of the law relating to the presumption of innocence under Article 6 of the Convention; secondly, because it allows Strasbourg to perform a “return shot” after UK courts were very hostile to its earlier judgments on this issue.’

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Constitutional Law Association, 13th June 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Criminal Behaviour Orders: is sentence the end? – Mountford Chambers

‘Aside from the confiscation regime, the reality is that for most defendants before the criminal courts, the day of reckoning, the day of sentence, is final. Not so for defendants facing the possibility of ancillary orders; Criminal Behaviour Orders, Stalking Protection Orders, Football Bannings Order; the list goes on. Are these orders no more than what is necessary in a fair and just society to protect the many from the few, or are we simply applying a vengeful mark of Cain on those who have already, by virtue of their sentence, paid their dues to society?’

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Mountford Chambers, 13th May 2024

Source: www.mountfordchambers.com

Sixteen years for stealing a flower pot: the film about the IPP jail sentence ‘designed to bury you alive’ – The Guardian

‘Britain’s Forgotten Prisoners is a devastating documentary about the ‘public protection’ sentences that can amount to whole-of-life terms for relatively minor offences. Film-maker Martin Read explains his seven-year quest for justice.’

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The Guardian,12th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stephen Tierney: The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024: Necessary remedy or unwarranted interference with judicial independence? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘For the first time, by way of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act (“the Act”), Parliament has legislated to quash criminal convictions. In this post I will argue that, no matter how understandable, indeed laudable, the intention behind this legislation, in its haste to offer a speedy and comprehensive correction to mass injustice, Parliament has crossed a constitutional line and ventured into territory that is properly the preserve of the courts.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association , 3rd June 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

The struggle for justice in one English town – BBC News

‘The backlog of Crown Court cases in England and Wales is close to a record high – more than a quarter have now been open for over a year. In West Mercia, which covers a large part of the West Midlands and the counties bordering Wales, on average nearly 18 months pass between an incident occurring and a jury reaching a verdict. But many people have been waiting a lot longer for justice.’

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BBC news, 10th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More trauma for rape victims as court backlog doubles in two years due to lawyer shortage – The Independent

‘Court backlogs for rape prosecutions have soared to a record high, with the number of cases doubling in two years and victims facing “devastating” waits for justice.’

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The Independent, 2nd June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crime and punishment: how 14 years of Tory rule have changed Britain – in charts – The Guardian

‘“Justice delayed is justice denied” goes the old legal maxim – one that has captured the state of the court system in England and Wales in recent years.’

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The Guardian, 2nd June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

What laws can the Conservative government pass before the general election? – The Independent

‘The Conservatives and Labour have held talks to work out what outstanding legislation can be rushed through parliament to become law before the Commons closes for the general election.’

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The Independent, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court backlog target in England and Wales no longer achievable, says NAO – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice’s ambition to reduce the backlog in crown courts in England and Wales to 53,000 by March next year is no longer achievable, a parliamentary watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police chiefs say prison crisis in England and Wales is ‘unsustainable’ – The Guardian

‘Police chiefs have told ministers they fear that the crisis gripping the Prison Service in England and Wales is “unsustainable” and risks public safety, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 21st May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Greater support for neurodivergent offenders in bid to cut crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Staff dedicated to helping neurodivergent offenders are now in place in all public prisons in England and Wales.’

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Ministry of Justice, 16th May 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

UK climate activists convicted in first trial of new anti-protest laws – The Guardian

‘Three climate activists have been convicted of “interference with key national infrastructure” by marching in the road in west London for 20 minutes, in the new offence’s first test at trial.’

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The Guardian, 15th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK to introduce new offence of causing death or injury by dangerous cycling – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2024 in bicycles, bills, criminal justice, dangerous driving, homicide, news by sally

‘A new offence of causing death or serious injury by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling is to be introduced.’

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The Guardian, 15th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers to amend Criminal Justice Bill in bid to address concerns over ‘nuisance rough sleeping’ provisions – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 16th, 2024 in amendments, bills, criminal justice, homelessness, news, nuisance, repeals, vagrancy by sally

‘The Government has tabled amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill tightening the definition of ‘nuisance rough sleeping’ after MPs expressed concerns about the breadth of the legislation’s provisions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th May 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk