When innocent men go to jail: miscarriages of justice in Britain – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 5th, 2014 in appeals, criminal justice, DNA, evidence, expert witnesses, miscarriage of justice, news by tracey

‘“People think that miscarriages of justice are rare and exceptional,” says Dr Michael Naughton, founder of the UK Innocence Project. “But every single day, people are overturning convictions for criminal offences. Miscarriages of justice are routine, even mundane features of the criminal justice system. They are systemic.” ‘

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th September 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Juvenile Offenders: A Different Approach Needed? – Part II – 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 first of this four part series, Nav Virk sets out the general philosophical underpinnings of the current policy approach.’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 27th August 2014

Source: www.no5.com

Juvenile Offenders: A Different Approach Needed? – Part I – 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 first of this four part series, Nav Virk sets out the general philosophical underpinnings of the current policy approach.’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 21st August 2014

Source: www.no5.com

Domestic abuse: how to tackle non-violent control – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘Those who abuse their partners through coercive and controlling behaviour, such as depriving them of money, could face prison under a proposed new offence. The government is seeking views on whether a specific, non-violent domestic abuse offence will help tackle the problem by making police take the crime more seriously and showing perpetrators and victims of abuse that such behaviour is wrong. Comments on the proposal are requested by 15 October 2014.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 29th August 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Victims’ right to review – could it affect the criminal justice system? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 28th, 2014 in appeals, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, victims by sally

‘Several criminals have been found guilty after victims of crime successfully appealed against the CPS’ original decisions not to bring charges. What has been the effect of the introduction of the “right to review scheme”? And could it affect the criminal justice system?’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 28th August 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Law careers from restorative justice, to legal ombudsman, to media – OUP Blog

‘What range of career options are out there for those attending law school? In this series of podcasts, Martin Partington talks to influential figures in the law about topics ranging from restorative justice to legal journalism.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 19th August 2014

Source: www.blog.oup.com

Domestic abuse crime considered by ministers – BBC News

‘A new crime of domestic abuse could be created under plans being considered by ministers. Home Secretary Theresa May is consulting on creating the offence in England and Wales as part of attempts to improve police performance. Existing law already covers coercive and controlling behaviour – but it does not explicitly apply to relationships.’

Full story

Consultation

BBC News, 20th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic violence could become a specific offence, David Cameron says – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 28th, 2014 in criminal justice, domestic violence, news, police, prosecutions by sally

‘The Prime Minister says he will consider a new offence for those who attack their partners that will take into account a pattern of abuse.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Victim right of review scheme sees 146 suspects charged with offences – The Independent

Posted July 21st, 2014 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, victims by sally

‘Almost 150 suspects have been charged for offences after alleged victims appealed against decisions not to prosecute them under the new right to review scheme, according to new figures.’

Full story

The Independent, 19th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitors will close if fee cuts not delayed, warns Law Society chief – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2014 in budgets, criminal justice, fees, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

‘Hundreds of solicitors’ firms will close if the Ministry of Justice does not postpone fee cuts and delay changes to criminal legal aid contracts, the new president of the Law Society has warned.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Transforming the criminal justice system: strategy and action plan – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 16th, 2014 in computer programs, criminal justice, delay, reports, victims, witnesses by tracey

‘The “Criminal justice system 2014 to 2015: strategy and action plan” is an update on the version published last year.’

Full text

Ministry of Justice, 15th July 2014

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

A life and death question: hopes and fears rise as right to die decision nears – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2014 in assisted suicide, bills, criminal justice, doctors, news, parliament by sally

‘The House of Lords is to debate Lord Falconer’s bill aimed at clarifying the law on the right to end one’s life.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New guidelines issued for reporting restrictions in the criminal courts – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted June 20th, 2014 in courts, criminal justice, press releases, reporting restrictions by tracey

‘A third updated set of guidelines on open justice and reporting restrictions in the criminal courts is published today by the Judicial College, Newspaper Society, Society of Editors and the Media Lawyers Association.’

Full press release

Judiciary of England and Wales, 16th June 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Hate crime: should the current offences be extended? – Law Commission

In a report published today the Law Commission recommends reforms to ensure that the criminal justice system is able to make a stronger and more coherent response to hate crime.

Full story

Law Commission, 28th May 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Prisoners who have absconded should not be in open prisons, says Grayling – The Guardian

‘The justice secretary is to prevent prisoners who have absconded from being placed in open prison conditions after a convicted murderer went on the run for the third time.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Giving the green light to (minor) unlawfulness – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted May 12th, 2014 in appeals, bills, criminal justice, judicial review, licensing, news by sally

‘Some big news for public bodies: it’s now alright to act unlawfully. Don’t get too excited though, there’s a catch: it’s only alright to act a little bit unlawfully. Sounds silly? I agree. But depressingly this is soon likely to be law as a result of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill currently working its way through the House of Commons.’

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 8th April 2014

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Review pushes criminal lawyers towards common training and smaller Bar – Legal Futures

‘A future where would-be criminal law barristers train together with solicitors and work at law firms before joining a “smaller, specialist Bar” later in their careers was sketched out yesterday in the government-commissioned review of criminal advocacy.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 8th May 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council to consider Jeffrey report into criminal advocacy – The Bar Council

Posted May 8th, 2014 in barristers, criminal justice, legal profession, press releases, reports by tracey

‘The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, will review and consider carefully the findings and recommendations made by Sir Bill Jeffrey in his report, “Independent Criminal Advocacy in England and Wales” published today by the Ministry of Justice.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 7th May 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘Disquiet’ among judges over lawyer quality, report finds – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2014 in criminal justice, judiciary, legal profession, reports by tracey

‘There is “disquiet” among judges about the quality of lawyers in England and Wales’s crown courts, a report says. Former civil servant Sir Bill Jeffrey’s report raises concerns about training and the “talent pipeline” for future QCs and judges, and says keeping current arrangements is not “viable”. It also says defence lawyers should get special training before working on rape and other sexual offence cases.’

Full text of report

BBC News, 7th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina v White (Anthony) – WLR Daily

Regina v White (Anthony) [2014] EWCA Crim 714; [2014] WLR (D) 175

‘If a defendant, wrongly charged with offences contrary to section 16(1) of the Theft Act 1968, rather than under section 15A of the 1968 Act, was prepared to admit his dishonest transactions in relation to mortgage advances, it would be wrong to permit him to evade the consequences of his behaviour by refusing to substitute conviction of the correct offence simply in order to punish the prosecution for its egregious failures in relation to charging.’

WLR Daily, 15th April 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk