Pre-recorded evidence improves rape victims’ experience of court – Ministry of Justice

‘Rape victims who pre-record their evidence are more likely to have a better experience of the court process, findings published today (3 April 2023) reveal.’

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Ministry of Justice, 3rd April 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Remote hearings have “no impact” on outcomes of Crown Court cases – Legal Futures

‘Judges and lawyers can be reassured that holding Crown Court hearings and trials remotely makes no difference to the outcome, a major analysis has concluded.’

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Legal Futures, 31st March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Magistrates’ sentencing powers scaled back – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 13th, 2023 in Crown Court, delay, magistrates, Ministry of Justice, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Magistrates have had controversial powers that enabled them to sentence people for up to a year in prison taken away from them – but they could be restored, the government has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Nightingale Courts to remain open to boost capacity and speed up justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 17th, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by tracey

‘Nightingale Courts across England and Wales are being kept open for another year to reduce waiting times and deliver swift justice for victims.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th February 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Man leaps out of crown court dock and flees after sentencing – The Guardian

Posted January 4th, 2023 in assault, Crown Court, escape from custody, news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

‘Police are searching for a man after he leapt out of a crown court dock and fled after being sentenced for actual bodily harm.’

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The Guardian, 3rd January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Burnett: “I can’t magic up lawyers to help reduce Crown Court backlog” – Legal Futures

‘It will be “very difficult” for the Crown Court to achieve the government’s target of reducing the backlog to 53,000 cases by 2025, the Lord Chief Justice has warned MPs.’

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Legal Futures, 9th November 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal barristers vote to end strike over pay – BBC News

‘Criminal barristers in England and Wales have voted to end their long-running strike action after the government offered a new pay deal.’

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BBC News, 10th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges wrong to bail defendants due to barristers’ strike, high court rules – The Guardian

‘Judges were wrong to refuse to extend the period defendants could be kept in jail awaiting trial in cases delayed by the criminal barristers’ strike, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judges unlawfully releasing defendants, court hears – BBC News

‘Crown Court judges have been releasing potentially dangerous criminals unlawfully because of delays linked to the criminal barristers’ strike, the High Court has heard.’

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BBC News, 27th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown court roll-out of pre-recorded evidence in England and Wales complete – BBC News

Posted September 27th, 2022 in Crown Court, evidence, news, rape, trafficking in human beings, victims, video recordings by sally

‘The use of pre-recorded evidence from victims and witnesses of crimes such as rape has been rolled out across all crown courts in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 26th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barristers accuse ministers of rushing release of pre-recorded video evidence – The Guardian

‘Barristers have accused ministers of ignoring a crisis in the criminal justice system by continuing to roll out pre-recorded video evidence for rape survivors in England and Wales amid a strike by advocates. The policy, allowing complainants of offences including modern slavery to be cross-examined before trial in front of a limited number of people, was extended to five more crown courts on Friday, taking the total to 63. Three-quarters of courts are covered and all will be by the end of the month.’

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The Guardian, 9th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers strike: ‘The system is falling apart and victims are let down’ – BBC News

‘As many defence barristers begin an indefinite strike over pay, the BBC spoke to a barrister about her day-to-day work in the “falling apart” criminal justice system and to an alleged victim of sexual abuse caught up in the backlog of cases.’

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BBC News, 5th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barristers start indefinite strike action over pay in England and Wales – BBC News

‘Barristers in England and Wales are starting an indefinite, uninterrupted strike, in an escalation of industrial action over pay which began in April.’

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BBC News, 5th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dad tells of teen daughter’s long wait for rape trial – BBC News

‘The father of a 15-year-old girl, who has been waiting two years for her rape trial, has told the BBC about the devastating impact of court delays.’

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BBC News, 31st August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court ‘chaos’ seeing criminals go free, victims’ commissioner warns, as barristers strike – The Independent

‘Court “chaos” is resulting in criminals going free, the victims’ commissioner has warned, as barristers move to an all-out strike. Record backlogs, which are already seeing cases scheduled late in 2024, are expected to be worsened significantly by a continuous walkout starting on Tuesday that will bring most crown court hearings to a halt in England and Wales.’

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The Independent, 29th August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

It tears barristers like me apart to strike, but the government has left us no choice Simon Spence – The Guardian

“The walkout in England and Wales is not merely about pay: it is about a criminal justice system that has been left to crumble.”

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers vote for all-out strike from 5 September – The Independent

‘Criminal defence barristers are to go on an all-out strike from next week, bringing the majority of crown court cases to a grinding halt.’

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The Independent, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Commission to undertake review of the appeals system – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has launched a wide-ranging review of the laws governing appeals for criminal cases.’

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Law Commission, 5th August 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Solemn sentencing is no circus as cameras enter English courts – The Guardian

‘Almost 100 years after a ban on cameras in criminal courts was enshrined in law, the first broadcast from an English crown court went out on Thursday and is likely to have left many viewers asking: “Why has it taken so long?”’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crown court sentencing remarks to be televised for first time – The Guardian

Posted July 27th, 2022 in Crown Court, media, news, reporting restrictions, sentencing by sally

‘The Old Bailey will be opened up to cameras on Thursday as sentencing remarks from a crown court case in England and Wales are broadcast for the first time.’

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The Guardian, 27th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com