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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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?”’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The system is in crisis’: barristers make their case as strike begins – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, industrial action, legal aid, news by sally

”Usually one of the busiest courts in the country, the corridors of Manchester crown court were unusually quiet.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New pilots to boost support for rape victims in court – Ministry of Justice

‘Rape victims will receive enhanced support at 3 Crown Courts under a new pilot scheme launched by the government today (16 June 2022) as part of efforts to drive up prosecutions and convictions.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 16th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Slynn Lecture – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted June 17th, 2022 in coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, judges, solicitors, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Slynn Lecture.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary , 16th June 2022

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Rape courts pilot in England dismissed as ‘gimmick’ amid low conviction rates – The Guardian

‘The announcement of three specialist courtrooms to prosecute rape cases has been dismissed as a “gimmick” that does not address the chronic underfunding of the justice system that led to a fall in convictions.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers to be balloted on possible walkouts in row over legal aid rates – The Guardian

‘Barristers are to be balloted this weekend on escalating industrial action over legal aid rates as figures reveal the number of crown court cases adjourned because of a shortage of lawyers has increased nearly fivefold over the decade.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New protections for rape victims available at more Crown Courts – Ministry of Justice

‘More victims of rape and sexual offences will be spared the stress of being cross-examined in court under a measure rolled out to a further 14 locations today (12 May 2022).’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 12th May 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Sexual offence victims face longest-ever court waits – BBC News

‘Recent cases involving serious sexual offences have taken the longest time on record to go through Crown Courts in England and Wales, the BBC has found.’

Full Story

BBC News, 25th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs slate Ministry of Justice over Crown Court backlog and judges – Legal Futures

‘MPs today slated the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) “meagre ambition” to reduce the Crown Court case backlog and warned that efforts to recruit judges will ignore the need to improve diversity.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Greater Sentencing Power for Magistrates – A Solution to the Backlog? – Pump Court Chambers

‘It was confirmed on 18 January 2020 that Magistrates are to have their sentencing powers increased in the coming months, granting them broader power than ever before. The most significant change is that Magistrates’ will be able to impose a sentence of up to 12 months in custody which is double the previous maximum sentence. Effectively, this means that Magistrates will be able to accept jurisdiction for more serious either way offences, such as for Fraud, Theft or Assault, which would have originally been sent to the Crown Court without giving the Defendant the option to elect to remain in the Magistrates’.’

Full Story

Pump Court Chambers, 7th February 2022

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Criminal prosecution delays hit record 708 days – BBC News

‘Delays in prosecuting suspected criminals have hit a record 708 days for the average time it takes to go from offence to completion of a case.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Assessing Beneficial Ownership Under POCA. Is the Crown Court the Appropriate Forum? by Stephen Wood QC – Broadway House Chambers

Posted July 29th, 2021 in chambers articles, courts, Crown Court, news, proceeds of crime by sally

‘Practitioners will be, by now, familiar with the provisions of section 10A POCA, which permits a Court to make a conclusive determination of the extent of a Defendant’s interest, where a third party may hold an interest in the property under consideration.’

Full Story

Broadway House Chambers, 13th July 2021

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

Crown court backlog hits record high of 60,000 cases as victims wait years for justice – The Independent

‘The backlog of crown court cases in England and Wales has hit a record number of almost 60,000 as waiting times rocket for victims and defendants.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court case delays left assault victim waiting over a year – BBC News

Posted April 23rd, 2021 in assault, budgets, coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, trials, victims by sally

‘The government has announced emergency funding to help tackle huge delays in court trials.’

Full Story

BBC News, 23rd April 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown court backlog has reached ‘crisis levels’, report warns – The Guardian

‘The backlog of crown court cases in England and Wales has reached “crisis levels”, with the increased remand population likely to disproportionately impact children and young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, a parliamentary committee has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Suspended sentence for woman who live streamed video of boyfriend’s trial – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A woman who live streamed her partner’s Crown court trial on Facebook after videoing from the public gallery has received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 18th February 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Drafting an information for breach of an enforcement notice: Ceredigion CC v Robinson & others – 5SAH

‘An allegation of an offence in an information or charge must describe the offence in ordinary language and make it clear what the prosecutor alleges. Amendments to section 179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) mean that it is no longer necessary, when prosecuting a defendant for non-compliance with an enforcement notice, to aver within the information the date upon which the period of compliance expired. The court held that the exact moment at which the compliance period expired was no longer of critical or defining importance. It is a necessary inference within an information that the date upon which the offence is said to have been committed, occurred after the period of compliance had expired. The prosecutor would still need to prove as a fact that the date for compliance had expired, but this fact was not essential to enable the defendant to understand what the prosecutor was alleging.’

Full Story

5SAH, 16th February 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk