Free speech rights should influence CPS decisions on whether to prosecute over social media communications, says guidance – OUT-LAW.com

“Prosecutors should be mindful of observing individuals’ rights to free speech when deciding whether to initiate legal action against them over grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or false comments made on social media, according to new guidelines.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 21st June 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

It pays to use slave labour, says watchdog – The Independent

“Sentences for criminal bosses who use forced labour are ‘unduly lenient’ and do not deter modern slavery, the head of Britain’s worker exploitation watchdog believes.”

Full story

The Independent, 23rd June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bar chief calls for royal commission – Law Society’s Gazette

“More than two decades after the Runciman Commission was set up following high-profile miscarriages of justice, the chairman of the Bar Council has called for a royal commission to conduct a root-and-branch review of the criminal justice system.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 24th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Owners could face court if dog bites child fetching a ball – Daily Telegraph

“Home owners have been warned that they could face prosecution if their dog scares a child that strays into their garden to retrieve a football.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

DPP publishes final guidelines for prosecutions involving social media communications – Crown Prosecution Service

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has today published final guidelines for prosecutors on the approach they should take in cases involving communications sent via social media.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 20th June 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

CPS publishes guidelines on prosecutors’ approach to Child Sexual Abuse cases – Crown Prosecution Service

“Ground breaking new guidelines for prosecutors on how to tackle cases involving child sexual abuse have today been issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions and will take immediate effect. At the same time, the College of Policing has issued guidance for investigators and both documents are now open to a three month public consultation.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 11th June 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Warning: CPS keep victim appeals in house – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“There is a new independent Assessor (Stephen Shaw) for non-legal complaints made about the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) but not for the legal ones – how very odd! It was recently reported that victims of crime will be able to ‘win the right’ to appeal against decisions by the CPS not to charge suspects and there is a consultation which is open until the 5th of September 2013. It has a mnemonic ‘VRR’ which stands for a ‘Victim’s Right to Review’.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th June 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Four sex-abuse cases referred to police for reconsideration – BBC News

“Police have been asked to reconsider their decision to drop four sex-abuse cases, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family’s ‘torture’ as they face losing home under anti-terror law – The Independent

“The family of a grandfather convicted of attempting to recruit two undercover police officers to fight for the Taliban have spoken of their ‘torture’ as they face the prospect of becoming the first in Britain to have their home seized by the courts under anti-terrorism laws.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Too many human traffickers escape justice in UK, says solicitor general – The Guardian

“Too few of the human traffickers who force women to work in the sex trade and children to labour in cannabis farms are being prosecuted in the UK, according to the solicitor general, Oliver Heald QC.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met police officer jailed for selling celebrity tip-offs to the Sun – The Guardian

“A former Metropolitan police officer who had access to private information about wealthy Chelsea residents including the Duchess of Cambridge and Tetra Pak heir Hans Rausing has been jailed for two years for selling stories about them to the Sun.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crime victims allowed to challenge prosecutors – The Guardian

“Victims are to be given new rights to challenge the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to charge a suspect or to drop a prosecution.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inspectors call for streamlined criminal justice process – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 4th, 2013 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, reports by sally

“Inspectors of police service and prosecutors have called for decisive action to streamline the criminal justice process and end ‘the spectre of unnecessary bureaucracy’.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Disarray as DPP contradicts new guidance on naming of suspects – The Independent

“Controversial plans to protect the identity of suspects arrested by police were in disarray last night after the Director of Public Prosecutions called for more ‘wriggle room’ to name suspects before they were charged.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st May 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regina (F) v Director of Public Prosecutions – WLR Daily

Posted May 16th, 2013 in consent, Crown Prosecution Service, law reports, prosecutions, rape by sally

Regina (F) v Director of Public Prosecutions [2013] EWHC 945 (Admin); [2013] WLR (D) 178

“For the purposes of an offence of rape contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, choice was crucial to the issue of ‘consent’ to sexual intercourse. Evidence relating to ‘choice’ and the ‘freedom’ to make any particular choice had to be approached in a broad common sense way. Where a man deliberately ignored the basis of his partner’s consent to penetration as a manifestation of his control over her consent to penetration could be vitiated and give rise to a conviction for rape.”

WLR Daily, 24th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

CPS publishes Guidance on Charging Offences arising from Driving Incidents following public consultation – Crown Prosecution service

“The Crown Prosecution Service has today published its Guidance on Charging Offences arising from Driving Incidents. The two most significant changes from previous guidance concern drivers in emergencies and deaths where the victim is a close friend or relative of the driver.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 9th May 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Grieving drivers who kill loved ones could escape prosecution – Daily Telegraph

“Dangerous drivers who kill a loved one could for the first time avoid prosecution because of their emotional trauma, the country’s top prosecutor said today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th May 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Keir Starmer to stand down as director of public prosecutions – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, legal profession, news by sally

“The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, is to stand down after five years in the high-pressure legal post.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rape conviction rate at an all-time high – The Guardian

“Conviction rates for rape and domestic violence cases have risen to an all time high, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) has revealed, amid criticism that too few cases are being brought to court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Behind the scenes at the Crown Prosecution Service – BBC News

“The BBC’s Legal Correspondent Clive Coleman went to see Brian Altman QC who is soon to retire, as First Senior Treasury Counsel, a post that that has seen him prosecute some of the biggest and most notorious criminal cases of recent times.”

Listen

BBC News, 4th April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk