Regulator calls for better scrutiny of drug testing in family courts – The Guardian

Posted November 24th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, evidence, family courts, forensic science, news by tracey

‘The government’s forensic regulator has called for fresh scrutiny of drug and alcohol testing carried out for the family courts, after a scandal at a Manchester laboratory raised doubts about the quality of evidence used in thousands of child custody proceedings.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 – Sentencing Guidance – Drystone Chambers

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in drug abuse, drug offences, legislation, news, sentencing by sally

‘The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (“PSA”) came into force on 26th May 2016. This article aims to give an outline of the PSA and an analysis of sentencing practice under the statute.’

Full Story

Drystone Chambers, 3rd November 2017

Source: drystone.com

Ukad close investigation into Team Sky and British Cycling after failing to determine Jiffy bag contents – The Independent

Posted November 16th, 2017 in corruption, drug abuse, drug offences, evidence, news, sport by tracey

‘UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) have closed their investigation into British Cycling and Team Sky, deeming it “impossible” to determine the contents of a Jiffy bag delivered to Sir Bradley Wiggins at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June 2011.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mother to bring alleged rapist to justice via crowdfunding after prosecutors refuse to press charges – The Independent

‘A mother who says she was raped by a stranger has now set up a crowdfunding page to bring her alleged attacker to justice.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Drugs cheats in British sport will not face jail, says sports minister Tracey Crouch – The Guardian

Posted October 25th, 2017 in drug abuse, news, sanctions, sport by michael

‘Drugs cheats in British sport will not be jailed, the sports minister, Tracey Crouch, has said after a review of the UK’s anti-doping rules.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family Drug and Alcohol Court and councils to receive £6m+ from social impact bond – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 20th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, courts, drug abuse, local government, news by sally

‘The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) and partner local authorities are to receive £6.2m over seven years through a social impact bond to support its work within the family court system, the Government has announced.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 18th October 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Life sentences for killer drivers – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 17th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, dangerous driving, drug abuse, homicide, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘Ministers confirm plans to introduce tougher sentences for those who drive irresponsibly and devastate lives.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 15th October 2017

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

Hair Strand Testing for Cocaine – Family Law Week

Posted October 13th, 2017 in children, drug abuse, expert witnesses, forensic science, guardianship, news by tracey

‘Emily James and Kate Tompkins, barristers of 36 Family, consider a new judgment in which Sir Peter Jackson affirmed, and offered guidance on, current testing arrangements.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 12th October 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Judge who spared aspiring Oxford student from jail after she stabbed her partner is cleared following investigation into three complaints – Daily Telegraph

‘A judge who spared an aspiring Oxford University student from jail after she stabbed her boyfriend has been investigated over three complaints relating to the case.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 29th September 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

An Oxford medical student stabbed her boyfriend with a bread knife. So why did she not go to prison? – The Secret Barrister

‘Lavinia Woodward, the 24-year old Oxford student who pleaded guilty to stabbing her boyfriend with a bread knife, was sentenced yesterday at Oxford Crown Court for unlawful wounding. The case caused a splash back in May when, having entered her plea, the defendant was told by the judge that she was unlikely to receive an immediate custodial sentence, in part due to her promising medical career. Thus was born the tale of the rich, blonde, white Oxford student who was “too clever” to be sent to prison. “Too clever” appears in all headlines in quotation marks, notwithstanding that no-one in court, not least the judge, ever used these words; rather this is one of the those splendid auto-generated media myths, where one tabloid shorthand was adopted by all until everyone came to accept that these words must have been said.’

Full Story

The Secret Barrister, 26th September 2017

Source: thesecretbarrister.com

Tudor mansion arsonist jailed after being caught by single match – The Guardian

Posted August 21st, 2017 in alcohol abuse, arson, DNA, drug abuse, listed buildings, news, sentencing by sally

‘An arsonist who caused £5m worth of damage to a Tudor mansion has been jailed for four and a half years after being caught by a single match.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Newcastle sex ring victims suffered ‘profoundly racist crime’, says former CPS chief – The Independent

Posted August 11th, 2017 in child abuse, drug abuse, news, racism, sexual grooming by tracey

‘Britain must confront the scourge of “profoundly racist” crime exemplified by the Operation Shelter grooming case, a former head of the Crown Prosecution Service has said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 10th August 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisons inspector warns of ‘staggering’ decline in safety at youth jails – The Guardian

‘There has been a “staggering” decline in standards and safety at youth jails in England and Wales, the chief inspector of prisons has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jail for cocaine driver who killed Newport grandmother – BBC news

Posted July 14th, 2017 in dangerous driving, drug abuse, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A father-of-two has been jailed for eight years and eight months for killing a grandmother while sniffing cocaine at the wheel of his van.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crackdown on drugs, drones and mobile phones in prisons – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 13th, 2017 in aircraft, drug abuse, enforcement, news, press releases, prisons, telecommunications by tracey

‘A huge haul of drugs and mobile phones has been recovered since the introduction of detection measures to crackdown on prison contraband.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 9th July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Baby Aya Parker’s father inflicted ‘fatal and terrible’ injuries – BBC News

Posted July 4th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, child abuse, drug abuse, murder, news by sally

‘A man has admitted murdering his six-month-old baby daughter on Christmas Day.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man who fell asleep during gas mask sex game is jailed over tied-up partner’s death – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 27th, 2017 in drug abuse, homicide, negligence, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A man has been jailed for two years after he fell asleep during a drug-fuelled bondage sex game and left his tied-up partner to die with a gas mask around his face.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 26th June 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man found guilty of manslaughter over gas mask death – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2017 in drug abuse, homicide, negligence, news by sally

‘A man is facing prison after being convicted of killing his sexual partner who he left tied up wearing a gas mask.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man jailed for minimum of 19 years for ‘brutal’ killing of pensioner – The Guardian

Posted June 13th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, elderly, murder, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

‘A man has been jailed for a minimum of 19 years for what was described as the “brutal” and “cruel” killing of a pensioner, who was stripped and beaten in the street on New Year’s Day.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man jailed for murdering partner’s two-year-old son in a ‘loss of temper’ – The Guardian

Posted June 6th, 2017 in children, drug abuse, grievous bodily harm, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A heroin addict will spend at least 18 years in prison for murdering his partner’s two-year-old son in a fit of temper when he was left alone with the child for a few minutes.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com