First county lines drug dealing gang jailed using modern slavery laws – Daily Telegraph

‘Three drug dealers have become the first gang to be jailed under modern slavery laws for using children to traffic crack cocaine and heroin in so-called county lines operations.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 14th May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

More than 2,500 prison staff disciplined in five years with majority for sex and drugs, MoJ figures show – Daily Telegraph

‘Thousands of prison staff have been subject to disciplinary action in the past five years, including for relationships with inmates, assaulting prisoners and racism.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th April 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Solicitor convicted over cannabis farm suspended from practice – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor has been suspended from practice after being convicted of allowing a small cannabis farm to grow in her house.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd April 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge warns veteran that PTSD is not a ‘get out of jail free card’ – Daily Telegraph

‘PTSD is not a “get out of jail free card”, a judge has warned as he jails a veteran who blamed his crimes on “harrowing” experiences in Afghanistan.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd April 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Three convicted of trafficking in landmark ‘county lines’ case – The Guardian

‘Three gang members have been convicted of human trafficking offences after they used young and vulnerable children from London to transport and sell drugs in Hampshire in a landmark county lines case.’

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The Guardian, 17th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Five jailed over bid to smuggle £112m of cocaine into UK – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2019 in drug offences, drug trafficking, news, sentencing by sally

‘Five men involved in a plot to bring cocaine with a street value of £112m to the UK from South America in a sailing catamaran have been jailed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kingpin of North Wales drugs gangs sentenced – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 5th, 2019 in drug offences, drug trafficking, gangs, press releases, sentencing by sally

‘The boss of a multi-million pound class A drug-smuggling operation, has been sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.’

Full press reelase

Crown Prosecution Service, 1st March 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Tommy Robinson supporter and convicted rapist jailed for threatening Sajid Javid on Facebook – The Independent

‘A Tommy Robinson supporter and convicted rapist has been jailed for 28 days for posting threatening and abusive comments about home secretary Sajid Javid.’

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The Independent, 5th March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Addict solicitor struck off after hiding cocaine offences – Legal Futures

‘An experienced solicitor has been struck off after accepting a caution for possession of banned drugs, failing to report the conviction to the regulator, and misleading police.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th March 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bestival death: Ceon Broughton jailed for manslaughter – BBC News

‘A man who gave his girlfriend drugs at a festival and filmed her as she died has been jailed for her manslaughter.’

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BBC News, 1st March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abolishing short prison sentences will let ‘thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail’, report claims – The Independent

‘Ministers’ calls for short prison sentences to be abolished would see thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail, a report has claimed.’

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The Independent, 25th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

London firm cultivating groundbreaking cannabis law practice – Legal Futures

Posted February 18th, 2019 in drug offences, law firms, medicines, news by sally

‘A London law firm is building what it says is the country’s first dedicated cannabis law practice as it looks to take the lead in a fast-growing market.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th February 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Professor Dame Carol Black announced as independent reviewer of drugs – Home Office

Posted February 11th, 2019 in drug offences, press releases, violence by sally

‘Today (Friday 8 February), the Home Secretary has appointed Professor Dame Carol Black to lead a major review that will look into the ways in which drugs are fuelling serious violence.’

Full press release

Home Office, 8th February 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

No order for costs following withdrawn forfeiture application – UK Police Law Blog

Posted January 28th, 2019 in appeals, costs, drug offences, forfeiture, news, police, proceeds of crime by sally

‘In Bennett v Chief Constable of Merseyside [2018] EWHC 3591 (Admin), the High Court confirmed that a district judge was correct to make no order for costs against the police after it withdrew its Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (‘POCA’) s.298 application for cash forfeiture. In considering the decision of the district judge, the High Court reaffirmed three points: the starting point is that no order for costs should be made provided that the public authority has acted reasonably and properly; in determining whether the police acted reasonably and properly, the court should scrutinise the behaviour of the police with care; and it may be justifiable to award costs against the police, particularly where the successful private party would suffer substantial hardship if no order for costs were made in their favour.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 27th January 2019

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Housing association defeats defence against eviction based on ‘cuckooing’ – Local Government Lawyer

‘The public sector equality duty should be considered in cases of ‘cuckooing’ where a vulnerable resident’s home is taken over by others as a base for drug consumption and dealing, the High Court has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Laughing gas laws not working, says ex-chief crown prosecutor – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2018 in drug offences, news, sale of goods by sally

‘The law governing the sale of nitrous oxide, widely known as laughing gas, is simply not working, a former senior prosecutor has said.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence murder suspect claimed his notoriety meant he was unable to focus on drugs trial, court hears – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 7th, 2018 in conspiracy, drug offences, drug trafficking, murder, news, racism, sentencing by sally

‘A man named as a suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his part in a multi-million drugs plot, despite attempts by his defence counsel to use the controversy surrounding the killing as grounds for leniency.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 7th December 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

More than 40 drug driving convictions overturned in probe over ‘data manipulation’ at forensics lab – The Independent

‘More than 40 drug driving prosecutions have so far been quashed over the manipulation of data at a forensics laboratory charged with testing samples from across the UK.’

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The Independent, 6th December 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Review of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 – Home Office

‘This review sought to measure changes in outcomes before and after the implementation of the Act, to provide an indication of whether its aims are being achieved.’

Full press release

Home Office, 19th November 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Prison officer jailed for smuggling £10,000 of drugs – BBC News

Posted November 9th, 2018 in drug offences, news, prison officers, sentencing by sally

‘A prison officer who smuggled in £10,000 of drugs has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk