“The Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines which includes Update 9 (the update on the Victim Surcharge) are now available to download.”
Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines (PDF)
Sentencing Council, 1st October 2012
“Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to pilot Sunday magistrates’ courts have been hit by a technical hitch after prisons said they could not accept new prisoners on that day, writes Elizabeth Davidson. However, its pilot of full-day Saturday courts is still on schedule to begin in the Manchester area this weekend, despite vocal opposition from local criminal lawyers, some of whom claim taking part could leave them vulnerable to expensive employment tribunal claims.”
LegalVoice, 27th September 2012
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
“Sir Paul Stephenson, Britain’s former top policeman, spends a day at a magistrates’ court, and is shocked by what he finds.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Related link: Our creaking courts: a day inside Westminister Magistrate’s
“Fast-track courts have dealt with more than 80 ‘Olympic crimes’ so far during the course of the 2012 Games, the Ministry of Justice has revealed.”
The Guardian, 29th Auguest 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Media Protection Services Ltd v Crawford and another [2012] EWHC 2373 (Admin); [2012] WLR (D) 250
“The laying of an information by a director of a private limited company, acting for reward on behalf of a client in the course of its business, constituted acting as a solicitor within the meaning and in breach of section 20 of the Solicitors Act 1974 and carrying on a reserved legal activity, namely the conduct of litigation, contrary to the Legal Services Act 2007, with the result that the proceedings were void.”
WLR Daily, 16th August 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
“Judges and magistrates have been banned from blogging about their jobs. This is not helpful.”
The Guardian, 14th August 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The senior judge who banned magistrates from standing as candidates in November’s police commissioner elections has backed down and said they need not resign as JPs unless they are elected.”
The Guardian, 10th August 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Plans for the first police commissioner elections this autumn have been thrown into fresh disarray with the disclosure that magistrates – who make up a significant number of the candidates – have been banned from standing.”
The Guardian, 9th August 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“‘Flash incarceration’ of offenders who breach court orders, widespread naming online of those convicted, more witnesses giving evidence via videolink and Sunday court sittings are among measures outlined in government plans to speed up justice.”
The Guardian, 13th July 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Criminal cases could be dealt with in days or even hours under plans to bring in “swift and sure justice”, ministers will say on Friday.”
The Guardian, 13th July 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke officially opened a new state of the art Magistrates’ Court in London today (21 June).”
Ministry of Justice, 21st June 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“The Government’s new powers to remove the cap on the level of fines that can be issued by magistrates’ courts in England and Wales could lead to ‘very significant’ future penalties for environmental offences, an expert has warned.”
OUT-LAW.com, 14th June 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
“Ministers are to announce plans to allow magistrates to sit on their own in community centres or police stations in a bid to speed up justice.”
Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Magistrates say they should be able to use new online crime maps to give tougher sentences for offenders who are blighting a neighbourhood.”
Daily Telegraph, 5th May 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Magistrates will have the power to hand out summary justice in police stations or community centres under a planned overhaul of out of court penalties to be revealed next month.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“A drink driving case was abandoned after a magistrate appeared to fall asleep while the defence solicitor was speaking.”
Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Magistrates’ courts are to be ordered to sit in then early mornings, evenings and at weekends under plans to deliver a ‘short, sharp shock’ to youths who get drunk and commit offences on Friday and Saturday nights.”
Daily Telegraph, 31st March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“The Law Society has criticised Nick Herbert’s proposal to give magistrates power to issue summary sentences outside of court, which it says could leave defendants without access to proper advice.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th December 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Magistrates will be able to hand out summary justice in police stations under a radical overhaul of out-of-court penalties being considered by the Government.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“This research assessed the strengths and skills of magistrates and District Judges to inform better deployment of the judiciary in magistrates’ courts.”
Ministry of Justice, 15th November 2011
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
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