Fitness-to-plead court test out of date, says Law Commission – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2016 in fitness to plead, Law Commission, mental health, news by sally

‘New tests should be introduced to assess whether a defendant facing criminal charges is mentally fit to stand trial, the Law Commission says.’

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BBC News, 13th January 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Too many people unfit to plead face criminal trials, says Law Commission – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2016 in criminal justice, fitness to plead, Law Commission, mental health, news, trials by tracey

‘Commission will tell Government legal tests to determine whether someone is mentally fit for trial are Victorian legacies.’

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The Independent, 10th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dementia charity warned to take action over data protection failings – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 8th, 2016 in charities, data protection, mental health, news by tracey

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered The Alzheimer’s Society to take action or risk prosecution after finding serious failings in the way volunteers handled data about people who used the charity.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lord Janner child sex abuse claims ‘cannot go to court’ – The Guardian

Posted December 21st, 2015 in child abuse, elderly, fitness to plead, hospital orders, mental health, news by sally

‘The death of the former Labour peer Greville Janner almost certainly means that child sex allegations made against him will never be tested in a criminal court, according to legal experts.’

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The Guardian, 20th December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sgt Alexander Blackman’s wife ‘cautiously optimistic’ of new appeal – Daily Telegraph

‘The wife of a Royal Marine given a life sentence for murdering a Taliban captive has said she is cautiously optimistic new evidence will see his case sent back to the Appeal Court.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Antiques dealer jailed for organising theft of Alzheimer’s sufferers’ cherished belongings – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 15th, 2015 in artistic works, elderly, mental health, news, sentencing, theft by sally

‘The treasured possessions and family heirlooms were stolen from elderly homeowners as they slept.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Independent investigators needed for mental health patient deaths, says report – The Guardian

Posted December 11th, 2015 in detention, inquests, mental health, news, reports by tracey

‘Health inspectors have demanded an independent system for investigating deaths of mental health patients detained in hospitals in England, in a scathing report on how those detained are being treated.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Janner unfit to stand trial, judge rules – BBC News

‘Lord Janner is unfit to stand trial over child sexual abuse offences dating back 50 years, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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BBC News, 7th December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Janner judge to rule on evidence behind lack of fitness to stand trial – The Guardian

‘A high court judge is expected to rule on whether Lord Janner is unfit to stand trial – and what evidence can be released regarding that decision – for a string of child sex offences dating back 50 years.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court grants woman right to die after ‘losing her sparkle’ – The Guardian

‘Woman known as C is described as “impulsive and self-centred” but competent enough to refuse dialysis after destroying kidneys in suicide attempt.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe may be moved to a normal jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 1st, 2015 in mental health, news, prisons, violent offenders by tracey

‘Peter Sutcliffe is not mentally ill and should be moved out of psychiatric hospital, doctors claim.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th November 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mother Tania Clarence who killed children ‘overwhelmed’ – BBC News

‘A woman who killed her three children had become “overwhelmed” by their care up to four years before, a report said.’

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BBC News, 23rd November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter – 39 Essex Chambers

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter (PDF)

39 Essex Chambers, November 2015

Source: www.39essex.com

Postman walks free after stealing 11,000 items of post over 22 years – Daily Telegraph

‘A postman who has stolen over 11,000 items of post since 1993 says he is “so sorry” for what he did.’

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Daily Telegraph, 12th November 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina (LF) v HM Senior Coroner for Inner South London – WLR Daily

Posted November 10th, 2015 in coroners, detention, human rights, juries, law reports, mental health by sally

Regina (LF) v HM Senior Coroner for Inner South London [2015] EWHC 2990 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 442

‘A mentally incapacitated adult who died while in intensive care at a hospital was not, on the facts, in “state detention” at the time of her death for the purposes of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, with the consequence that the coroner was entitled to hold an inquest without a jury.’

WLR Daily, 29th October 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Gove admits the UK sentencing framework needs to be more sensitive, & 7 more things we learned at the 2015 Howard League AGM – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘Since his appointment as Justice Secretary & Lord Chancellor in May this year, the Rt Hon Michael Gove has maintained a fairly low profile. Aside from his Making Prisons Work speech in July, Mr Gove’s plans for the future of the Criminal Justice System have not been very clearly outlined. Although since his swearing in, to the delight of many, Gove has managed to overturn the previous Lord Chancellor, Chris Grayling’s ban on books for prisoners; scrapped plans to create a super youth prison; and halted massively controversial plans for the UK to undertake Saudi Arabian prison training contracts.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 6th November 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Killer’s Supreme Court fight for anonymity – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 27th, 2015 in anonymity, appeals, mental health, murder, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Convicted murderer who committed crimes “high up on the scale of horrific” believes he has the right to keep his identity secret from the press and public.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th October 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rise in mental health detentions shows ‘services are struggling’ – The Guardian

‘Mental health campaigners have expressed concern that detentions under the Mental Health Act have risen by almost 10% in England in the past year.’

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The Guardian, 23rd October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Violent offenders: Fears over management after release – BBC News

‘Is the system in place to manage dangerous offenders when they are released from prison keeping people safe?’

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BBC News, 25th October 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman killed partner and child ‘to ward off vampires’ – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2015 in attempted murder, attempts, domestic violence, mental health, murder, news by sally

‘A woman killed her partner and their four-year-old daughter to prevent the world being taken over by vampires, a court has heard.’

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the Guardian, 20th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk