Government announces reprieve for archive of historic wills – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 13th, 2025 in archives, consultations, Ministry of Justice, news, wills by sally

‘Controversial proposals to replace archived will documents with digital copies in order to save storage costs have been dropped, the Ministry of Justice has announced. In a move that will be welcomed by historians, a minister said the ‘indispensable bridge’ to the past would be preserved.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th January 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Transparency board calls for judicial review hearings to be broadcast – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Transparency and Open Justice Board has recommended that Administrative Court hearings should be broadcast in an effort to boost open justice.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th January 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Record numbers of children in England jailed many miles from their families – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable children are being jailed many miles from their families at record levels, a Guardian investigation has found, prompting warnings that the government is breaking the law.’

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The Guardian, 6th January 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Father who set himself alight on indefinite jail term refused hospital care as family loses hope – The Independent

‘A father who has developed paranoid schizophrenia and psychosis in prison after serving almost 13 years for stealing a phone will not be transferred to a secure hospital, his devastated family has learnt.’

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The Independent, 3rd January 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Landmark new rules to bring transparency to family courts – BBC News

‘Journalists and legal bloggers are to be allowed to report on family court cases across England and Wales from early next year.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Courts reform to see quicker justice for victims and keeps streets safe – Ministry of Justice

‘Victims of crimes will see the perpetrators face justice more quickly under a once-in-a-generation review of criminal courts, the Lord Chancellor announced today (12 December).’

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Ministry of Justice, 12th December 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Defendants could be ‘diverted’ from criminal justice system amid record backlog – The Guardian

Posted December 16th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, juries, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics, witnesses by tracey

‘People scheduled to stand trial could be “diverted” from the criminal justice system in efforts to tackle the “unsustainable” backlog of court cases, the head of a major justice review has said.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawyers refusing to represent people charged with certain crimes amid pay crisis – The Guardian

‘Lawyers are refusing to represent people charged with certain crimes amid a crisis over solicitors’ pay, with one burglary suspect turned away by 12 legal firms, the Law Society president has said.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Record court backlog as victims wait years for justice – BBC News

‘The backlog in courts handling the most serious crimes in England and Wales has reached an unprecedented high and is likely to rise further still.’

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BBC News, 12th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Minister warns prison space may run out despite expansion plans – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2024 in Ministry of Justice, news, planning, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The justice secretary has said even under the government’s plans to open 14,000 more prison places, they could still run out of space over the next few years.’

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BBC News, 11th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MP’s bid to finally have all forms of domestic abuse recognised in law – The Independent

‘The scandal of scores of prisoners guilty of domestic abuse being released early from prison has prompted a bid to change the law.’

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The Independent, 11th December 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Domestic Abuse Protection Order Pilot Scheme – 25 Bedford Row

‘As of 27 November 2024, Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (“DAPOs”) are being piloted in Greater Manchester, parts of South London (Croydon, Bromley, and Sutton) and the British Transport Police.’

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25 Bedford Row, 10th December 2024

Source: www.25bedfordrow.com

Court delays ‘driving innocent prisoners to plead guilty’ in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Court backlogs are forcing alleged offenders to spend up to five years in jail awaiting trial and driving innocent people to plead guilty, two prison watchdogs have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government “at risk of breaching duty” to provide access to justice – Legal Futures

Posted December 2nd, 2024 in civil justice, fees, legal aid, legal profession, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice is at risk of not meeting its statutory duty for civil legal aid to deliver access to justice, according to research it commissioned.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd December 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Resentencing of prisoners trapped under indefinite jail terms not ‘adequately explored’, committee warns – The Independent

‘The government has been urged to reconsider resentencing thousands of prisoners trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms.’

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The Independent, 29th November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid fees to rise by 10% for immigration and housing after lawyer action – The Guardian

‘Ministers are to announce a 10% increase in legal aid fees for immigration and housing work after action by lawyers who warned that the failure to increase rates has led to a paralysis in the system.’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice Committee Launches New Inquiry Into Rehabilitation And Resettlement – Each Other

‘The Justice Committee has launched its first new inquiry of the Parliament, into reoffending in England and Wales. MPs on the newly appointed cross-party Committee, chaired by Labour MP Andy Slaughter, will examine the levels of reoffending in England and Wales.’

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Each Other, 26th November 2024

Source: eachother.org.uk

Carr hits out over civil digitisation and criminal court sitting days – Legal Futures

‘The Lady Chief Justice yesterday complained to MPs about the government’s decisions to reduce the digitisation of civil justice and limit sitting days in the criminal courts.’

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Legal Futures, 27th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Whiplash tariff set to rise 15% as Mahmood finally publishes review – Legal Futures

‘The whiplash tariff is set to increase by around 15%, the government announced yesterday, reflecting inflation since it was introduced in 2021 and including a ‘buffer’ to take account of predicted inflation until the next review in 2027.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Independent report supports call for immediate uplift in criminal legal aid fees – The Bar Council

Posted November 18th, 2024 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council is repeating calls on the Ministry of Justice for an immediate 15% uplift in criminal legal aid fees for barristers, following the publication of the first Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) report.’

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The Bar Council, 14th November 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk