Ministers ‘dragging feet’ on forcing killers to court as Lucy Letby to skip sentencing – The Independent

‘Ministers have been accused of “dragging their feet” over laws to force killers into the dock as Lucy Letby refuses to appear in court for her sentencing.’

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The Independent, 21st August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Courts operate at full throttle to cut delays – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 14th, 2023 in Crown Court, delay, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Crown Court will work at maximum capacity for the third year running to reduce waiting times to deliver access to justice, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has today (11 August 2023) announced.’

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Ministry of Justice, 11th August 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Three-quarters of prisons in England and Wales in appalling conditions as overcrowding fears grow – The Guardian

Posted August 7th, 2023 in health & safety, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics by tracey

‘The vast majority of prisons are providing inadequate conditions or unacceptable treatment, according to an Observer investigation that has led to claims of prisoners being “warehoused” in a system in crisis.’

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The Guardian, 5th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andy Malkinson: Living costs deduction scrapped for wrongly convicted – BBC News

‘A controversial rule which deducted living costs from compensation paid to wrongly jailed people has been scrapped.’

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BBC News, 6th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New free legal advice for people facing eviction or repossession – Ministry of Justice

‘A new government-backed scheme providing free legal advice to help 38,000 people a year at risk of losing their home launches today (1 August).’

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Ministry of Justice, 1st August 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Tighter direction for use of police cautions unveiled – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 4th, 2023 in cautions, codes of practice, consultations, Ministry of Justice, news, police by tracey

‘Stricter rules to govern how police use cautions will ensure they should only be used for minor, first-time offences under a new code of practice published today (2 August).’

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Ministry of Justice, 2nd August 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Court delays leave tens of thousands of children in limbo after parents split – The Guardian

‘Tens of thousands of children in England and Wales have been left in limbo by delays in the family court that have meant many waiting over a year for their future to be resolved.’

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The Guardian, 1st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Excluded from justice’: court prevents family of victim from addressing assailant – The Guardian

‘The brother of a man who died after being assaulted in his own home has said he has been “excluded from justice” after magistrates barred him from court on the grounds that his presence would put the teenage attacker under “undue stress”.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andrew Malkinson: End living cost charge for wrongfully convicted, Tory MP says – BBC News

‘A senior Conservative MP has urged ministers to change prison compensation rules after it emerged a man who wrongly spent 17 years in jail may have money deducted from his payout.’

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BBC News, 30th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ rules out any exemptions to small claims mediation plan – Legal Futures

Posted July 27th, 2023 in dispute resolution, Ministry of Justice, news, small claims by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has ruled out any exemptions to the requirement for compulsory mediation that it is set to introduce for small claims.’

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Legal Futures, 27th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government to introduce compulsory mediation for small claims – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice is to introduce compulsory mediation for small claims valued up to £10,000, starting with specified money claims.’

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Legal Futures, 25th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal aid JR to be heard in run-up to Christmas – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A judicial review of the lord chancellor’s decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees for solicitors by the minimum 15% recommended by a government-commissioned review will be heard in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Gazette has learned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK response to UN Committee Against Torture’s list of issues – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 17th, 2023 in Ministry of Justice, news, torture, United Nations by tracey

‘The UN Committee Against Torture presented a List of Issues prior to submission of the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is part of the reporting cycle under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This paper is the response submitted by the UK government to the Committee.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Sexual violence victims in UK forced to wait years for counselling and support – The Guardian

‘Victims of sexual violence in England and Wales are facing waits of up to two and a half years for counselling, help with the legal system and trauma therapy, according to figures obtained by the Observer.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal aid cuts denying vulnerable women access to justice, says thinktank – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable women in England and Wales, including survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, are being denied justice because of cuts to the civil legal aid budget, a thinktank has said.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice secretary asks for review of child murderer’s release from prison – The Guardian

‘The justice secretary has asked the Parole Board to reconsider its decision to allow the double child-killer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Backlog of adult rape cases in courts in England and Wales hits record high – The Guardian

‘The backlog of adult rape cases in crown courts in England and Wales has risen to almost four times the level it was in 2019.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

End to Friday prison releases calls time on damaging race against the clock- Ministry of Justice

Posted June 30th, 2023 in bills, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, recidivists, statistics by tracey

‘Thousands of prisoners vulnerable to addiction, mental health issues or homelessness will no longer be released on Fridays as a new Bill to reduce reoffending becomes law today (29 June 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Pioneering initiative to force offenders to get clean or face jail time – Ministry of Justice

‘Criminals serving community orders for low level offences will be closely monitored by judges as part of a new pilot forcing offenders to clean up their acts or be put behind bars.’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Retired judges ‘should get a practising certificate’ before returning – report – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 30th, 2023 in barristers, judges, judiciary, Law Society, Ministry of Justice, news, retirement by tracey

‘Retired judges wishing to return to legal work should obtain a practising certificate from the Law Society or Bar Standards Board, an academic report has suggested.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk