Category: Ministry of Justice

Barristers accuse ministers of rushing release of pre-recorded video evidence – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, cross-examination, Crown Court, delay, fees, industrial action, Ministry of Justice, news, rape, sexual offences, victims, video recordings, witnesses by tracey

‘Barristers have accused ministers of ignoring a crisis in the criminal justice system by continuing to roll out pre-recorded video evidence for rape survivors in England and Wales amid a strike by advocates. The policy, allowing complainants of offences including modern slavery to be cross-examined before trial in front of a limited number of people, was extended to five more crown courts on Friday, taking the total to 63. Three-quarters of courts are covered and all will be by the end of the month.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice system ‘put at risk’ by Ministry of Justice’s data-sharing project – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 7th, 2022 in computer programs, detention, HM Courts Service, Ministry of Justice, news, whistleblowers, wrongful arrest by sally

‘UK courts’ software system is accused of unlawful detentions and wrongful arrests, and whistle-blowers say the system is faulty and unsafe.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 7th September 2022

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Barristers strike: ‘The system is falling apart and victims are let down’ – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, demonstrations, fees, industrial action, legal aid, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, remuneration by tracey

‘As many defence barristers begin an indefinite strike over pay, the BBC spoke to a barrister about her day-to-day work in the “falling apart” criminal justice system and to an alleged victim of sexual abuse caught up in the backlog of cases.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barristers start indefinite strike action over pay in England and Wales – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, demonstrations, fees, industrial action, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, remuneration by tracey

‘Barristers in England and Wales are starting an indefinite, uninterrupted strike, in an escalation of industrial action over pay which began in April.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Time taken to get civil cases to trial reaches all-time high – Legal Futures

Posted September 2nd, 2022 in civil justice, coronavirus, county courts, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, small claims, statistics by tracey

‘The time between issue and trial for fast- and multi-track claims has hit 75 weeks, the longest this century, according to government figures published yesterday.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 2nd September 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dominic Raab made Parole Board’s ‘difficult job next to impossible’ – The Guardian

Posted August 26th, 2022 in Ministry of Justice, news, parole, prisons by tracey

‘Dominic Raab was accused by a senior Parole Board official of making a “difficult job next to impossible” after making big policy changes without notice, newly uncovered documents show.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

It tears barristers like me apart to strike, but the government has left us no choice Simon Spence – The Guardian

Posted August 24th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, demonstrations, fees, HM Courts Service, industrial action, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The walkout in England and Wales is not merely about pay: it is about a criminal justice system that has been left to crumble.”

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers vote for all-out strike from 5 September – The Independent

Posted August 22nd, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, fees, industrial action, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Criminal defence barristers are to go on an all-out strike from next week, bringing the majority of crown court cases to a grinding halt.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Almost half of repeat knife carriers not jailed despite government pledge – The Independent

Posted August 19th, 2022 in criminal justice, homicide, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, murder, news, offensive weapons, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by tracey

‘Offenders caught repeatedly carrying knives are not being jailed in almost half of cases, despite the government’s attempt at a “two-strike” rule for prison sentences.’

Full Story

The Independent, 18th August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tony Hudgell’s adoptive mother ‘over the moon’ that his abuser may stay in jail – The Independent

Posted August 12th, 2022 in adoption, child cruelty, children, early release, families, Ministry of Justice, news, parole by tracey

‘The adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell, a little boy who was tortured by his parents, has said she is “over the moon” that his birth mother may not be released from jail this week as planned.’

Full Story

The Independent, 11th August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges to be disciplined by lay majority panels – Legal Futures

Posted August 9th, 2022 in consultations, disciplinary procedures, judges, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, professional conduct by sally

‘Disciplinary panels hearing cases of judicial misconduct will have lay majorities, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the judiciary have decided, as part of a major overhaul of the system.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Carole Packman murder: Parole dates given to paper before family – BBC News

Posted August 3rd, 2022 in bereavement, families, fraud, media, Ministry of Justice, murder, news, parole by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said it is “deeply sorry” that a murderer’s parole dates were given to a local newspaper before the victim’s family.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ proposes compulsory mediation for claims worth up to £10k – Legal Futures

Posted July 26th, 2022 in dispute resolution, Ministry of Justice, news, small claims by sally

‘Mediation will be made compulsory for all small claims worth up to £10,000, potentially settling 20,000 cases that would otherwise end up in court, the Ministry of Justice proposed today.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK rape victim left feeling ‘suicidal’ after five-year wait for case to come to trial – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2022 in barristers, courts, criminal justice, delay, fees, industrial action, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, rape, remuneration, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A rape victim who will have been waiting five years by the time her case comes to court has said navigating the justice process has had a worse impact on her mental health than the crime itself, leaving her feeling “suicidal”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crackdown on corrupt elites abusing UK legal system to silence critics – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 22nd, 2022 in consultations, costs, disclosure, freedom of expression, limitations, media, Ministry of Justice, news, public interest by tracey

‘The Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has today (20 July 2022) set out a package of measures that take aim at so-called “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation” (SLAPPs).’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 20th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Domestic abusers barred from cross-examining victims in family and civil courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 22nd, 2022 in civil justice, cross-examination, domestic violence, families, family courts, HM Courts Service, Ministry of Justice, news, victims by tracey

‘Victims of domestic abuse can be spared from being cross-examined by their alleged attackers in family and civil courts under measures coming into force today (21 July 2022).’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 21st July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

MoJ considers £5,000 costs cap to protect defendants against SLAPPs – Legal Futures

Posted July 22nd, 2022 in consultations, costs, disclosure, freedom of expression, limitations, media, Ministry of Justice, news, public interest by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has suggested that people defending themselves from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) could be protected by a £5,000 costs cap.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 22nd July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public uncomfortable with tech firms’ use of court data – Legal Futures

Posted July 21st, 2022 in courts, data protection, HM Courts Service, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics, third parties by sally

‘Less than a fifth (18%) of the public are comfortable with the use of data from the courts by tech companies, a major study has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 21st July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal courts face further disruption as barristers strike for fourth week – The Independent

Posted July 19th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, delay, fees, industrial action, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Barristers have walked out for a fourth week as industrial action continues at courts around the country.’

Full Story

The Independent, 18th July 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Extra support for thousands navigating the legal system – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 13th, 2022 in budgets, charities, legal aid, legal services, litigants in person, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘Thousands more vulnerable people will have help navigating civil and family legal issues thanks to increased government investment in legal support.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 12th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk