Children face multiple safeguarding risks at out-of-school settings in England – The Guardian

‘A government report has identified multiple safeguarding risks at “out-of-school settings” (OOSS), which include sports clubs, tuition centres and uniformed youth groups attended by millions of children across England every week, prompting calls for better oversight of the sector.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pilot scheme to allow family court reporting for first time – Local Government Lawyer

‘Journalists will be able to report what happens in family courts from the end of January, under a pilot scheme taking place in Leeds, Cardiff and Carlisle.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th December 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pilot early advice for child arrangements ‘without delay’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Early legal advice on child arrangements should be piloted as part of ambitious reforms that will help to resolve more disputes away from court, an influential thinktank has recommended.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th October 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB to test if review and comparison websites work for barristers – Legal Futures

Posted September 23rd, 2022 in barristers, codes of practice, consumer protection, internet, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Four lawyer review and comparison websites have agreed to join a Bar Standards Board (BSB) pilot on whether they can work for barristers and their consumers.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd September 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Will Trial Rape Courts Address Low Conviction Rates? – Each Other

Posted August 16th, 2022 in courts, domestic violence, news, pilot schemes, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘A year after the Government’s Rape Review, a pilot scheme was announced that would establish three specialist rape courts in England. But with concerns from the sector about access to justice, survivors’ welfare and funding: Will specialist rape courts address low conviction rates and support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence?’

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Each Other, 12th August 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Some reflections on the new world order – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted August 4th, 2022 in disclosure, news, pilot schemes, practice directions, witnesses by tracey

‘In the Business and Property Courts (B&PCs), Practice Direction (PD) 57AC has applied to all trial witness statements signed since 6 April 2021. The commencement date of the Disclosure Pilot Scheme (under PD 51U), was 1 January 2019. However, it has been approved and will become permanent from 1 October 2022 (under PD 57AD).

I want to share a few reflections, based on recent experience, around how the rules in these two Practice Directions can interact at trial.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 3rd August 2022

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

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

‘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”.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Problem-Solving Courts to combat drug and alcohol-fuelled crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Ground-breaking new courts will direct drug and alcohol abusers to tackle their addiction head-on or face tough consequences.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

New pilots to boost support for rape victims in court – Ministry of Justice

‘Rape victims will receive enhanced support at 3 Crown Courts under a new pilot scheme launched by the government today (16 June 2022) as part of efforts to drive up prosecutions and convictions.’

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Ministry of Justice, 16th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Rape courts pilot in England dismissed as ‘gimmick’ amid low conviction rates – The Guardian

‘The announcement of three specialist courtrooms to prosecute rape cases has been dismissed as a “gimmick” that does not address the chronic underfunding of the justice system that led to a fall in convictions.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paper-only small claims pilot “likely to do injustice” to litigants – Legal Futures

Posted May 24th, 2022 in county courts, litigants in person, news, pilot schemes, small claims by sally

‘A pilot scheme that will see small claims cases determined on the paper in six county courts from next month is “likely to do injustice” to litigants, an academic has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 24th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ denies new pilot scheme removes right to a trial – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 16th, 2022 in county courts, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, small claims, trials by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has denied it is removing litigants’ right to a trial – despite testing a new scheme where judges can resolve cases before a hearing without the consent of both parties.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pilot scheme paves way for victims’ right to attend Parole Board hearings – The Independent

Posted May 5th, 2022 in news, parole, pilot schemes, private hearings, victims by sally

‘Victims could attend full Parole Board hearings for criminals hoping to be freed from jail for the first time as early as next month.’

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The Independent, 4th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New Judgment: R (on the application of Coughlan) v Minister for the Cabinet Office [2022] UKSC 11 – UKSC Blog

Posted April 28th, 2022 in elections, identification, local government, news, pilot schemes, ultra vires by sally

‘This appeal concerns a challenge brought by the Appellant to orders made by the Respondent in respect of Braintree District Council and nine other local authorities (“the Pilot Orders”). These Pilot Orders authorised schemes to temporarily change the rules set out in secondary legislation governing local elections. These schemes, which were implemented in ten local authority areas in respect of the local government elections in May 2019, each introduced a new requirement for some form of voter identification for those local elections.’

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UKSC Blog, 27th April 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Supreme Court to issue ruling next week on lawfulness of voter ID pilot schemes – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court will next week (27 April) issue its ruling on whether the voter identification (“ID”) pilot schemes that were implemented in the May 2019 local government elections were lawful.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Blueprint for family court monitoring mechanism unveiled – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 30th, 2021 in domestic violence, family courts, news, pilot schemes, victims by tracey

‘A monitoring mechanism to improve the family court’s response to domestic abuse will be piloted next spring, the domestic abuse commissioner and victims commissioner have revealed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th November 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Great deal more to do’: senior judges report on diversity progress – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Senior judges have praised the progress made so far by a strategy to improve diversity on the bench since it was unveiled a year ago. However, the first annual update report stops short of guaranteeing higher numbers of judges from underrepresented groups next year, with the judiciary’s diversity chief acknowleding “there is a great deal more to do”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th November 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Domestic violence victim says UK justice system is ‘like the abuse’ – BBC News

‘A traumatised domestic abuse victim has said her experience of the justice system was so bad it was “like the abuse has continued”.’

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BBC News, 10th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More rape trials to allow pre-recorded evidence – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of alleged sexual violence in London and the north east will be spared live cross-examination from today, as part of a pilot scheme to make trials less traumatic for complainants.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th September 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Evaluation of flexible court hours stresses need to get lawyers onboard – Legal Futures

Posted August 3rd, 2021 in courts, flexible working, legal profession, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Flexible operating hours (FOH) can make it easier for people to access civil and family justice, but there needs to a lot more work to bring solicitors and barristers on board, research into two pilot schemes has said.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk