Suspects left in legal limbo by delays to inquiries, say solicitors – The Guardian

‘Suspects are increasingly being left in legal limbo as they are subjected to inquiries lasting years that sometimes end with the case being dropped, a survey of criminal solicitors has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 10th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police dog Finn’s law comes into force – BBC News

‘A new law named after a police dog which recently appeared on Britain’s Got Talent has come into effect.’

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BBC News, 8th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Madeleine McCann: More funds pledged for police investigation – BBC News

Posted June 6th, 2019 in budgets, children, inquiries, missing persons, news, police by sally

‘The government has said it will continue to fund the police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann until March next year.’

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BBC news, 5th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Shiney Row burning inquest: Failings ‘possibly contributed’ to death – BBC News

Posted June 5th, 2019 in inquests, murder, news, police, probation, release on licence, unlawful killing by sally

‘Failings by police and the probation service “possibly contributed” to the death of a woman murdered by two convicted killers, a coroner has ruled.’

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BBC News, 5th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Panel urges regulation of algorithms used in criminal justice system – Legal Futures

‘A year-long study of the use of computer algorithms in the criminal justice system has recommended creating a national register to bring openness, expose built-in biases, and ensure public trust.’

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Legal Futures, 5th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Report raises alarm over police detention of vulnerable suspects – The Guardian

‘Police officers detained and interviewed vulnerable suspects without an appropriate adult present more than 100,000 times last year in England and Wales, according to a charity report.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police recruit rejected because he was a white heterosexual male joins force which discriminated against him – Daily Telegraph

‘A university graduate will finally get to “follow in his father’s footsteps” as he joins the same police force which rejected him for being a white heterosexual man.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rape victims’ therapy guidance needs urgent review – Labour – BBC News

‘Labour is calling for an urgent review into therapy for rape victims, amid claims the current guidance discourages people from seeking counselling.’

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BBC News, 30th May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Not discrimination to pay male officers less for shared parental leave than female officers on maternity leave – UK Police Law Blog

‘The Court of Appeal in (1) Capita Customer Management Ltd v Ali & (2) Chief Constable of Leicestershire v Hextall [2019] EWCA Civ 900, has overturned the Employment Appeal Tribunal and held that employees do not unlawfully discriminate against men when when paying them less for shared parental leave than they pay women when taking enhanced maternity pay as part of maternity leave. Such claims are not sex discrimination claims but equal terms claims, to be brought under the Equal Pay Act 1970, which are bound to fail because they relate to terms of work affording special treatment to woman in connection with pregnancy of childbirth. An appeal to the Supreme Court is possible.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 29th May 2019

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Police cuts could see rise in miscarriages of justice, says forensic expert – The Guardian

Posted May 30th, 2019 in bias, budgets, forensic science, miscarriage of justice, news, police by sally

‘Austerity cuts in the police force could lead to an increase in miscarriages of justice, a leading forensic scientist has warned, as constraints on funding lead to in-house forensic teams performing more selective tests.’

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The Guardian, 29th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Carbon credits fraud trial collapses after expert witness found to have no expertise – The Independent

‘A carbon credits trial collapsed after an expert witness was found to be unqualified, and more than 20 fraud trials could be declared unsafe.’

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The Independent, 30th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Kenneth Noye: Police still investigating murder of key witness in road-rage killer’s trial 19 years ago – The Independent

Posted May 29th, 2019 in murder, news, police, road traffic, witnesses by sally

‘The unsolved assassination of a key witness who helped to put road-rage killer Kenneth Noye behind bars remains under investigation by detectives, police have said.’

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The Independent, 28th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police ordered to use bail to protect victims after suspected rapists and murderers freed – The Independent

‘Police officers have been told to use bail conditions to protect the public after new rules saw thousands of suspected sex attackers and violent criminals released without any restrictions. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has released guidance to all officers and staff emphasising that pre-charge bail is a “legitimate tool” in the wake of government changes in 2017.’

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The Independent, 27th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Facial recognition tech: watchdog calls for code to regulate police use – The Guardian

‘The information commissioner has expressed concern over the lack of a formal legal framework for the use of facial recognition cameras by the police. A barrister for the commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, told a court the current guidelines around automated facial recognition (AFR) technology were “ad hoc” and a clear code was needed.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Secretary speech on keeping our country safe – Home Office

‘Home Secretary Sajid Javid spoke on security, the threat from terrorism and the importance of international collaboration.’

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Home Office, 20th May 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Manchester police defend prosecution of two mentally ill people – The Guardian

‘A police force has defended its decision to prosecute two mentally ill women who were charged after they caused traffic jams when trying to kill themselves.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of UK child slavery cases up by nearly 800% in two years, figures show – The Independent

‘Child slavery cases in the UK have surged by nearly 800 per cent in just two years, new figures show. Data published in the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme’s annual report show there were 475 police operations into child slavery in the UK last month, compared with 53 in April 2017.’

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The Independent, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police facial recognition surveillance court case starts – BBC News

‘The first major legal challenge to police use of automated facial recognition surveillance begins in Cardiff later.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unlawful arrest – inadequate grounds for suspecting person to be guilty of an offence – UK Police Law Blog

‘Where a court finds a wrongful arrest, it is often due to inadequate grounds for belief in its necessity. However, a brief judgment in Smith v Police Service for Northern Ireland [2019] NIQB 39 is a demonstration of where there is a lack of reasonable suspicion that the person arrested has, themselves, committed the offence. Also of interest is the sum for damages – £3,550 for the unlawful arrest and ten hours’ consequent unlawful detention.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 10th May 2019

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Man who ‘confessed’ to raping woman in Facebook message was not prosecuted – The Independent

‘A man who “confessed” on Facebook Messenger to raping a woman in her sleep will not be prosecuted because authorities think there is “no realistic prospect of conviction”, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 19th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk