Statement following the publication of the Justice Select Committee report on Disclosure – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The Crown Prosecution Service and the National Police Chiefs Council have today (20 July) issued a joint response into the Justice Select Committee Report over Disclosure of evidence in criminal cases.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 20th July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

BSB seeks views on draft of new Bar training rules – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 20th, 2018 in barristers, legal education, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched a consultation to seek views as to whether their proposed new rules for the training and qualification of barristers provide the right framework to give effect to the new policies announced recently by the regulator as part of its Future Bar Training (FBT) programme.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 19th July 2018

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Government seeks views on legal aid for inquests – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 19th, 2018 in consultations, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, press releases by tracey

‘Justice Minister Lucy Frazer today announced the launch of a call for evidence to consider the need for legal representation during inquests.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 19th July 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Leasehold law set for radical reform – Law Commission

Posted July 19th, 2018 in housing, Law Commission, leases, press releases by tracey

‘Radical new proposals to provide a fairer deal for leasehold homeowners have been announced by the Law Commission. Following hot on the heels of plans by the Government to ban the sale of houses on a leasehold basis, the independent legal body is outlining a range of measures to help existing leasehold homeowners buy the freehold of their houses.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/

Group jailed for 47 years after £450,000 maternity payment scam – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 19th, 2018 in benefits, conspiracy, fraud, press releases, sentencing, social security by tracey

‘Twelve people who plotted to claim more than £450,000 in maternity payments for babies which did not exist have been jailed for 47 years today (18 July). The defendants, who included members of the same family and their partners and friends, made at least 158 fraudulent applications for maternity allowance over the course of 52 months.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 18th July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bar Council launches LASPO: 5 years on survey – The Bar Council

Posted July 19th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, legal aid, legislation, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘The Government has now commenced a Post-Implementation Review of Part 1 of LASPO and subordinate legislation. As part of its response, the Bar Council is conducting another survey of the Family and Civil Bar. Your answers will form a central part of its submissions to Post-Implementation Review.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 19th July 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Allegations of child sexual abuse in Rotherham: Wanless and Whittam QC review – Home Office

Posted July 18th, 2018 in child abuse, press releases, reports, sexual grooming by tracey

‘The Home Secretary has today published Peter Wanless and Richard Whittam QC’s independent review into information passed to the Home Office in connection with allegations of child sexual abuse in Rotherham.’

Full press release and documents

Home Office, 17th July 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Judicial Protocol update: Expedition of Cases Involving Witnesses Under 10 Years – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 17th, 2018 in children, courts, press releases, reports, witnesses by tracey

‘A Protocol between The National Police Chiefs’ Council, The Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service to Expedite Cases Involving Witnesses Under 10 Years.’

Full text

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 13th July 2018

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Care home boss who stole millions from residents jailed – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The owner of a care home who tried to defraud residents out of £4.1million by isolating them from their families and persuading them to make him a beneficiary of their wills has been jailed today.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 13th July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Law reform needed to help leaseholders take control of their buildings – Law Commission

Posted July 5th, 2018 in landlord & tenant, Law Commission, leases, press releases by tracey

‘Housing Secretary James Brokenshire has asked the Law Commission to look at improving the laws which allow leaseholders to manage their own buildings.The legislation on Right to Manage is meant to put power in leaseholders’ hands and stop abuse, by allowing some leasehold property owners to take over the management of a building. But issues with the law have stopped its usage becoming widespread. And those who have taken up the option have found delays, costs and uncertainty.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 4th July 2018

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

New law to protect people with dementia and learning disabilities announced – Law Commission

‘Thousands of vulnerable people with dementia and learning disabilities will be given better protection by a new law announced today by the Government. The new Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill, based on Law Commission recommendations, brings in extra protections for those who lack the mental capacity to make decisions about their care.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 3rd July 2018

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

BSB explains how it assures competence at the Bar – Bar Standards Board

‘Following its decision last year not to implement the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published more detail about how it assures the competence of barristers.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 5th July 2018

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

World-class fraud and cybercrime court approved for London’s Fleetbank house site – Ministry of justice

Posted July 5th, 2018 in computer crime, courts, press releases by tracey

‘A new flagship court specifically designed to tackle cybercrime, fraud, and economic crime will reinforce the UK’s reputation as a world-leading legal centre, the Lord Chancellor will announce tonight (Wednesday 4 July).’

Full press release

Ministry of justice, 4th July 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Man jailed for 1989 rape – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted June 29th, 2018 in press releases, rape, sentencing by tracey

‘A 64-year-old man has today been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment after he found guilty at Stafford Crown Court of raping a teenager in 1989.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 28th June 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

BSB shares good practice for barristers and advice for clients on consumer feedback – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 29th, 2018 in barristers, consumer protection, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published new guidance that aims to encourage barristers to follow good practice when they receive feedback from their clients. It has also published a guide for the public about using and leaving feedback about barristers’ services.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 28th June 2018

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Fraud, bribery and money laundering offences: Assessment of guideline – Sentencing Council

Posted June 27th, 2018 in bribery, fraud, money laundering, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘The Sentencing Council has published its assessment of the impact of its Fraud, Bribery and Money Laundering offences guideline on sentencing trends, under its statutory duty to monitor the operation and effect of its sentencing guidelines and to draw conclusions from this information.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 26th June 2018

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Sentencing of drug offences involving newer and less common drugs – Sentencing Council

Posted June 27th, 2018 in drug offences, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘Since publication of the Drug Offences guideline in 2012, there has been an increase in the number of cases before the courts involving newer drugs, such as synthetic opioids, which may have much higher potency and potential to cause harm than more common drugs. In addition, some new offences have been created, for example, those in the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. We have therefore published guidance on the sentencing of offences involving newer and less common drugs, in particular covering how to assess the harm caused.’

Full press reelase

Sentencing Council, 25th June 2018

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Secretary of State launches dedicated strategy to ‘break the cycle’ of female offending – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 27th, 2018 in imprisonment, press releases, prisons, rehabilitation, women by tracey

‘The female offender strategy sets out a commitment to divert the most vulnerable women in the criminal justice system away from custody through the provision of tailored support.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 27th June 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Time to get tougher on harassment and bullying, says Bar Council as it publishes new report on Barristers’ Working Lives Survey – The Bar Council

Posted June 27th, 2018 in barristers, bullying, harassment, press releases by tracey

‘New figures from the Barristers’ Working Lives 2017: Harassment and bullying report, released by the Bar Council today, indicate that reports of harassment or bullying and discrimination within the barristers’ profession, as well as reports of observations of harassment or bullying and discrimination, have increased in comparison with previous years.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 26th June 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Updating the law of insurable interest – Law Commission

Posted June 22nd, 2018 in insurance, Law Commission, press releases by tracey

‘The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission have today published updated draft legislation intended to pull the law of insurable interest into the 21st century.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 20th June 2018

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/