Category: press releases

Bar Council Tells CPS that Quality Advocacy is Paramount as Report Shows Decline in In-House Advocacy Standards – The Bar Council

Posted March 16th, 2012 in advocacy, press releases, prosecutions by tracey

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to recognise that maintaining quality advocacy is paramount. The warning is issued in the wake of an independent review by Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Inspectorate (HMCPSI) which found that the quality of Crown advocate performance has declined since 2009.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 15th March 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Changes to the Immigration Rules – UK Border Agency

Posted March 16th, 2012 in immigration, press releases, regulations by tracey

“Today, Thursday 15 March 2012, a written ministerial statement has been laid in Parliament outlining a number of changes to the Immigration Rules. Most of the changes will come into effect on 6 April 2012. Some of the changes to Tier 2 will affect those who were granted leave after 6 April 2011.”

Full press release

UK Border Agency, 15th March 2012

Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

‘Challenge it, report it, stop it’ – a plan to tackle hate crime – Home Office

Posted March 16th, 2012 in hate crime, inciting hatred on grounds of sexual orientation, inciting racial hatred, inciting religious hatred, press releases by tracey

“A government plan to tackle hate crime is launched today with the key message to ‘challenge it, report it, stop it’. Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone unveiled the plan as she addressed a hate crime conference organised by the association of chief police officers (ACPO) in Birmingham.”

Full press release

Home Office, 14th March 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

BSB acts to resolve effect of past reappointment procedures of Council of the Inns of Court panel members – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 16th, 2012 in inns of court, press releases, tribunals by tracey

“The Bar Standards Board today confirmed the timetable for assessing the impact of past reappointment procedures for Council of the Inns of Court tribunal members.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 15th March 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Government seeks views on dismissal rules – Department for Business Innovation and Skills

Posted March 16th, 2012 in consultations, dismissal, employment, press releases by tracey

“Proposals to examine the current dismissal process have been announced by the Government today with the publication of a Call for Evidence. Ministers are to seek the views of employers and employees, and gather evidence from interested parties, on whether current dismissal procedures are too onerous, too complex and whether or not there is a lack of understanding in their application.”

Full press release

Department for Business Innovation and Skills, 15th March 2012

Source: www.bis.gov.uk

 

Multi-million pound drug smuggler is jailed for 30 years – UK Border Agency

Posted March 9th, 2012 in drug trafficking, press releases, sentencing by tracey

“A man who is believed to be responsible for smuggling hundreds of millions of pounds worth of drugs into the UK was jailed for 30 years on Friday 2 March, following an investigation by our officers.”

Full press release

UK Border Agency, 5th March 2012

Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

CPS statement on death of PC Ian Terry – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 9th, 2012 in duty of care, inquests, police, press releases, prosecutions by tracey

“Following the inquest into the death of Police Constable Ian Terry, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reconsidered whether there was sufficient evidence to bring charges in relation to Mr Terry’s tragic death during a training exercise in June 2008.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 7th March 2012

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Police given new guidance to disclose a history of violence – Home Office

Posted March 5th, 2012 in criminal records, disclosure, domestic violence, police, press releases by tracey

“Four police forces will pilot a new domestic violence disclosure scheme, the home secretary announced today. Police in Greater Manchester, Gwent, Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire will run a 12 month trial of the domestic violence disclosure scheme (DVDS) from the summer of 2012. The pilot scheme will test the methods used by police to help victims or potential victims of domestic violence by disclosing information about previous violent offending by their partner.”

Full press release

Home Office, 5th March 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Access Denied: Bar Council Welcomes LASPO Concessions as Report Calls for Further Reform – The Bar Council

Posted March 2nd, 2012 in barristers, legal aid, press releases by tracey

“As Peers prepare for the start of the Report Stage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill next Monday, the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the limited concessions announced yesterday, whilst calling on the Government to take heed of the overwhelming evidence and weight of opinion against many of its reforms.”

Full press release

Access Denied report

The Bar Council, 2nd March 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar regulator urges swift uptake of a new quality standard for advocacy – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 2nd, 2012 in advocacy, barristers, press releases, quality assurance by tracey

“The Bar Standards Board, the lead regulator for courtroom advocates in England and Wales, has called on fellow regulators to join with it in pressing ahead with an innovative scheme to maintain and improve standards of advocacy.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 2nd March 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org

Communicating with the Home Office in Family Proceedings – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted March 2nd, 2012 in family courts, immigration, press releases by tracey

“The ‘Communicating with the Home Office in Family Proceedings’ protocol enables the family courts to communicate with the Home Office (UK Borders Agency and Identity and Passport Service) to obtain immigration, visa and passport information for family court proceedings.”

Full guidance

Judiciary of England and Wales, 1st March 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

New Border Force begins work – Home Office

Posted March 2nd, 2012 in immigration, press releases by tracey

“From today the Border Force and the UK Border Agency will begin operating separately.”

Full press release

Home Office, 1st March 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

LSB welcomes the release of the Social Mobility Toolkit – Legal Services Board

Posted March 2nd, 2012 in diversity, legal profession, press releases by tracey

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) today welcomes the publication of the Social Mobility Toolkit, a resource aimed at creating a step-change in social mobility across the professions. The proposal for the publication emerged from an LSB- chaired group bringing representatives from the professions together to discuss the implications of the Milburn Report on Fair Access to the Professions for regulators and professional bodies as they seek to improve access for non-traditional candidates, as well as to ensure they become better represented at higher levels of industry.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 2nd March 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

 

Consultation launched on Judicial discipline regulations – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted March 1st, 2012 in complaints, consultations, judiciary, press releases by tracey

“The Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the rules and regulations governing the procedures concerning the handling of complaints and discipline of judges today.”

Full press release

Judiciary of England and Wales, 29th February 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

 

Attracting the brightest and best migrant workers – Home Office

Posted March 1st, 2012 in employment, immigration, press releases, visas by tracey

“Tougher rules for migrant workers on temporary work visas will mean only the brightest and best can apply to settle in the UK. Immigration Minister Damian Green today announced new settlement rules that will break the link between migrants coming here to work and staying forever. The amount of time they can stay will now be capped at six years to prevent temporary work routes being abused.”

Full press release

Home Office, 29th February 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Illegal workers and benefit abusers targeted – Home Office

Posted February 28th, 2012 in benefits, fingerprints, fraud, immigration, press releases by tracey

“Immigration Minister Damian Green announced the expansion of the Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) system to help tackle immigration abuse by proving a person’s right to work or access services in the UK.”

Full press release

Home Office, 27th February 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Government targets illegal firearms – Home Office

Posted February 10th, 2012 in consultations, firearms, gangs, press releases, young offenders by tracey

“A consultation on strengthening the law on illegal firearms was launched by Home Secretary Theresa May today as part of the government’s drive to end gang and youth violence.”

Full press release

Home Office, 8th February 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

UK Border Agency removes gang members – Home Office

Posted February 10th, 2012 in crime prevention, deportation, gangs, press releases by tracey

“A joint operation between the UK Border Agency and Metropolitan Police and has led to eight major gang members being deported back to their home countries.”

Full press release

Home Office, 9th February 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Government acts against metal thieves – Home Office

Posted January 27th, 2012 in fines, handling stolen goods, press releases, theft by tracey

“Cash payments for scrap metal will be banned and penalties increased, the Home Secretary Theresa May announced today, as the government stepped up action against the growing menace of metal theft.”

Full press release

Home Office, 26th January 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Statement from the DPP regarding the South Wales case collapse – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 27th, 2012 in Crown Prosecution Service, perverting the course of justice, police, press releases, prosecutions by tracey

“Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, concerning the discontinuance of the trial of eight former police officers accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in South Wales (R vs Mouncher and others).”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 26th January 2012

Source: www.cps.gov.uk