Major investment in new courts for England and Wales – Her Majesty’s Court Service

Posted June 26th, 2007 in courts, press releases by sally

“A major investment of £400 million to include building six new major courts has been announced today by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Lord Falconer.”

Announcement (Word document)

Her Majesty’s Court Service, 25th June 2007

Source: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk

Legal aid reform is about helping as many as possible – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 25th, 2007 in legal aid, news, press releases by sally

“Lord Falconer today (22 June) said legal aid reform would ensure as many people as possible were helped within the resources available by encouraging efficient working practices in the legal profession.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice press release, 22nd June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Related link: Government’s response to the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee’s report of May 2007

Greater choice for vulnerable witnesses – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 22nd, 2007 in children, press releases, witnesses by sally

“Introducing greater choice on how young people give evidence in court is among proposals published today that place victims and witnesses at the heart of the Criminal Justice System.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice press release, 22nd June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bar Council defends its record on complaints handling – Bar Council

Posted June 21st, 2007 in barristers, complaints, press releases by sally

“In a hard-hitting briefing sent to key MPs this week, the Bar Council has defended its record on complaints handling.  As the Legal Services Bill moves through Committee Stage, the Government is proposing a ‘one size fits all’ approach to complaints handling, reversing amendments introduced in the House of Lords. But the vast majority of complaints are against solicitors – and the overwhelming majority of criticisms about complaints handling are directed against the Law Society rather than the Bar’s independent regulator, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), which has consistently provided an efficient and effective service, according to the independent Legal Services Ombudsman.”

Full story 

Bar Council press release, 21st June 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

New arrangements for Legal Reforms must be an improvement – Wired-GOV

Posted June 19th, 2007 in legal services, press releases by sally

“The Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales, Zahida Manzoor CBE, in her Annual Report, has said that the Government’s aims in the Legal Services Bill are laudable.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice press release, 19th June 2007

Source: www.wired-gov.net

Related link: Annual Report of the Legal Services Ombudsman

Government consultation policy review – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 15th, 2007 in consultations, press releases by sally

“The Cabinet Office is reviewing the government’s consultation policy. It wants to hear your views on how the government currently consults and how you think these consultations can be improved upon.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice press release, 15th June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Reforms strengthen immigration controls as more foreign national prisoners are removed from the UK – Home Office

Posted June 15th, 2007 in deportation, immigration, press releases by sally

“The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) today published its first Agency business plan alongside a report into the failure to consider some foreign national prisoners for deportation last year and an update on progress in deporting those 1013 foreign national prisoners from the UK.”

Full story

Home Office press release, 14th June 2007

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

New measures to keep kids safe from sex offenders – Home Office

Posted June 14th, 2007 in child abuse, press releases, sexual offences by sally

“A range of tough new measures that will enhance the protection of children from sex offenders was unveiled today by the Home Secretary, John Reid.”

Full story

Home Office press release, 13th June 2007

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Tackling discrimination, modernising the law – Communities and Local Government

“The Government today published a consultation document including proposals for a Single Equality Bill, to simplify and improve existing legislation and make common-sense proposals to modernise discrimination law.”

Full story

Communities and Local Government press release, 12th June 2007

Source: www.communities.gov.uk

A voice is given to vulnerable witnesses – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 12th, 2007 in press releases, witnesses by sally

“A scheme assisting vulnerable witnesses to access the criminal justice process will be rolled out nationally, following an announcement by Minister for Justice, Gerry Sutcliffe.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice press release, 12th June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bar Standards Board rejects deferral of call to the Bar and proposes new online register of barristers – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 8th, 2007 in barristers, legal education, press releases by sally

“There had been concerns that, by allowing those who had completed the Bar Vocational Course to be called to the Bar and to describe themselves as ‘barristers’, the public might be misled as to who is a fully qualified practitioner. But in a report on its provisional conclusions on deferral of call, published today after a year-long consultation and research exercise, the Board says “deferring call to the Bar until after pupillage would not be an appropriate response to the risk which it is intended to address”.”

Press release

Bar Standards Board press release, 8th June 2007

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

New measures proposed to fight terrorism – Home Office

Posted June 8th, 2007 in press releases, terrorism by sally

“In a statement to Parliament today, the Home Secretary called for new measures to fight the ‘unprecedented threat’ of terrorism.”

Press release

Home Office press release, 7th June 2007

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Falconer outlines plans to end high cost trial delay – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 31st, 2007 in conflict of interest, delay, press releases, trials by sally

“Lawyers who cause costly delays to court cases in England and Wales could be replaced in plans for speedier and more efficient trials, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Lord Falconer said today.”

Ministry of Justice press release, 31st May 2007

Full story

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Towards a More Representative and Inclusive Bar Council – Report of the Kennedy Working Group – Bar Council

Posted May 23rd, 2007 in barristers, press releases by traceydennis

“Reforms to make the Bar Council more representative and inclusive of the 14,800 barristers it serves were published today by an independent working group chaired by Sir Paul Kennedy.”

Full story

Bar Council, 23rd May 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Border and Immigration Agency goes live – Government News Network

Posted April 2nd, 2007 in immigration, press releases by sally

“Six regional directors have been appointed to the new Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), which goes live today, the Home Office has announced. ”

Full story

Home Office press release, 2nd April 2007

Source: www.gnn.gov.uk