HMP Stoke Heath must improve emergency response after death – BBC News

Posted May 19th, 2023 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons by tracey

‘Staff at HMP Stoke Heath must be better prepared to deal with medical emergencies after an inmate died in the prison’s yard, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 18th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Serial rapist Andrew Barlow recalled to prison weeks after release – BBC News

Posted May 15th, 2023 in imprisonment, news, parole, prisons, rape, sexual offences by tracey

‘A man who was jailed for 13 rapes has been recalled to prison just weeks after being released.’

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BBC News, 13th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Protection of the public and the retrospective application of penalties – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 29 November 2019 Usman Khan attended a rehabilitation event at Fishmongers’ Hall and stabbed five people, two fatally. On 2 February 2020 Sudesh Amman attacked two passers-by in Streatham High Road with a knife before being shot dead by police. Both men had previously been convicted of terrorism offences. Both men had been automatically released on licence halfway through their custodial sentences.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th May 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Murderer wins High Court case over transfer to open prison conditions – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2023 in appeals, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, murder, news, parole, prisons, sentencing by tracey

‘A former soldier who murdered a mother-of-three and dismembered her body has won a High Court challenge over his transfer to open prison conditions.’

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The Independent, 11th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Terrorist prisoners to face tougher limits behind bars – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 2nd, 2023 in dangerous offenders, news, prisons, terrorism by tracey

‘Convicted terrorists will be banned from taking a leading role in religious services and face more rigorous checks for extremist literature as the government redoubles efforts to crackdown on dangerous radicalisers behind bars.’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th April 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Conditions at Cookham Wood young offender unit deemed a scandal – BBC News

Posted April 28th, 2023 in children, detention, news, prisons, young offenders by tracey

‘An urgent notice for action has been issued to the justice secretary after conditions at a young offender institution were deemed “a scandal”.’

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BBC News, 28th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoner is suicide risk after more than two years in solitary, high court hears – The Guardian

‘A prisoner’s detention in solitary confinement in England for more than two years has been “wholly unnecessary” and has made him suicidal, the high court has heard.’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

More Than One Person A Month Has Died In Custody This Year – Each Other

Posted April 25th, 2023 in death in custody, news, police, prisons, statistics by sally

‘According to the charity Inquest, since the beginning of the year, six people have died in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police. Last year, 301 people died in prison custody and in 2021 there were 191 deaths in police custody.’

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Each Other, 21st April 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

The King v Arie Ali [2023] EWCA Crim 232 – Drystone Chambers

‘In this case the Court of Appeal held that the exceptional factor relating to the overcrowding conditions of the adult male prisons can properly be taken into account by a sentencing judge, particularly for short term prison sentences.’

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Drystone Chambers, 5th March 2023

Source: www.drystone.com

G4S admits its failures in the running of a prison amounts to breach of the Article 2 systemic duty – Garden Court Chambers

‘G4S’s running of the prison failed to meet the standards of public service required, such that HMP Birmingham was put in special measures, and its running was taken over by the Ministry of Justice. The Chief Inspector of Prisons at the time, Peter Clarke, invoked the Urgent Notification process in respect of the prison.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Ministers can veto prisoners’ parole in Victims and Prisoners Bill – BBC News

‘Ministers will be able to block the release of some prisoners and stop others getting married under new plans to overhaul the parole system.’

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BBC News, 29th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The application of sentencing principles during a period when the prison population is very high – statement from the Chairman of the Sentencing Council – Sentencing Council

Posted March 20th, 2023 in codes of practice, imprisonment, news, prisons, sentencing by tracey

‘The Council is aware of concerns in relation to the current prison population in England and Wales. This raises the issue of whether the potential impact on offenders should be considered in sentencing.’

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Sentencing Council, 20th March 2023

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Assessing capacity: the principles – Local Government Lawyer

‘Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) reports on a capacity masterclass from MacDonald J in the Court of Protection, and highlights an updated capacity guide from 39 Essex Chambers.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Whole life sentence prisoners face ban from marrying under Government plans – The Independent

‘Prisoners serving whole life sentences would be prevented from marrying under new Government plans.’

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The Independent, 18th March 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Speech by the Chief Coroner: Death in Custody Symposium – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 17th, 2023 in coroners, death in custody, prisons, speeches, statutory duty by tracey

‘Speech by the Chief Coroner: Death in Custody Symposium.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 14th March 2023

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Scottish Prison Service faces first UK prosecution for corporate homicide – BBC News

Posted March 7th, 2023 in corporate manslaughter, news, prisons, prosecutions, Scotland by sally

‘Police have been told to investigate whether the Scottish Prison Service should be prosecuted over the death of a remand prisoner, the BBC can reveal.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Exeter Prison ‘needs to be safer to make community safer’ – BBC News

Posted February 17th, 2023 in death in custody, mental health, news, prisons, self-harm, statistics, suicide by tracey

‘A Devon prison has to be safer for inmates to ensure communities are safer, an inspector has said.’

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BBC News, 16th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Potentially risky’ people being released after years on remand, watchdog warns – The Guardian

Posted January 26th, 2023 in dangerous offenders, news, prisons, probation, remand by sally

‘Potentially dangerous prisoners are spending years on remand before disappearing into the community after their release without being properly monitored, the prisons watchdog has warned.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisoner died after staff were ‘not properly trained to save lives’, coroner rules – The Independent

‘A prisoner died after staff when to provide adequate life support after he was found unresponsive in his bunk, a coroner has ruled.’

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The Independent, 22nd January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pay for Work in Prison – by Virginia Mantouvalou – UK Labour Law

Posted December 14th, 2022 in employment, news, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

‘Prison is not a good place to be. It was recently reported that prisons are overflowing in the UK. An increasing number of people are locked up, with limited resources spent on supporting them during incarceration and after that. This is despite the fact that it is often people with a background of socio-economic disadvantage who are caught in the web of criminal justice, and that if not supported post-release, they may re-offend and end up in prison again. There is also widespread prejudice against prisoners, as we know fully well in the UK with the right to vote for prisoners saga (analysed here). The need for reform is pressing (with scholars and activists also pushing for prison abolition).’

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UK Labour Law, 12th December 2022

Source: uklabourlawblog.com