Striking the Balance – Carmelite Chambers

Posted August 26th, 2021 in judicial review, news, prisons, sex discrimination, transgender persons by sally

‘Criminal justice practitioners will be well versed on the difficulties overcrowding, gang affiliation and substance misuse pose to the safe management of prisons. However, as society gradually opens its eyes to the fluidity and diversity of gender the prison estate has been forced to confront a new challenge. In July 2019 “The Care and Management of Individuals who are Transgender” Policy (“the Care Management Policy”) was published.’

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Carmelite Chambers, 19th August 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

Leeds prison punished inmates by restricting showers, report finds – The Guardian

‘Prisoners were unlawfully prevented from showering daily as punishment for poor behaviour, with shielding and self-isolating inmates also unable to do so, according to a damning report.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Smitten prison officer helped inmate lover escape – BBC News

‘A former prison officer has been jailed for forming a relationship with an inmate and helping him escape.’

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BBC News, 10th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fifty-two prisoners in close supervision units ‘that may amount to torture’ – The Guardian

‘Fifty-two people are being held in prison units in England and Wales in conditions that a UN human rights expert has said may amount to torture, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Complete removal of hope’: an inmate on life in a close supervision centre – The Guardian

‘Case study: Kevan Thakrar says the high suicide and self-harm rates in CSCs are no surprise.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

MP questions transfer of children from Rainsbrook secure centre to youth jails – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2021 in children, contracting out, coronavirus, custody, news, prisons, young offenders by tracey

‘Children held in a condemned youth jail for vulnerable offenders have been moved into unsuitable alternative custody, a committee has been told. About 30 children previously held at the privately run Rainsbrook secure training centre are being transferred into alternative custody arrangements following calls for urgent action over problems at the unit.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trans women in female jails policy lawful, High Court rules – BBC News

Posted July 5th, 2021 in news, prisons, transgender persons, women by tracey

‘It is lawful for transgender women to be housed in female jails in England and Wales, the High Court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 3rd July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers remove children from private youth jail after American contractor fails to fix ‘serious’ flaws – The Independent

Posted June 18th, 2021 in children, detention, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, young offenders by tracey

‘The UK government is removing all children from a troubled jail for youths run by an American company after some were locked in their rooms for more than 23 hours a day.’

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The Independent, 17th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Public inquiry opens into Met police killing of unarmed Jermaine Baker – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2021 in firearms, fugitive offenders, inquiries, news, police, prisons by sally

‘A public inquiry into the death of an unarmed man shot by a Metropolitan police marksman during a foiled prison break has heard that a bug in the getaway car picked up the occupants saying they did not have a real gun.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

How Can Respecting the Right to Religion for Prisoners Make A Real Difference? – Each Other

‘Over the past twenty years, the proportion of prisoners from religious minorities has steadily increased. EachOther asks how can listening to minority voices improve the right to religion in prisons?’

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Each Other, 8th June 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Women offenders being released to homelessness – MPs – BBC News

‘Thousands of women are being released from prison each year without adequate help, a group of MPs and peers say.’

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BBC News, 8th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2021 c. 24 – Fire Safety Act 2021

2021 c. 21 – Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021

2021 c. 20 – Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021

2021 c. 19 – Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021

2021 c. 18 – Prisons (Substance Testing) Act 2021

2021 c. 16 – Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Act 2021

2021 c. 15 – British Library Board (Power to Borrow) Act 2021

2021 c. 13 – Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Act 2021

2021 c. 12 – Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021

2021 c. 10 – Trade Act 2021

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Private Prisons Have Shown A Lax Approach To Human Rights – Each Other

Posted April 27th, 2021 in contracting out, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘Private prisons may seem like an American phenomenon, but, statistically, UK prisoners are more likely to be held in one.’

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Each Other, 26th April 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

I’ve seen how the UK justice system is crumbling. Why doesn’t the government take action? – Dominic Grieve – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2021 in budgets, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, legal aid, news, prisons by sally

‘From decrepit court buildings to legal aid cuts, the service has been brought to its knees. And there’s little hope of change.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Covid: ‘Prioritise prisoners for coronavirus vaccine’ – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2021 in coronavirus, news, prison officers, prisons, statistics, vaccination by sally

‘Prisoners have an elevated risk of dying of Covid and should be prioritised for vaccination, along with prison staff, say researchers from University College London (UCL).’

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BBC News, 17th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police boss wants to trial giving cannabis to prisoners – The Independent

Posted March 1st, 2021 in drug abuse, drug offences, medicines, news, police, prisons, statistics by tracey

‘Prisoners should be given cannabis to help deal with addiction problems and tackle violence, according to a police and crime commissioner (PCC) in Wales.’

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The Independent, 28th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lack of access to lawyers for immigration detainees being held in prison is unlawful, High Court rules – The Independent

Posted February 26th, 2021 in detention, human rights, immigration, legal aid, legal representation, news, prisons by tracey

‘The legal aid provision for immigration detainees held in prisons is unlawful, the High Court has ruled, after it emerged a man was unable to access a lawyer for 10 months and had to represent himself.’

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The Independent, 25th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitor failed to check whether jailed client wanted to sell property – Legal Futures

‘A veteran solicitor did not confirm that his imprisoned client had given instructions to transfer a £300,000 property to his mother, with the client claiming after it happened that he knew nothing about it, a tribunal has heard.’

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Legal Futures, 24th February 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BLM UK to fund ‘people’s tribunal’ for deaths in custody – The Guardian

Posted February 18th, 2021 in death in custody, news, police, prisons, tribunals by sally

‘Black Lives Matter UK has announced £45,000 of funding to the United Families and Friends Campaign to set up a “people’s tribunal” for deaths in custody.’

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The Guardian, 17th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of prisoners in England and Wales on suicide watch rises steeply – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2021 in mental health, news, prisons, statistics, suicide by sally

‘The number of prisoners put on suicide or self-harm watch has risen dramatically over the past decade, a Guardian investigation has found, as experts warn the scale of the mental health crisis in prisons has escalated during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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The Guardian, 10th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com