‘Fewer than one in 70 recorded rapes resulted in a charge last year, as tens of thousands of victims did not support demands from police and prosecutors and withdrew from the process.’
The Guardian, 17th July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Rape has effectively been decriminalised as a result of a collapse in prosecutions that has allowed many offenders to escape justice, according to the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales.’
The Guardian, 14th July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘“More and more” victims are dropping out of court cases as delays mount amid an increasing backlog, a leading expert has warned. Dame Vera Baird, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, told The Independent changes to hearings caused by the coronavirus pandemic were partly to blame.’
The Independent, 14th April 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Rape cases where a woman was held at knife point, a film of an attack was found on a suspect’s phone and an alleged perpetrator admitted the offence in text messages are among those dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, documents shared with the Guardian reveal.’
The Guardian, 30th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Rape investigations are being systematically dropped after victims refuse to hand over their mobile phones for analysis, an investigation has found.’
The Guardian, 17th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Nazir Afzal, a former regional chief prosecutor, has joined a legal campaign for a new investigation into Dominic Cummings over alleged breaches of the coronavirus lockdown rules.’
The Guardian, 14th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘British courts are preparing to fast-track prosecutions for the Black Lives Matter protests, as justice secretary Robert Buckland has told magistrates to model the process along the lines of the response to rioting in London in 2011, The Times reported.’
Daily Telegraph, 12th June 2020
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘Black people account for 3% of the population, but 8% of deaths in custody. As a former chief prosecutor, I know this is only the end point of a system that disproportionately suspects, arrests, convicts and imprisons BAME people.’
The Guardian, 11th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A woman who police believe was sexually abused by a gang from the age of 12 has been paid a five-figure compensation sum after three trials collapsed following police failings.’
BBC News, 11th June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The director of public prosecutions, Max Hill, is being threatened with legal action over the failure to investigate Dominic Cummings for alleged breaches of the lockdown rules.’
The Guardian, 10th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Post Office prosecuted postmasters over missing money despite having evidence its own computer system could be to blame.’
BBC News, 8th June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘With plans across the world to gradually lift some lockdown restrictions we can expect to uncover a new wave of corporate criminal activity and organised crime at home and abroad. Criminal defence specialists Simon Pentol QC and Duncan Jones of 25 Bedford Row examine the likely trends and the focus of investigation by the authorities.’
25 Bedford Row, 27th May 2020
Source: www.25bedfordrow.com
‘A convicted paedophile who was snared by a vigilante group is to have his case examined at the UK Supreme Court.’
BBC News, 3rd June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Centre for Military Justice, acting on behalf of three female service personnel has sent a pre – action protocol letter to the Ministry of Defence with regard to three cases which the service justice system (SJS) has conducted and their assertion appears to be that these victims were discriminated against. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) response is due this week. We have not seen the letter nor do we expect to see the response. The Centre for Military Justice stating publicly that by the end of the month they will issue proceedings in the High Court for Judicial Review (JR) citing action for discrimination under both the Human Rights Act and Equality Act. We await sight of the claim and then the defence.’
Thomas More Chambers, 14th May 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘In Episode 114, Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Jennifer MacLeod from Brick Court Chambers about two recent Divisional Court decisions concerning CPS rape prosecution policy.’
Law Pod UK, 1st June 2020
Source: audioboom.com
‘British soldiers who have been accused of committing war crimes in Iraq are unlikely to face criminal prosecution.’
BBC News, 2nd June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The variety of criminal offences created as part of HM Government’s response to the current Covid-19 pandemic has caused a discomforting amount of confusion for individuals, police, criminal practitioners, and courts. This brief article makes the small suggestion that, in the very short term, criminal defence practitioners may wish to seek adjournments for any prosecutions under the Public Health (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (“the Lockdown Regulations”) pending a judicial review of the lawfulness of the Regulations.’
Thomas More Chambers, 18th May 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘More than 300 prosecutions for assaults on police and emergency workers were completed during the first month of lockdown, the director of public prosecutions, Max Hill QC, has revealed.’
The Guardian, 21st May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
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