Prosecuting in the public interest: independence without isolation – Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 17th, 2020 in coronavirus, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, public interest, rule of law by michael

‘In an essay to accompany an event with the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, Max Hill QC outlines what independence means for the Crown Prosecution Service in an extraordinary 2020 and beyond, and how it intersects with the Service’s other values and responsibilities. Drawing on the experiences of the past six months, he considers what it means to remain independent while also being collaborative, responsive and adaptable in a changing world – and the importance of each of these qualities in maintaining public confidence in the criminal justice system.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 17th September 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Harry Dunn: Family to meet with top prosecutor amid talks over trial in absentia – The Independent

‘The family of Harry Dunn has been invited to a meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) amid government discussions about the possibility of a trial in the absence of the teenager’s alleged killer.’

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The Independent, 8th September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prosecution strategies in AR cases (2) – Counsel

‘A two-part series from Laura Hoyano and John Riley modelling investigation and prosecution strategies in cases of abusive relationship offending: part two of this worked case example looks at the issues arising at trial.’

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Counsel, September 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

UK supreme court ruling clears way for Isis pair to be tried in US – The Guardian

‘A US trial of two members of Islamic State accused of taking part in the beheading of hostages appears likely to go ahead, following a legal ruling that allows the UK to share evidence with US prosecutors.’

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The Guardian, 26th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecution strategies in AR cases (1) – Counsel

‘A two-part series from Laura Hoyano and John Riley modelling investigation and prosecution strategies in cases of abusive relationship offending. Part one of this worked case example shows the typical challenges, tactics to surmount them, and the need for innovative thinking.’

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Counsel, August 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Belly Mujinga: no charges after CPS review of rail worker’s Covid-19 death – The Guardian

‘No charges will be brought over the death of Belly Mujinga, the railway worker who died of Covid-19 after allegedly being spat on while at work, prosecutors have decided after reviewing the evidence.’

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The Guardian, 6th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Caroline Flack took her own life amid fears of prosecution, inquest rules – The Guardian

‘Caroline Flack took her own life after learning she would be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, following a long struggle with “fluctuating mental health” that was exacerbated by the stress of fame, a coroner has found.’

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The Guardian, 6th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rape victims are being badly let down by prosecutors. They need justice – The Guardian

‘The utterly shameful level of convictions in England and Wales is down to the CPS dropping so-called “weak” cases.’

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The Guardian, 31st July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What challenges do rape victims face in getting cases to court? – The Guardian

‘Rape prosecutions and convictions have halved in three years, prompting concerns that the offence is effectively being decriminalised. These are some of the challenges rape victims face in getting their cases to court.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecution service under fire over record low rape convictions – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has faced a barrage of criticism after rape convictions in England and Wales fell to a record low, with police publicly censuring its charging policies and a judge paving the way for a landmark legal challenge.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS unveils five-year blueprint to boost rape convictions – The Guardian

Posted July 30th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has launched a new strategy to tackle tumbling rates of charging and prosecution for rape, following sustained criticism that the service is failing victims of sexual assault.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Christopher Kapessa river death: No prosecution decision upheld – BBC News

‘A 14-year-old boy who pushed a boy, 13, into a river before he died will not be prosecuted, a review has concluded.’

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BBC News, 20th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women’s fears as rape prosecutions stay at 10-year low – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2020 in news, prosecutions, rape, statistics by sally

‘The number of rape cases being charged by prosecutors remains among its lowest for a decade, according to figures due to be released this week that will dismay campaigners.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

One in 70 recorded rapes in England and Wales led to charge last year – The Guardian

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

We are facing the ‘decriminalisation of rape’, warns victims’ commissioner – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2020 in criminal justice, news, prosecutions, rape, victims by tracey

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘More and more’ victims dropping out of prosecutions as court backlog mounts during coronavirus – The Independent

Posted July 14th, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, delay, news, prosecutions, victims by tracey

‘“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.’

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The Independent, 14th April 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Campaigners welcome decision to end ‘rough sex’ defence: ‘The criminal justice system has failed so many women’ – The Independent

Posted July 2nd, 2020 in consent, defences, homicide, news, prosecutions by tracey

‘Campaigners have welcomed the government’s decision to address the rising number of killers claiming women died during rough sex by ending the so-called “rough sex” defence.’

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The Independent, 1st July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

CPS secretly dropped ‘weak’ rape cases, say rights groups – The Guardian

Posted June 30th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police in England and Wales dropping rape inquiries when victims refuse to hand in phones – The Guardian

‘Rape investigations are being systematically dropped after victims refuse to hand over their mobile phones for analysis, an investigation has found.’

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The Guardian, 17th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nazir Afzal joins legal fight for new inquiry into Dominic Cummings – The Guardian

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com