‘Fly-tippers will face prison, the environment secretary has said, as the government announces a new “waste police” unit.f
Daily Telegraph, 15th January 2020
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘Police and social workers investigating child sex exploitation in Manchester knew children were suffering “the most profound abuse… but did not protect them”, a report has found.’
BBC News, 14th January 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Up to 52 children may have been victims of a sex abuse scandal in Greater Manchester, with most offenders getting away with their crimes because of errors by police and children’s services, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 14th January 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A shortage of prosecutors and experienced police officers has left investigators “struggling to cope” with obligations to disclose key evidence to defendants in criminal trials, according to a critical inspectorate report.’
The Guardian, 9th January 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The growth in ‘county lines’ cases involving young defendants, themselves victims of trafficking, poses particular issues: practical steps that may assist practitioners and recent case law principles.’
Counsel, January 2020
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
‘Carlisle Court acquitted an MS patient today of cultivating cannabis, following the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to offer evidence in court today on a public interest basis.’
Garden Court Chambers, 6th January 2020
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘A review of record low rape conviction rates has found a justice system “close to breaking point” because of cuts. The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (CPSI) said a “damning” number of cases are lost during “under-resourced” police investigations. But it rejected claims that prosecutors are unfairly selective about cases they charge.’
BBC News, 17th December 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A paedophile who admitted having sex with a 13-year-old girl has been spared jail after backlogs meant his case took over two years to come before the courts.’
Daily Telegraph, 11th December 2019
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘On Nov 11, 2019, the Conservative Party announced rather unclear plans to take legal steps to ensure that inquest juries in Northern Ireland could not return verdicts of unlawful killing in relation to actions by UK soldiers (and presumably other state agents such as the RUC police) in operations during The Troubles. The plans also apparently include barring prosecutions for any alleged unlawful acts during such operations during The Troubles (there is no statute of limitations on serious criminal offences in the UK so this would be an entirely novel step).’
Red Lion Chambers, 14th November 2019
Source: www.redlionchambers.co.uk
‘Cheltenham Borough Council has successfully prosecuted five drivers for unlawfully plying for hire during Cheltenham Festival 2019.’
Local Government Lawyer, 4th December 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘On a spring afternoon in 1989, a crush developed at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield resulting in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans attending the club’s FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.’
BBC News, 29th November 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Domestic-abuse related cases referred to prosecutors for consideration for charge have fallen 11% in a year despite a surge in the number of crimes recorded by police.’
The Guardian, 25th November 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A female police constable who was attacked by a suspect has been “completely let down” by the justice system after prosecutors pursued a lower charge, the chair of the Police Federation has said.’
Daily Telegraph, 25th November 2019
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘Engaging in controlling and/or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships became a new criminal offence in England and Wales in December 2015. Coercive Control involves a pattern of abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten the victim. Example behaviours included in this legislation are isolation from friends and family, deprivation of basic needs, monitoring behaviour and time, controlling a victim’s life and/or finances, and may include physical violence. The introduction of this offence was welcomed for recognising the cumulative impact of various forms of domestic abuse and for encouraging police and other criminal justice agencies to move beyond an incident-led and physical violence-based understanding of domestic abuse. However, four years on since the legislation was enacted and with no compulsory national level training or support, what has actually changed?’
OUP Blog, 25th November 2019
Source: blog.oup.com
‘British orphaned children of Islamic State fighters have been rescued from Syria, in the first evacuation by the UK Government of nationals stranded in the war-torn country following the fall of the “caliphate”.’
Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2019
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘An animal welfare charity has called for people who illegally hunt foxes to be given prison sentences – after two men were fined a “pitiful” £350.’
BBC News, 21st November 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A judge has criticised the way a male police officer interviewed a teenage rape victim, saying it caused “further abuse” for the girl.’
BBC News, 19th November 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Rape victims whose alleged attackers were not prosecuted could have their cases reviewed in light of the exposure of “secret targets”, a watchdog has said.’
The Independent, 15th November 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘An undisclosed Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) target may be behind huge declines in numbers of rape suspects charged since 2016, the Gazette can reveal.’
Law Society's Gazette, 13th November 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Conservative plans to water down the Human Rights Act – to prevent prosecutions of soldiers accused of murders in Northern Ireland – will make the UK a pariah, the party has been warned.’
The Independent, 11th November 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2024