Twitter joke trial law is being used to win easy convictions and must be scrapped, report claims – The Independent

‘The law used to prosecute a man for joking on Twitter about blowing up a snowbound airport should be scrapped since it is used to get easy convictions, according to a report out today.’

Full story

The Independent, 19th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Law and Rape – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted February 6th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, victims, women by sally

‘Convictions for rape in the UK are described as “shockingly low”. Why does the law appear to be failing to protect women? Clive Anderson discusses what needs to be done to improve the situation with the Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders, Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Martin Hewitt and two leading lawyers working in the area.’

Listen

BBC Unreliable Evidence, 28th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS to take no further action against journalist and public official over misconduct claims – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has announced it is to take no further action against an unnamed Sun journalist and a public official who were investigated over tips for stories.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

FGM: What is Female Genital Mutilation and why was the first doctor to stand trial in the UK acquitted? – The Independent

Posted February 6th, 2015 in doctors, female genital mutilation, news, prosecutions by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been accused of bowing to “mounting” political pressure and a need to “get results” when it chose to launch an ill-judged trial against a young doctor for female genital mutilation, who was acquitted in less than 30 minutes.’

Full story

The Independent, 5th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

CPS defends decision to bring FGM case against doctor acquitted in 30 minutes – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2015 in doctors, female genital mutilation, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, has defended her decision to bring Britain’s first FGM case against a doctor who was cleared of committing the crime on a woman he stitched after the birth of a child.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The DPP’s tough new rape guidelines: What are they and why are they so important? – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘Rape suspects will now have a greater burden of responsibility to demonstrate how a possible victim consented “with full capacity and freedom to do so” to authorities.’

Full story

The Independent, 29th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New rape guidelines are welcome – if they’re actually followed – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘The latest CPS advice issued to help police dispel rape myths is meaningless if ignored by officers on the ground.’

Full story

The Guardian, 29th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Give slavery victims ‘freedom from prosecution for minor crimes’ – The Guardian

Posted January 28th, 2015 in bills, crime, forced labour, gangs, immunity, news, police, prosecutions, victims by sally

‘Granting victims of slavery immunity from prosecution to give evidence about exploitation will be a key tool in tackling organised gangs, according to the officer in charge of coordinating new investigative powers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theresa May’s new FGM reporting rules ‘will stop families seeking help’ – The Guardian

‘Plans by the home secretary, Theresa May, to force health professionals to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police are unlikely to lower the extent of abuse and risk dissuading families from seeking medical help, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Football ‘spot-fixing’ case dropped – BBC News

Posted January 15th, 2015 in evidence, fraud, gambling, media, news, prosecutions, sport by sally

‘The case against 13 footballers investigated over alleged spot-fixing has been dropped due to “insufficient evidence”, the CPS has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Corporate manslaughter prosecutions “gathering momentum”, says expert, as kayak firm convicted – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 15th, 2015 in corporate manslaughter, health & safety, news, prosecutions by sally

‘The successful prosecution of a firm for corporate manslaughter following the death of a worker who had become trapped in an industrial oven demonstrates the need for firms to ensure that health and safety risks are properly managed, an expert has said.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th January 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Blair: without IRA letters, peace process would have collapsed – The Guardian

‘Giving evidence to MPs, former prime minister defends his role in allowing the on-the-run scheme in 1999.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rape trials rise by 30% as courts fight to clear caseload – The Guardian

Posted January 8th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘Prosecutors are experiencing a 30% surge in the number of rape trials as courts struggle to cope with a backlog of historical allegations and fresh cases.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: codes of practice consultation – Attorney General’s Office

‘A consultation on a revised code of practice that governs the use of investigatory powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 12th December 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

SFO makes first use of Bribery Act in prosecution for fraudulent UCIS – RPC Financial Services Blog

Posted December 12th, 2014 in bribery, conspiracy, fraud, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Earlier this week three individuals were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court following the first prosecution by the SFO under the Bribery Act 2010. The case hasn’t give us a meaningful judicial interpretation of the Bribery Act, but it does show that the SFO is prepared to use the Act and the case also serves as a further example of the risks of investing through a SIPP into an investment that seems too good to be true.’

Full story

RPC Financial Services Blog, 11th December 2014

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

CPS ‘right’ to pursue De Freitas case after rape allegation – BBC News

‘The UK’s top prosecutor has defended pursuing a woman who killed herself days before appearing in court accused of making a false rape allegation.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Duncroft School: No prosecutions over Jimmy Savile inquiry – BBC News

Posted December 5th, 2014 in child abuse, news, prosecutions, sexual offences, teachers by sally

‘No charges will be brought against former staff at a school in Surrey where Jimmy Savile abused girls.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fake sheikh Mazher Mahmood cases to be reviewed by CPS – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2014 in evidence, miscarriage of justice, news, perjury, prosecutions by sally

‘Criminal convictions in 25 cases are to be re-examined over concerns about evidence provided by the undercover Sun on Sunday reporter Mazher Mahmood.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

109 women prosecuted for false rape claims over the last five years – Daily Telegraph

‘A number of women who report rapes are being ‘aggressively prosecuted’ by the police for perverting the course of justice, according to campaign group Women Against Rape.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 2nd December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Begging prosecutions increase dramatically across England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2014 in news, prosecutions, vagrancy by sally

‘Prosecutions for begging have rocketed across England and Wales over the past year with dramatic increases recorded in many police force areas. The number of cases brought to court under the 1824 Vagrancy Act has surged by 70%, prompting concerns that cuts to support services and benefits are pushing more people to resort to begging.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk