CPS severely hampered by lack of resources, says report – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2013 in case management, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, reports by sally

“A lack of resources is severely damaging the Crown Prosecution Service’s preparation of cases for court, according to a critical report by the organisation’s statutory watchdog.”

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The Guardian, 10th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal professional privilege will apply under new criminal cartel ‘whistleblowing’ regime – OUT-LAW.com

“Businesses that wish to report their involvement in cartel operations in order to benefit from the leniency of the UK’s competition regulator will not be obliged to waive their rights to legal professional privilege (LPP).”

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th July 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

CPS may bring first case against Metropolitan police spy – The Guardian

“Prosecutors are considering launching the first case against an undercover police officer deployed to infiltrate political campaigns. The Crown Prosecution Service is examining allegations of wrongdoing by Jim Boyling, a former member of a covert Metropolitan police unit which planted undercover officers in political groups for four decades.”

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The Guardian, 5th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The mechanics of Deferred Prosecution Agreements in the UK – Speech by Oliver Heald QC MP

“Speech to the C5 7th Advanced Forum on Anti Corruption on the role of prosecutors and the court.”

Full speech

Attorney-Geberal’s Office, 28th June 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Phone hacking: Go-ahead for Brooks and Coulson cases – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2013 in costs, interception, media, news, prosecutions, telecommunications by tracey

“Five former News of the World staff members, including ex-editors Rebekah Brooks
and Andy Coulson, have lost a legal attempt to block their prosecution on phone
hacking charges.”

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BBC News, 28th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jeremy Forrest case: Twitter users could have broken the law – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2013 in anonymity, disclosure, internet, news, prosecutions, sexual offences, victims by sally

“Police are looking at tweets sent following the conviction of Jeremy Forrest to see whether those who identified his victim have broken the law.”

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The Guardian, 26th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Free speech rights should influence CPS decisions on whether to prosecute over social media communications, says guidance – OUT-LAW.com

“Prosecutors should be mindful of observing individuals’ rights to free speech when deciding whether to initiate legal action against them over grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or false comments made on social media, according to new guidelines.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st June 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

It pays to use slave labour, says watchdog – The Independent

“Sentences for criminal bosses who use forced labour are ‘unduly lenient’ and do not deter modern slavery, the head of Britain’s worker exploitation watchdog believes.”

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The Independent, 23rd June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Owners could face court if dog bites child fetching a ball – Daily Telegraph

“Home owners have been warned that they could face prosecution if their dog scares a child that strays into their garden to retrieve a football.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Court of appeal quashes the convictions of four victims of human trafficking and releases new guidelines to protect others – The Independent

“Victims of the ‘vile’ offence of human trafficking who become involved in crime should have their cases dealt with by the justice system with the ‘greatest sensitivity’, leading judges said today.”

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The Independent, 21st June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Defamation on social media – Law Society’s Gazette

“On 24 May Mr Justice Tugendhat handed down the judgment in McAlpine v Bercow [2013] EWHC 1342 (QB), finding that Mrs Bercow’s tweet carried a defamatory meaning. Following the judgment it was announced that Bercow had accepted an earlier settlement offer, saying that ‘today’s ruling should be seen as a warning to all social media users’. Although Twitter litigation is no longer new (the site has been the form of publication in a number of cases, most notably Cairns v Modi [2012] EWHC 756 (QB)), McAlpine is the first to really tackle the peculiar nature of this social media genre and could mark a key moment in social media use.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar pledges full support for CPS Advocate Panel extension to safeguard children involved in sexual offences – The Bar Council

Posted June 14th, 2013 in barristers, children, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

“The Bar Council, the Circuit Leaders and the Criminal Bar Association have today announced their joint support for the extension of the Crown Prosecution Services’ (CPS) Advocate Panel’s rape remit to include sexual offences involving children.”

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The Bar Council, 13th June 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

CPS publishes guidelines on prosecutors’ approach to Child Sexual Abuse cases – Crown Prosecution Service

“Ground breaking new guidelines for prosecutors on how to tackle cases involving child sexual abuse have today been issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions and will take immediate effect. At the same time, the College of Policing has issued guidance for investigators and both documents are now open to a three month public consultation.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 11th June 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Warning: CPS keep victim appeals in house – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“There is a new independent Assessor (Stephen Shaw) for non-legal complaints made about the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) but not for the legal ones – how very odd! It was recently reported that victims of crime will be able to ‘win the right’ to appeal against decisions by the CPS not to charge suspects and there is a consultation which is open until the 5th of September 2013. It has a mnemonic ‘VRR’ which stands for a ‘Victim’s Right to Review’.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th June 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Keir Starmer: terrorists could escape prosecution without ‘snoopers’ charter’ – Daily Telegraph

“There is a ‘real risk’ that terrorists could avoid prosecution if proposed internet monitoring powers are abandoned, the country’s top prosecutor has said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 11th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Four sex-abuse cases referred to police for reconsideration – BBC News

“Police have been asked to reconsider their decision to drop four sex-abuse cases, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.”

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BBC News, 11th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case discontinued over social media comments after Woolwich murder – The Guardian

Posted June 12th, 2013 in armed forces, internet, malicious communications, murder, news, prosecutions by sally

“A 19-year-old man accused of making comments on a social media website following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby has had his court case discontinued.”

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The Guardian, 11th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Too many human traffickers escape justice in UK, says solicitor general – The Guardian

“Too few of the human traffickers who force women to work in the sex trade and children to labour in cannabis farms are being prosecuted in the UK, according to the solicitor general, Oliver Heald QC.”

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The Guardian, 11th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crime victims allowed to challenge prosecutors – The Guardian

“Victims are to be given new rights to challenge the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to charge a suspect or to drop a prosecution.”

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The Guardian, 5th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Breaking the taboo: One rape victim tells her story – BBC News

Posted June 3rd, 2013 in consent, evidence, news, prosecutions, rape, statistics, victims by sally

“It is estimated that 12,000 men and 85,000 women on average are raped in England and Wales every year, but it is not an issue that is talked about openly. One woman has waived her anonymity and bravely spoken about her story, from reporting the attack to bringing her rapist to justice.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd May 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk