Intelligent rape investigation and prosecution – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted March 7th, 2012 in news, police, prosecutions, rape, reports by sally

“It was widely reported last week that rape cases were not being properly investigated by the police. This followed the publication of a sensible and non-inflammatory joint report by the CPS inspectorate and the Inspectorate of Constabularies called Forging the links: Rape investigation and prosecution. News was that poor record keeping, writing off crimes and intelligence failings means that the police are insufficiently robust in pursuing complaints and miss evidence of serial rapists. It was not all bad news and it’s worth looking at what the report actually had to say rather than the headlines.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 6th March 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Crimes committed by victims of human trafficking – should they be prosecuted? – UK Human Rights Blog

“This was the first occasion when the Court of Appeal has considered the problem of child trafficking for labour exploitation. It has not previously been subject to any close analysis following the coming into force in 2005 of the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd February 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Regina v N(A); Regina v Le – WLR Daily

Regina v N(A); Regina v Le [2012] EWCA Crim 189; [2012] WLR (D) 38

“The implementation of the United Kingdom’s obligation to comply with article 26 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings 2005 would normally be achieved by the proper exercise of the long established prosecutorial discretion which enabled the Crown Prosecution Service, however strong the evidence might be, to decide that it would be inappropriate to proceed with the prosecution of a defendant suspected of being involved in unlawful activities if he/she might have been the victim of trafficking for labour exploitation and might be unable to advance duress as a defence but who fell within the protective ambit of article 26.”

WLR Daily, 20th February 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Police escape charges in 70 per cent of IPCC cases – The Independent

“Prosecutors decided against charging police officers in nearly 70 per cent of the most serious cases of alleged misconduct referred to them by the policing watchdog, according to figures secured under Freedom of Information legislation.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th February 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Are lawyers in right-to-die cases breaking the law? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 1st, 2012 in assisted suicide, judicial review, legal profession, news, prosecutions by sally

“Albert Camus famously wrote: ‘there is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide.’ However profound a philosophical problem, the question of suicide or, more precisely, assisted suicide is proving quite a legal conundrum.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Rapes, murders – and one sleepless night: the life of a criminal prosecutor – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in Crown Prosecution Service, murder, news, prosecutions, rape by sally

“Alison Saunders is probably the UK’s most experienced criminal prosecutor. She has overseen the convictions of serial rapists and serial murderers – and, in one particularly horrendous case, a man who was both.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Statement from the DPP regarding the South Wales case collapse – Crown Prosecution Service

“Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, concerning the discontinuance of the trial of eight former police officers accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in South Wales (R vs Mouncher and others).”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 26th January 2012

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

CPS to review prosecutors’ handling of ‘Cardiff Three’ trial – The Guardian

“Independent inspectors are to consider the way prosecutors handled the biggest trial of police officers in British criminal history following its collapse last month. Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, has asked the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to look at the trial of eight former police officers who were cleared of fabricating evidence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Phone hacking: conflict with criminal case could deny litigants day in court – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2012 in interception, media, news, privacy, prosecutions by sally

“After this week’s historic settlement with 37 phone-hacking victims, News International is in the middle of a bruising second round with a further batch of celebrities – including Charlotte Church, Steve Coogan and Pete Doherty – who are suing for damages.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Network Rail faces prosecution over Grayrigg disaster – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 16th, 2012 in health & safety, news, prosecutions, railways by sally

“Network Rail is to be prosecuted over the 2007 Grayrigg derailment in which a woman was killed and 86 people injured.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Decision due on torture charges against MI5 and MI6 – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2012 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, prosecutions, torture by sally

“British spies are expected to find out whether they will face charges over their alleged complicity in the torture of terror suspects.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Laws on deferred prosecution agreements to be consulted on next year – OUT-LAW.com

“The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has backed plans to introduce plea bargaining in fraud cases in a bid to reduce the cost of investigations and encourage businesses to self-report. It has said that it supports the passing of new laws to make that process possible.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 6th December 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

ICO fear of press power let journalists off with data blagging offences, ex-investigator claims – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 5th, 2011 in data protection, interception, media, news, privacy, prosecutions by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) had enough evidence to prosecute journalists for unlawfully obtaining personal data found during the watchdog’s Operation Motorman investigation, a former senior investigator at the ICO has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 5th December 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Network Rail faces legal action over deaths of teenage girls – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2011 in health & safety, news, prosecutions, railways by sally

“Network Rail is to be prosecuted over the deaths of two teenagers at a level crossing, the father of one of the girls has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS statement on the case of Anne the Elephant – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted November 11th, 2011 in animal cruelty, press releases, prosecutions by tracey

“CPS takes on the prosecution of Bobby and Moira Roberts over mistreatment of circus elephant.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 10th November 2011

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

No court ‘for some serious crimes’, FOI request shows – BBC News

Posted November 7th, 2011 in news, police, prosecutions, statistics by sally

“Offenders behind serious crimes such as sex assault and use of indecent images of children were punished without going to court, police figures show.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape case woman wins appeal bid – BBC News

“A woman jailed for falsely retracting rape charges against her husband has won the right to appeal her conviction for perverting the course of justice.”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Negotiated justice? Pressure grows to bring plea bargaining into UK fraud cases – Legal Week

Posted October 31st, 2011 in fraud, news, plea bargaining, prosecutions by sally

“After years of debate – and despite a hostile judiciary – pressure is building to bring plea bargaining into UK fraud prosecution. But don’t expect an easy ride, says Kingsley Napley’s Michael Caplan QC.”

Full story

Legal Week, 27th October 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Prosecutors report first Bribery Act conviction – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 17th, 2011 in bribery, news, prosecutions by sally

“A court clerk has become the first person to be convicted under new UK bribery laws, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th October 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Householder cleared over fatal stabbing of intruder – The Guardian

Posted October 7th, 2011 in attempted murder, attempts, burglary, murder, news, prosecutions, self-defence by sally

“A householder arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of an intruder at his home has been cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk