National Case Progression Commitment: Joint statement from the College of Policing, National Police Chiefs’ Council and Crown Prosecution Service – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 9th, 2021 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, police, prosecutions by tracey

‘Victims, witnesses and defendants have been promised actions to reduce delays in case progression and to support the timely delivery of justice.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 8th March 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

UK launches action plan to prevent harassment and abuse of journalists – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2021 in freedom of expression, harassment, media, news, police, prosecutions, trade unions by tracey

‘The UK’s first national action plan aimed at protecting journalists from abuse and harassment has been published by the government with the backing of police and union leaders.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police won’t be prosecuted over WhatsApp remarks about black actor – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has decided not to prosecute three police officers for allegedly racist remarks about a black British actor.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jack Barnes: ‘I can’t breathe’ death reviewed three times – BBC News

Posted March 2nd, 2021 in inquests, news, prosecutions, restraint, unlawful killing by sally

‘No-one was prosecuted over the death of a man who was restrained in the street by public transport workers despite the case being reviewed three times.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims of human trafficking: can they be criminals as well? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 23rd, 2021 in children, human rights, news, prosecutions, trafficking in human beings, victims by tracey

‘V.C.L. and A.N. v the United Kingdom (16 February 2021). Human trafficking is internationally recognised as threatening human rights and the fundamental values of democratic societies. States have taken action to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking and to provide support to victims of what is the third largest illicit money-making venture in the world. But what happens when the victims of trafficking commit a crime themselves? Should they be prosecuted? What factors are relevant in this assessment? And which arm of the State should the assessment of whether someone is a victim of trafficking be entrusted to? This is the first time the European Court of Human Rights has tackled these questions. The Court found that the UK had breached its obligations under articles 4 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights by prosecuting two Vietnamese children who were potential victims of trafficking.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd February 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Abuse survivor calls for UK children born of rape to have ‘victim’ legal status – The Guardian

‘One of the survivors of the Rotherham grooming scandal has asked the government to give children born from rape legal “victim” status so they can receive specialist help and potentially prosecute their fathers.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK’s first football hate crime officer turns focus on social media – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2021 in hate crime, internet, news, police, prosecutions, racism by sally

‘Since starting his role as the UK’s first football hate crime officer earlier this month, PC Stuart Ward has been busier than expected, considering football fans are banned from stadiums as part of the coronavirus lockdown.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Radical change needed in handling of rape cases, says England and Wales police lead – The Guardian

‘Crack teams of specialist police officers are needed to bring rapists to justice and prevent a wholesale collapse of public confidence in the criminal justice system, according to the police lead for rape in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Know your limits, show your limits: Lessons from Food Standards Agency v Bakers of Nailsea Ltd (2020) – St Philips Barristers

‘The Food Standards Agency (“FSA”) made three applications for the issue of a summons to commence proceedings against Bakers of Nailsea Ltd (“BNL”), the food business operator for an abattoir in Nailsea, near Bristol, for offences contrary to the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 (“the 2013 Regulations”).’

Full Story

St Philips Barristers, 9th February 2021

Source: st-philips.com

Almost a third of prosecutions under coronavirus laws dropped, review shows – The Independent

‘Almost a third of prosecutions under coronavirus laws have been brought incorrectly, leading to hundreds of cases being dropped, analysis has revealed. A review by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) found that 359 of 1,252 charges last year under laws brought in to aid public health measures were later withdrawn or quashed in court.’

Full Story

The Independent, 7th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Certainly Uncertain: the future of prosecutions in relation to Coronavirus Support Payments – Carmelite Chambers

Posted February 2nd, 2021 in coronavirus, fraud, loans, news, prosecutions by sally

‘William England and Mark Watson consider the widely reported instances of fraud in relation to the government’s coronavirus support schemes and the implications for prosecutions.’

Full Story

Carmelite Chambers, 28th January 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

CPS denies major change in rape charging policy despite falling rates – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has denied making major changes to its approach to charging rape, at a landmark legal hearing at the court of appeal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS accused of ‘systemic illegality’ in charging rape cases – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2021 in codes of practice, Crown Prosecution Service, equality, news, prosecutions, rape, women by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been accused of “systemic illegality” in its approach to charging rape cases in a landmark judicial review into how the crime is prosecuted.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rape victims speak out ahead of legal challenge to CPS policy – The Guardian

‘Rape victims at the heart of a landmark court case have told the Guardian they have been failed by the Crown Prosecution Service, ahead of a legal challenge to how the crime is charged and prosecuted.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘They decided the jury wouldn’t believe me’: CPS accused of secret change to rape policy – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2021 in Crown Prosecution Service, juries, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘In a landmark hearing this week, rape victims aim to discover if their complaints failed due to a covert move to drop “weak cases.” ‘

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office criticised prosecutors for ‘applying the law’ in immigration cases, CPS chief says – The Independent

‘The government has repeatedly criticised prosecutors for doing “no more than applying the law”, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Another SRA prosecution fails but regulator avoids costs order – Legal Futures

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) was justified in prosecuting two law firm partners even though all of the allegations were dismissed, a tribunal has ruled.

Full Story

Legal Futures, 21st January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Overseas Operations Bill ‘Does nothing to protect soldiers and breaches international law’ – Each Other

‘A former senior legal officer for the British Army has spoken out against The Overseas Operations Bill currently on its way through parliament, saying it does nothing to protect soldiers and breaches international law.’

Full Story

Each Other, 12th January 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

More than 1,000 Extinction Rebellion activists taken to court – The Guardian

‘More than 1,000 people who took part in environmental direct action organised by Extinction Rebellion have been taken to court in what experts say is one of the biggest crackdowns on protest in British legal history.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New CPS guidance on charging for police and prosecutors – Crown Prosecution Service

‘NEW legal guidance to set updated rules on charging criminal cases has been published by the Director of Public Prosecutions today.

The Director’s Guidance on Charging 6th Edition (DG6) has been unveiled by The Crown Prosecution Service with the new rules coming into immediate effect. The document, which was last updated in 2013, provides a clear set of guidelines for prosecutors and police to ensure cases are referred to the CPS at the right time; with the right material and information so that prosecutors can make immediate charging decisions and cases pass effectively and efficiently through the criminal justice system.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 31st December 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk