Man who called Tory MP Mike Freer’s office saying ‘I’m coming for you’ is sentenced – The Independent

‘A 46-year-old man who called the office of Tory MP Mike Freer and said “I’m coming for you” has been given a community order.’

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The Independent, 6th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Current Affairs Digest: Law – House of Lords Library

‘Sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) were abolished in 2012. However, this abolition did not apply retrospectively to prisoners already serving IPPs. Recent prison population data on IPPs has shown over 1,200 prisoners have never been released. This briefing examines concerns raised by campaign groups, professional bodies and international partners about the impact of IPPs on prisoners’ release prospects and mental health.’

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House of Lords Library, 6th February 2024

Source: lordslibrary.parliament.uk

Brianna Ghey: Why teenagers who killed her can be named – BBC News

‘Two teenagers who murdered 16-year-old Brianna Ghey after devising a “kill list” of children to target will be named for the first time today.’

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BBC News, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Somerset women in custody offered alternative to court – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2024 in courts, criminal justice, news, rehabilitation, women by tracey

‘Women in Somerset who’ve been arrested for the first time for low-level crime are being offered an alternative to going to court.’

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BBC News, 8th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Reforms bring hope to rehabilitated people still serving abolished indefinite sentences – Ministry of Justice

‘Thousands of rehabilitated ex-prisoners serving long-since abolished indefinite sentences will become eligible to have their licence period terminated earlier as part of new reforms.’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th December 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Barrier to employment lifted for thousands of ex-offenders – Ministry of Justice

‘Over 120,000 former offenders will find it easier to get work and turn their lives away from crime following a change in the law.’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Removal of plaque from church for safeguarding reasons – Law & Religion UK

‘“Guidance on Contested Heritage issued by the Church Buildings Council and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England [in 2021] emphasizes that it is of particular importance to the Church that its buildings should be welcoming to all, and that any symbols of injustice and sources of pain that they may contain are acknowledged and addressed“.

So noted Hodge Ch. in Re Removal of a Commemorative Plaque for Safeguarding Reasons [2023] ECC Oxf 9[*] in his determination on a petition to remove an unauthorized commemorative plaque from within a church.’

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Law & Religion UK, 17th October 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Wandsworth Prison unsafe and inhumane – watchdog report – BBC News

‘A men’s prison in south-west London has been deemed “unsafe and inhumane”, a watchdog report has warned.’

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BBC News, 11th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sex offender avoids jail for driving car into Downing Street gates – The Guardian

‘A sex offender has avoided jail after driving his car into the gates of Downing Street in what a judge described as an “attack on democracy”.’

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The Guardian, 26th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pioneering initiative to force offenders to get clean or face jail time – Ministry of Justice

‘Criminals serving community orders for low level offences will be closely monitored by judges as part of a new pilot forcing offenders to clean up their acts or be put behind bars.’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Protection of the public and the retrospective application of penalties – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 29 November 2019 Usman Khan attended a rehabilitation event at Fishmongers’ Hall and stabbed five people, two fatally. On 2 February 2020 Sudesh Amman attacked two passers-by in Streatham High Road with a knife before being shot dead by police. Both men had previously been convicted of terrorism offences. Both men had been automatically released on licence halfway through their custodial sentences.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th May 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Institute of Licensing issues briefing note on Rehabilitation of Offenders Act – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 29th, 2023 in criminal records, disclosure, licensing, local government, news, rehabilitation by sally

‘The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has issued a briefing note on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 in order to provide assistance to licensing authorities, applicants and representatives in relation to protected convictions and cautions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Paedophile given custody of girl he then abused and got pregnant – BBC News

‘A young girl who became pregnant after abuse by a convicted paedophile had been placed in his care despite authorities knowing his past, a report has revealed.’

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BBC News, 26th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother wins legal battle over tribunal’s refusal to say why son’s killer was discharged from hospital – The Guardian

‘A woman has won a legal battle against a mental health tribunal over its refusal to provide her with the the reasons for releasing her son’s killer into the community.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The use and abuse of the Rehabilitation Code in liability disputed cases – Exchange Chambers

‘The benefits of rehabilitation are well known. Numerous academic studies have demonstrated its importance and the net economic benefit (to both society and insurers) from its early introduction and funding. Despite that, many insurers continue to take a hostile and unsupportive attitude driven, perhaps, by a suspicion that a claimant will seek to introduce care, therapies, equipment or accommodation that might somehow increase the value of any eventual claim. I don’t believe that to be the case. In fact, my own experience is strongly that those insurers and defendant solicitors who actively support and fund early rehabilitation (and it is right to highlight that many do), even when liability is disputed, invariably end up achieving an earlier settlement with a costs saving and, on occasions, a saving in damages arising from the better recovery enjoyed by the claimant.’

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Exchange Chambers, 22nd December 2022

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

Pay for Work in Prison – by Virginia Mantouvalou – UK Labour Law

Posted December 14th, 2022 in employment, news, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

‘Prison is not a good place to be. It was recently reported that prisons are overflowing in the UK. An increasing number of people are locked up, with limited resources spent on supporting them during incarceration and after that. This is despite the fact that it is often people with a background of socio-economic disadvantage who are caught in the web of criminal justice, and that if not supported post-release, they may re-offend and end up in prison again. There is also widespread prejudice against prisoners, as we know fully well in the UK with the right to vote for prisoners saga (analysed here). The need for reform is pressing (with scholars and activists also pushing for prison abolition).’

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UK Labour Law, 12th December 2022

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

Restorative justice: Victims who meet offenders say it helps recovery – BBC News

Posted November 25th, 2022 in criminal justice, news, prisons, rehabilitation, victims by tracey

‘More than 70% of victims in Greater Manchester who chose to communicate with offenders have said it helped their recovery, research has shown. Greater Manchester Combined Authority said 1,500 victims had been in touch with their perpetrator through the restorative justice system since 2019.’

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BBC News, 25th November 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Entrepreneur prisoners bid to turn back on crime – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 18th, 2022 in crime prevention, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, rehabilitation by tracey

‘Prisoners today (17 November 2022) pitched their business ideas to a “Dragons’ Den” panel as part of a ground-breaking scheme to steer them away from crime.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th November 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

New Problem-Solving Courts to combat drug and alcohol-fuelled crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Ground-breaking new courts will direct drug and alcohol abusers to tackle their addiction head-on or face tough consequences.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Thousands of offenders in work as UK businesses help break cycle of crime – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 15th, 2022 in employment, government departments, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation by tracey

‘Almost 4,000 ex-offenders have been helped into work since the launch of a major drive to increase employment and cut crime.’

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Ministry of Justice, 15th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk