‘Joint enterprise’ prosecution figures released – BBC News
‘More than 4,500 people were prosecuted for homicides involving two or more defendants over the past eight years, a report has said.’
BBC News, 1st April 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: reports
Mid-Staffs scandal: Nursing and Midwifery Council criticised – BBC News
‘The Nursing and Midwifery Council is facing more criticism over its handling of disciplinary cases in a report by the Professional Standards Authority.’
BBC News, 31st March 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Police failures over domestic violence exposed in damning report – The Guardian
‘The home secretary is to take personal charge of the way police respond to domestic abuse in England and Wales after a damning report exposed “alarming and unacceptable” weaknesses.’
The Guardian, 27th March 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Offenders choosing jail time ahead of paying confiscation orders: MPs – Local Government Lawyer
‘Offenders are choosing to spend extra time in jail rather than pay confiscation orders and the sanctions for such non-payment do not work, the Public Accounts Committee has said.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2014
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Daniel Pelka case council branded inadequate by Ofsted – BBC News
‘Children’s services in Coventry – in the spotlight since four-year-old Daniel Pelka’s death – have been branded “inadequate” by Ofsted.’
BBC News, 21st March 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Disabled girl ‘lost in the system’ by Birmingham City Council for four years – BBC News
‘Birmingham City Council “singularly failed” a disabled child “lost in the system” for more than four years, the Local Government Ombudsman has ruled.’
BBC News, 20th March 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Mental Capacity Act 2005 – a damning report – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘The House of Lords Select Committee appointed to undertake post-legislative scrutiny of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005) has now reported. After a mammoth evidence gathering exercise (the transcripts of the oral evidence received and the written evidence submitted ran to almost 2,000 pages), the Committee has provided a damning report upon almost all aspects of the (lack of) implementation of the MCA 2005.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 17th March 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Armed forces could be given immunity from human rights laws – Daily Telegraph
‘The armed forces could be exempted from human rights laws because they are hampering British military operations in the field, Philip Hammond has said. Mr Hammond said the government is prepared to introduce new legislation to protect the army from the “encroachment” of civil litigation on the battlefield.’
Daily Telegraph, 17th March 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Statutory backing for pre-nups – a welcome proposal – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘The Law Commission began in 2009 to examine the status and enforceability of marital property agreements, which we refer to as pre-nups. Pre-nups do not currently have statutory backing, but this may be about to change. In their report published on 27 February 2014, the Law Commission recommended the introduction of legally binding “qualifying nuptial agreements”. The report, Matrimonial Property Needs and Agreements, includes a draft bill which would bring pre-nups into law.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 11th March 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Vulnerable people ‘being kept prisoner in care homes’ – The Guardian
‘Tens of thousands of the most vulnerable patients are effectively being kept prisoner in care homes and hospitals through misuse of mental health laws, a damning House of Lords investigation has found.’
The Guardian, 13th March 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Stephen Lawrence independent review – Publications (gov.uk)
‘Report and summary of findings from Mark Ellison’s independent review.’
Publications (gov.uk), 6th March 2014
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?official_document_status=command_and_act_papers
Stephen Lawrence: report on police corruption allegations to be published – The Guardian
‘A report into allegations that police corruption shielded the racist mob that murdered Stephen Lawrence will be published on Thursday by the Home Office. The report was ordered by the home secretary after pressure from Lady Lawrence, Stephen’s mother. She has always believed corruption played a part in police failings and hopes the new report will lead to a fresh official inquiry.’
The Guardian, 5th March 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ex-miner “deprived of his liberty” when prevented from dying at home – Local Government Lawyer
‘A 77-year-old former miner was deprived of his liberty – without proper account of the law being taken – when he was prevented from going home to die beside his brother, a joint report from two Ombudsmen has found.’
Local Government Lawyer, 4th March 2014
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Pre-nuptial agreements ‘should be legally binding in divorce cases’ – The Guardian
‘Prenuptial agreements should be legally binding in divorce settlements, but only after the needs of the separating couple and any children have been taken into account, the Law Commission has recommended.’
The Guardian, 27th February 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Bereaved families at the heart of the coroner system – Ministry of Justice
‘Bereaved loved ones will be put at the heart of the coroner system, Justice Minister Simon Hughes said today as he launched a new guide for people who have to become involved with inquests.’
Ministry of Justice, 24th February 2014
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Women prisoners ‘coerced into sex with staff’ – BBC News
‘Female prisoners in England and Wales have been coerced into having sex with staff in return for favours such as alcohol and cigarettes, a report says.’
BBC News, 25th February 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Revealed: How the CPS betrays victims of crime – numbers of witness protection staff falls by 57% in just three years – The Independent
‘The Crown Prosecution Service has cut the number of staff it employs to look after witnesses – some of whom are victims of crime – by more than half in just three years, an investigation has revealed.’
The Independent, 24th February 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Bingham Centre Review into Streamlining Judicial Review Published – Blackstone Chambers
‘Last October the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law established a Review to consider and report on possible ways of improving judicial review procedures in the Administrative Court, to save and protect public funds, in a manner consistent with the rule of law.’
Blackstone Chambers, 19th February 2014
Source: www.blackstonechambers.com
Magistrates should sit in police stations, report says – BBC News
‘The government should allow magistrates to dispense on-the-spot justice inside police stations at peak times, a report by a right-leaning think tank has said.’
BBC News, 21st February 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Pentonville prison’s future in doubt after highly critical inspection report – The Guardian
‘The future of the Victorian-era Pentonville prison in north London has been put in doubt after a highly critical report said it cannot operate as a modern, 21st-century jail.’
The Guardian, 18th February 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
