MoJ data suggests 95% of SEN tribunal cases lost, withdrawn or conceded by local authorities, claims charity – Local Government Lawyer

‘Some 95% of decisions at special educational needs tribunals in 2017/18 were either won by parents, or saw local authorities withdraw or concede, it has been claimed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th October 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mega-survey highlights need to grow “legal confidence” – Legal Futures

‘The largest legal needs survey ever run in England and Wales shows what a difference professional advice and ‘legal confidence’ among consumers makes to the outcome of their matters.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tougher hate crime sentences at record levels – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted October 29th, 2019 in Crown Prosecution Service, hate crime, news, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘Courts are handing down tougher sentences in almost three out of four hate crime cases – the highest proportion ever, according to new figures published today.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 25th October 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

NHS chiefs attempt to blacklist homeopathy amid anti-vax fears – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2019 in medical treatment, medicines, news, statistics by sally

‘NHS leaders have gone to war on homeopathy by attempting to have the practice blacklisted amid fears it is fuelling anti-vax propaganda. The chief executive and medical director of NHS England have written to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), the statutory body that oversees healthcare regulation, urging it to strip accreditation from the Society of Homeopaths (SoH).’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 28th October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rape victims face ‘culture of disbelief’ despite #MeToo movement, says commissioner – The Independent

‘People who are raped face a “culture of disbelief” when trying to obtain justice, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales has said. Dame Vera Baird QC said a combination of myths surrounding rape and a drop in the number of prosecutions, despite record volumes of cases being reported to police, meant many victims feel like they were unsupported by the criminal justice system.’

Full Story

The Independent, 27th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Stop and search up by almost a third in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘The number of stop and searches carried out by police officers in England and Wales has increased by 32% in a year, official figures have shown.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dozens of law firms enabling corruption, report finds – Legal Futures

Posted October 25th, 2019 in corruption, law firms, money laundering, news, professional conduct, statistics by sally

‘Dozens of UK law firms are – wittingly or unwittingly – providing corrupt individuals with services that enable them to “move, hide and defend their ill-gotten gains with impunity”, Transparency International (TI) has claimed.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Child sex abuse survivors ‘traumatised again’ by facing attackers in court buildings before hearings – The Independent

‘Survivors of childhood sexual abuse are forced to come face-to-face with their tormentors in court buildings while waiting for cases to be heard, a report has revealed.
Such shocks are among a host of failings by authorities and advisers that are regularly leaving people “at risk of being traumatised all over again” and feeling “discarded” by the justice system.’

Full Story

The Independent, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sex abuse compensation rules ‘must change’ – BBC News

‘Rules that mean some victims of childhood sex abuse are denied compensation must be changed, MPs have told the Victoria Derbyshire programme.’

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BBC News, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drugs: UK should consider legalising possession, MPs say – BBC News

‘The government should investigate decriminalising the possession of all illegal drugs in a bid to prevent the rising number of related deaths, a group of MPs has said.’

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BBC News, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims of child abuse told accusations could ‘ruin perpetrator’s life’, inquiry finds – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 22nd, 2019 in child abuse, inquiries, news, statistics, victims by sally

‘Victims of child sex abuse are often told by the authority figures they confide in that their allegations could “ruin the perpetrators life”, an analysis of over 3,200 cases found.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 21st October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hate crimes double in five years in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘The number of hate crimes reported to police has more than doubled since 2013, according to government figures, which also showed a large increase last year in offences against people based on sexual orientation.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dog thieves are not being pursued by police as £500 rule leaves pets languishing as low priority, say campaigners – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 17th, 2019 in animal cruelty, animals, criminal justice, dogs, gangs, news, police, sentencing, statistics, theft by sally

‘Dogs may be our best friends and their unwavering loyalty priceless but thefts of them are not being pursued by police because most are worth under £500 and so rated a minor low level crime, say campaigners.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The connection between online hate speech and real-world hate crime – OUP Blog

‘Online hate speech is on the rise. All available academic and government sources indicate a year on year increase in the number of people being exposed to hateful content on social media, online news item comments, and websites. Over half (53%) of UK adult Internet users reported seeing hateful content online in 2018, an increase from 47% in 2017. In 2016, 34% of 12-15-year olds recalled seeing hateful content online. This figure increased to 45% in 2018. Of those who witnessed online hate, less than half took action in relation to the most recent incident.’

Full Story

OUP Blog, 12th October 2019

Source: blog.oup.com

Howard League for Penal Reform: Parmoor Lecture – Crown Prosecution Service

‘I aim to be clear this evening about my role as the nation’s chief prosecutor, on behalf of the CPS which I lead. At a time of national upheaval and some political uncertainty, the role of a properly-funded and fully independent prosecution authority is absolutely pivotal.’

Full speech

Crown Prosecution Service 14th October 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.ukwww.cps.gov.ukwww.cps.gov.uk

Release under investigation gives criminals ‘carte blanche’, says CBA – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 15th, 2019 in criminal justice, news, recidivists, statistics by sally

‘Too many suspects are being released under investigation, giving violent offenders ‘carte blanche to reoffend’, the Criminal Bar Association has warned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

One in four young women scared they will be sacked if they report sexual harassment, study finds – The Independent

‘One in four young women are scared they will be sacked if they report sexual harassment at work, a study has found. Carried out by the Young Women’s Trust and released on the second anniversary of the #metoo movement, the research found that just 6 per cent of young women who had been sexually harassed at work reported the misconduct.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Number of British modern slavery victims up 72% in a year, figures show – The Independent

Posted October 14th, 2019 in children, drug trafficking, forced labour, gangs, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of British people identified as modern slavery victims has surged by 72 per cent in a year, according to figures, fuelling concerns about “county lines” drugs gangs and other forms of labour exploitation.’

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The Independent, 14th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Scheme giving ex-offenders a stable place to live up and running – Ministry of Justice

‘A scheme giving vulnerable ex-offenders stable accommodation to help them rebuild their lives and stay away from crime is now up and running, Prisons Minister Lucy Frazer announced today (10 October 2019).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 10th october 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Financial Remedy & Divorce Update, October 2019 – Family Law Week

‘Naomi Shelton, Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP considers the important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during September 2019.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 10th October 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk