MoJ changes to indefinite jail sentences do not go far enough, says UN expert – The Guardian

‘A UN torture expert has said changes to the imprisonment for public protection (IPP) scheme in England and Wales do not go far enough and repeated her call for prisoners jailed under the indefinite sentencing regime to be granted release dates.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

James Bulger killer refused prison release by Parole Board – The Independent

‘Child killer Jon Venables has lost a Parole Board bid to be freed from jail. The 41-year-old, who tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, still poses a danger to children and could go on to offend again, the Parole Board concluded.’

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The Independent, 14th December 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Two jailed for life for Dariusz Michalowski torture and murder in 2011 – BBC News

Posted October 27th, 2023 in imprisonment, murder, news, perverting the course of justice, sentencing, torture by sally

‘Two men have been jailed for life for the torture and murder of a man 12 years ago in West Yorkshire.’

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BBC News, 26th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UN torture expert urges UK government to review indefinite sentences – The Guardian

Posted August 31st, 2023 in imprisonment, news, self-harm, sentencing, suicide, torture by tracey

‘A UN torture expert has called on the UK government to urgently review all sentences imposed on prisoners held indefinitely under the “widely discredited” imprisonment for public protection (IPP) scheme.’

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The Guardian, 30th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

British academic asks Foreign Office for formal apology over failure to spot torture during his detention in UAE – The Independent

‘The Foreign Office failed to notice signs of torture and provide help to a British academic during his detention in the United Arab Emirates, a watchdog has found.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK response to UN Committee Against Torture’s list of issues – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 17th, 2023 in Ministry of Justice, news, torture, United Nations by tracey

‘The UN Committee Against Torture presented a List of Issues prior to submission of the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is part of the reporting cycle under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This paper is the response submitted by the UK government to the Committee.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

High Court dismisses negligence claim over failed group action – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has struck out a negligence claim against the law firm and eight barristers who acted on a failed group action on behalf of more than 40,000 Kenyans against the Foreign Office.’

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Legal Futures, 30th May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK torture policy labelled ‘fatally flawed’ after watchdog report – The Guardian

‘The UK’s policy on torture has been described as “fatally flawed” after a watchdog identified non-compliance by intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Defence.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jimmy Prout death: Chances missed to save him – report – BBC News

‘Multiple opportunities to save a man who was tortured and murdered by people he considered friends were missed, a review has found.’

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BBC News, 31st March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office accused of failing vulnerable groups in detention centres – watchdog – The Independent

Posted January 13th, 2023 in asylum, detention, government departments, immigration, news, refugees, torture, victims by tracey

‘A watchdog says a belief among some Home Office staff that migrants are trying to abuse the system is causing “shortcomings” in the care of vulnerable groups in immigration removal centres. The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s (ICIBI) report focuses on the Home Office’s Rule 35 process, calling it “ineffective”.’

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The Independent, 12th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sebastian Kalinowski: couple jailed for murdering teenage son – The Guardian

‘A woman and her partner have each been sentenced to 39 years in prison for the “horrific” murder of 15-year-old Sebastian Kalinowski.’

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The Guardian, 4th November 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rwanda deportation: Asylum seeker ‘treated like animal’ in UK launches legal challenge against electronic tag – The Independent

‘An asylum seeker electronically tagged by the government after being selected for removal to Rwanda is launching a legal challenge.’

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The Independent, 13th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rwanda flight migrants include torture victims, say doctors – BBC News

‘A detailed clinical review of the backgrounds of asylum seekers likely to be sent to Rwanda has found many may have been tortured.’

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BBC News, 1st September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rwanda asylum plan: UK ministers partially lose Rwanda secrecy bid – BBC News

‘Ministers have partially lost an attempt to keep secret a series of comments about Rwanda from an adviser.’

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BBC News, 17th August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Treatment of UK prisoners during Covid meets UN definition of torture – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2022 in coronavirus, mental health, news, prisons, torture, United Nations by sally

‘By and large we know by now how hospitals, care homes, schools and most other state-run institutions coped, or didn’t, with the Covid pandemic. But not until now, with this shocking, distressing, authentic and academically robust study, have we had the unvarnished truth about conditions in UK prisons.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sudanese trafficking victims must stay in detention, judge rules – The Guardian

‘Three Sudanese victims of torture and trafficking who were threatened with being deported to Rwanda on a controversial charter flight last week have had their pleas to be released from detention rejected by a high court judge.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jimmy Prout murder: Brother welcomes review news – BBC News

‘A review into the brutal death of a vulnerable man who was tortured and murdered six years ago is due to be finished within weeks, a council said.’

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BBC News, 14th February 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Briton gets high court go-ahead to sue Interpol chief over torture claim – The Guardian

‘A British football fan who claims he was tortured and falsely imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates in 2019 while on holiday there to watch Asian Cup matches is suing the new head of Interpol.’

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The Guardian, 8th February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

One date to rule them all: McQuillan, McGuigan and McKenna [2021] UKSC 55 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 10th, 2022 in appeals, human rights, news, Northern Ireland, Supreme Court, torture by tracey

‘In one of its final decisions of 2021, McQuillan, McGuigan and McKenna, the UK Supreme Court addressed challenges to the effectiveness of police investigations into events which took place during the Northern Ireland conflict. The European Court has long maintained that the right to life (Article 2 ECHR) and the prohibition upon torture and inhuman and degrading treatment (Article 3 ECHR) carry with them positive obligations on the state to conduct effective investigations. These “legacy” cases not only draw the Courts into debates over some of the most contentious aspects of the Northern Ireland conflict, in particular the involvement of state agents in killings and the infliction of serious harms upon individuals, but they also pose questions about how human rights law applied in the context of Northern Ireland as a jurisdiction before the enactment of the Human Rights Act 1998.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th January 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Supreme Court to rule on investigation into ‘hooded men’ case – The Independent

Posted December 15th, 2021 in appeals, armed forces, news, Northern Ireland, Supreme Court, torture by tracey

‘The Supreme Court in London will rule later on whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland is sufficiently independent to carry out an investigation into the case of the “hooded men”.’

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The Independent, 15th December 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk