Why are pregnant women in prison? – Coventry University

Posted January 31st, 2022 in criminal justice, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, prisons, women by sally

‘The aim of this study is to find out why pregnant women spend time in prison, on remand, on recall from licence conditions and on sentence. Research shows that women very rarely commit violent or serious crime, and very few women present any kind of danger to the public. Research also identifies that pregnant women are especially vulnerable and in need of extra care – so this raises critical questions about the incarceration of pregnant women. ‘

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Coventry University, November 2021

Source: www.coventry.ac.uk

Diversity at the Bar improved again in 2021 but women and people from ethnic minorities are still underrepresented as QCs, says BSB report – Bar Standards Board

Posted January 31st, 2022 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, queen's counsel, statistics, women by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its annual report on Diversity at the Bar. The report shows that the profession became increasingly diverse in 2021 and that a greater proportion of barristers disclosed their demographic data.’

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Bar Standards Board, 28th January 2022

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Women’s groups seek end to UK courts’ powers to jail people for own protection – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2022 in criminal justice, equality, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, news, racism, women by tracey

‘A coalition of women’s rights organisations has called on the UK government to abolish a law that gives courts the power to send people to prison for their own protection, as part of a 10-point plan to tackle inequalities in the criminal justice system.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of pupil barristers rebounds after Covid-related slump -Legal Futures

Posted January 28th, 2022 in barristers, coronavirus, diversity, news, pupillage, statistics, women by tracey

‘The number of pupil barristers has rebounded after the pandemic sent it crashing, while women increasingly dominate the junior end of the Bar, new figures have shown.’

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Legal Futures, 28th January 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Reforms to protect disabled and LGBT+ victims, criminalise extremist misogynist ‘incel’ hate material, and safeguard free speech – Family Law

‘The Law Commission has announced recommendations to reform hate crime legislation to ensure that disabled and LGBT+ victims receive the same protections as victims with other protected characteristics (race and religion). If enacted, the reforms would ensure all five characteristics are protected equally by the law.’

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Family Law, 27th January 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Activist deceived into relationship with Met officer wins £229,000 compensation – The Guardian

‘An environmental activist who was deceived into a two-year intimate relationship by an undercover police officer has been awarded £229,000 in compensation after winning a landmark legal case.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met apologises to woman for ‘sexist, derogatory’ language in strip-search – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police have apologised and paid compensation to an academic for “sexist, derogatory and unacceptable language” used by officers about her when she was strip-searched.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hymen repair surgery and virginity testing to be banned in UK – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2022 in cosmetic surgery, government departments, news, women by sally

‘The government is planning on banning a cosmetic surgery called hymenoplasty across the UK.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court to hear claims Sarah Everard vigil ban breached human rights – The Guardian

‘Women’s rights activists are at the high court to argue that the police’s decision to ban a vigil for Sarah Everard in London was a breach of their human rights.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Self-Employment Support Scheme appeal dismissed – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R. (on the application of Motherhood Plan) v HM Treasury [2021] EWCA Civ 1703. In a judgment handed down on 24 November 2021, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal concerning the lawfulness of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (“the Scheme”) which was introduced by the Government in April 2020 during the first lockdown as part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th January 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Prolific romance fraudster jailed as CPS issues a warning – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 17th, 2022 in Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, gangs, imprisonment, news, sentencing, victims, women by tracey

‘A stark warning to the public about falling victim to romance fraud has been issued by the Crown Prosecution Service – a month before Valentine’s Day – as a fraudster is jailed for conning at least nine people.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 14th January 2022

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Call to stop jailing pregnant women in England after baby dies in prison toilet – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2022 in bereavement, birth, death in custody, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, women by tracey

‘Vulnerable pregnant women are being imprisoned for non-violent offences, in some cases within just a few weeks of their babies’ due date, according to new research set to be published on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bristol strip club ban ‘will put dancers in danger’ – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2022 in consultations, local government, news, sexual offences, women by tracey

‘Closing strip clubs in Bristol will push the sex industry underground and put dancers “into more danger”, a woman who works one of the venues says.’

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BBC News, 11th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One of the only black female QCs in England and Wales calls for action on inequality – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2022 in barristers, diversity, equality, minorities, news, queen's counsel, women by sally

‘One of the only black female QCs in England and Wales has said the time has come for action and “no more talk” when it comes to tackling race inequality in the legal profession.’

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The Guardian, 6th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Violent men who harm women warned that police are increasing action against them – National Police Chiefs’ Council

Posted December 15th, 2021 in codes of practice, criminal justice, domestic violence, news, police, victims, violence, women by tracey

‘Police in England and Wales will take wide-ranging action to deliver a fundamental shift in priority of violence against women and girls and give victims a consistently high standard of service wherever they are.’

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National Police Chiefs' Council, 15th December 2021

Source: news.npcc.police.uk

Campaign to make misogyny a hate crime rebuffed by Law Commission – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2021 in consultations, gender, hate crime, Law Commission, news, women by sally

‘A coalition of women’s rights campaigners have voiced their disappointment and frustration after the Law Commission decided to reject a proposal to make misogyny a hate crime.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pestering women in the street to be outlawed – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 6th, 2021 in criminal justice, harassment, hate crime, Law Commission, news, sexual offences, women by sally

‘Public sexual harassment, such as cat-calling and making sexually explicit comments, to be made an offence in wake of Sarah Everard murder.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd December 2021

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jailed women in UK five times more likely to suffer stillbirths, data shows – The Guardian

Posted December 6th, 2021 in bail, bills, birth, imprisonment, news, pregnancy, prisons, sentencing, statistics, women by sally

‘Women in prison are five times more likely to have a stillbirth and twice as likely to give birth to a premature baby that needs special care, new data collected by the Observer shows.’

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The Guardian, December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Navy rape survivor backs civilian court trials for serious offences – BBC News

‘A member of the Royal Navy, whose rape case collapsed in a military court, has backed calls for serious offences committed in the UK to be investigated and tried through civilian courts.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Greenwich hotel murder: Serial abuser guilty of killing girlfriend – BBC News

Posted November 11th, 2021 in domestic violence, families, kidnapping, murder, news, rape, sexual offences, women by sally

‘A “serial abuser of women” has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend at a south-east London hotel.’

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BBC News, 10th November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk