New government data reveals growing use of out of court measures to deal with criminal offences, prompting concerns that they are being deployed to relieve pressure on the justice system. Figures published today show that 164,000 out of court disposals were issued between March 2020 to March 2021, 9% more than the previous year. This […]
Bar warns of reliance on informal police sanctions Read More »
Coronavirus has had a ‘devastating’ impact on courts and the effect of virtual hearings is still ‘fundamentally unclear’, an influential Lords committee has found. In a comprehensive report published today, the House of Lords constitution committee said the backlog in the criminal courts has reached ‘crisis levels’ and the quality of justice is ‘increasingly at
‘Neither acceptable nor inevitable’: Peers gives verdict on Covid Courts Read More »
HM Inspectorate of Prisons thematic review explores the effects of the restrictions introduced in prisons during 2020 in response to COVID-19. They interviewed men, women and children living on standard residential units who had not been able to attend work or education and had typically spent more than 22 hours a day in their cells
What happens to prisoners in a pandemic? Read More »
The Supreme Court has curbed the Serious Fraud Office’s extra-territorial powers, ruling that it cannot demand documents held outside the UK by a foreign company under the Criminal Justice Act 1987. In KRB v SFO, the Supreme Court found that the SFO overreached itself when it issued a notice under section 2(3) of the Criminal Justice 1987.
Supreme Court clips Serious Fraud Office\’s wings Read More »
Labour is calling for juries to be cut from 12 members to seven, to stem the \”gravest crisis\” in the justice system since World War Two. Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said action was needed to clear the backlog of thousands of cases. He argued that smaller juries and the use of more temporary courts
Controversial Labour Party Proposal to cut jury size from twelve to seven Read More »
Urgent action is needed to tackle an “unprecedented backlog” of court cases built up in England and Wales during the pandemic that has “severe implications” for victims, the four justice chief inspectors have warned. The plight of prisoners locked up for most of the day because of Covid-19 and disruption to services for young offenders were also highlighted in a report
Case backlog threatens criminal justice system in England and Wales, say inspectors Read More »
he Home Office will reverse bail reforms after an overhaul intended to speed up the system instead made police investigations longer and left victims at increased risk. Theresa May put forward plans to overhaul the system five years ago when she was home secretary, She tried to reduce the amount of time spent on investigations
Nearly 350 people have been wrongly charged under laws covering Coronavirus restrictions and some have been wrongly convicted. In May, the Crown Prosecution Service announced a review of all charges brought under the new laws. Its latest figures show that all 218 people charged under the Coronavirus Act and 111 people prosecuted under the Health
Hundreds wrongly charged or convicted in virus cases Read More »
Vulnerable individuals now have the option to pre-record evidence in all Crown courts across England and Wales in the latest government move to relieve pressure on victims of crime. From today, vulnerable alleged victims and witnesses such as children or people with disabilities will be able to pre-record cross-examination evidence to avoid the stress of addressing
Pre-Recorded Evidence Now An Option Across England and Wales Read More »
Crown court cases are being delayed until 2023, the innocent penalised more than the guilty, and the under-funded, criminal justice system brought “on its knees”, according to the chair of the Criminal Bar Association in England and Wales. James Mulholland QC told the Guardian that while Covid had intensified the crisis, deep cuts to the
Criminal Justice System is on its knees Read More »
