Criminal Law

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 […]

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

There are 426,086 cases outstanding at the Magistrates Court, prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 this figure was 338,425. This is a fall from the previous high of 444,960 in July 2020, this suggests there is some movement as far as the backlog is concerned. There are 49,760 cases outstanding in the Crown Court, prior

A Government watchdog has raised concerns that councils and police are acting like uncontrolled spies, with monitoring by surveillance cameras so widespread it is equivalent to being tracked by MI5. Tony Porter, the surveillance camera commissioner, said the ‘overt’ technology used by police and councils to track people via car number plates, facial recognition and

The new measures target antique firearms used in violent crime and mean that up to 26,000 guns will now require firearms licences. Loopholes exploited by criminals to use antique firearms in violent crime will be closed by new laws introduced today (Monday 9 November). The antique firearms exemption allows collectors and dealers to possess and

Concerns have been raised after it was revealed that undercover police used the identities of at least 19 dead children and had long-term deceitful relationships with their activist targets. A judge-led inquiry will examine miscarriages of justice and whether the widespread infiltration of social and environmental groups over the last forty years meant that undercover

A record number of crime victims refused to support prosecutions as they are losing confidence in the ability of the police to solve crimes. Home office figures showed that investigations into 25.3% of crimes were cancelled after the victims said they would not support the police- nearly treble the proportion in 2014-15. The disclosure follows

The Ministry of Justice is drawing up plans to reduce the number of people sitting on a jury from 12 to nine in order to help social distancing in courtrooms. Criminal courts face enormous waiting lists after having to pause all but their most urgent cases for three months since the start of lockdown. The backlog has led