Daily Crime News

Critics condemn failure to end practice despite tragedies in Kent and Cheshire prisonsExperts have warned that more babies could die in prison owing to the government’s expansion of female prison places and ministers’ refusal to grant multiple requests to end the incarceration of pregnant women.The warning comes after an investigation report published by the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman on Wednesday, revealed in chilling detail how in September 2019 an 18-year-old prisoner at HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Kent, was forced to deliver her baby alone in her cell. The baby did not survive. Continue reading...

Lord Chancellor's speech at his Swearing-in Ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice on 23 September 2021.

The Law Officers, and the Lord Chancellor have been sworn into their new roles at the Royal Courts of Justice

Gurvinder Singh has seen his sentence increased following an intervention by the then Solicitor General, the Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP.

The CBA (@TheCriminalBar) retweeted:January to March 2021 15,446 outstanding cases in London courts up 8% cent on previous 3 months and the highest since 2014, according to @Telegraph analysis twice as fast as nationally where it totalled 59,532 up 4% in 3 months ⁦@TheCriminalBar⁩ telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/09/2…- James Rossiter (@JamesDRossiter)02:50 - Sep 23, 2021

Rosemary Ainslie, head of Special Crime at the CPS, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised police to charge Jonathon Seed with making a false declaration in the nomination papers for the Wiltshire 2020 Police and Crime Commissioner elections. “The charge relates to an allegation he made a false declaration that he was not disqualified from election as a Police and Crime Commissioner.

European human rights commissioner warns Northern Ireland secretary that amnesty is ‘deeply problematic’Boris Johnson’s plan to impose a statute of limitations to end all prosecutions related to the Troubles before 1998 could be in breach of international law, a European human rights commissioner has told the government.Dunja Mijatović of the Council of Europe has written to the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, saying the UK’s proposals appear indistinguishable from an unconditional amnesty for those not yet convicted. Continue reading...

Teric Aroriode-Francis has been sent to prison after his original sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge a third suspect, Sergey Fedotov, in relation to the 2018 Salisbury Novichok attack.

Efforts to deliver speedier justice across London have been stepped up this week after a fifth Nightingale court opened its doors in the capital.

Detailed economic research published ahead of autumn spending review.

Rules and guidance for staff and prisoners on the new Prisoner Complaints Policy Framework.

It is alleged the group was part of a convoy travelling through St John's Wood.

Fewer than half of motorists surveyed by DVLA know they must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away in order to drive safely.

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is being overhauled in anticipation of a “bow wave” of more than 20,000 extra jailed criminals who will push the prison population to a post-war high of nearly 100,000 by 2026.’ Full StoryDaily Telegraph, 19th September 2021Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Analysis by National Crime Agency finds more than 1,700 UK criminal groups involved in drug supplyBritish organised crime groups are collaborating closely with former international rivals like the Italian mafia to import increasingly bigger cocaine shipments into Europe, a senior investigator has revealed. Related: Cocaine, the yuppie drug? Not now, say experts – its lure is crossing all classes Continue reading...

Once a potent symbol of 1980s excess, the class A narcotic has become commonplace. So how do we curb its soaring use?Police had more than a passing interest in the Kahu when they pinpointed the former navy patrol boat floating off south Devon 10 days ago. Related: British gangs and international rivals join forces to increase cocaine sales Continue reading...

Cash-strapped councils ‘struggling to deal’ with spike in anti-social behaviour reportsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePolice forces across England faced a sharp increase in complaints about noisy neighbours during last year’s lockdown, with claims that years of cuts have left councils struggling to deal with antisocial behaviour.More than half of all police forces across England saw a surge in noise nuisance complaints as the nation was stuck at home, with one force seeing the number of complaints increase fourfold over just two years. Continue reading...

The RAC's Nicholas Lyes expressed "disappointment" with the Department for Transport figures.

One message included derogatory and offensive language in respect of an MP’s child.

The Prime Minister has appointed Alex Chalk MP as Solicitor General.

The Queen has appointed Alison Frances Josephine Levitt QC to be a Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Dominic Raab MP and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon. The Lord Chief Justice has deployed her to the South Eastern

An Accrington man with a history of violence has been sentenced for using his uncle's identity to fraudulently gain a door supervisor qualification and a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.

Two prisoners describe how their education inside took them on a different path.

Upheavals in extradition law  Lexology

‘A senior police chief has been appointed to lead the fight against violence towards women and girls across England and Wales. The appointment of Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, Maggie Blyth, follows a recommendation from a report conducted after the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard in March.’ Full StoryThe Independent, 16th September 2021Source: www.independent.co.uk

Calls for more funding and 50,000 new workers and volunteers to meet steep rise in demand during CovidYouth leaders are calling for the recruitment of an additional 50,000 youth workers and volunteers to meet a tripling in levels of need during the pandemic.Cuts to public spending, which analysis shows have gone deeper in the most deprived areas, coupled with the depleted reserves of youth charities mean that failure to give more support “will see youth clubs and centres close, the youth sector decimated and lost opportunities for young people”, said Leigh Middleton, the chief executive of the National Youth Agency. Continue reading...

Thousands of travellers who might have breached restrictions were never investigated by Police Scotland due to a lack of data.

Robert Buckland left office as Lord Chancellor with a plea to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to invest in the justice system. His successor, Dominic Raab, is only the second solicitor to hold the post. The post Buckland’s plea for investment as he departs Ministry of Justice appeared first on Legal Futures.

Sistah Space’s call for mandatory training in UK backed by Michaela Coel, FKA twigs and Women’s Equality partyThe actor and writer Michaela Coel, the singer FKA twigs and the Women’s Equality party are among those backing calls to introduce mandatory training for police and agencies supporting black women who are victims of domestic abuse.A video campaign that launched on Wednesday highlights how black women are at increased risk of being left with their abusers after police are called due to an incident of violence. Continue reading...

In total 5,000 bladed articles - including small knives and syringes - were confiscated in 2019-20.

A study of 196 fatal accident inquiries found the sheriff made no recommendation to improve practice in 90% of cases.

Brit Adviser Says Thai Cops Were Bribed At Extradition Fight  Law360

A call for specialist views on the "Forensic medical examination standard for adult and child sexual assault complainants".

Georgia Lassoff described as a fierce anti-racist ally and committed to LGBT+ equality.

These Regulations are the second commencement regulations made under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (the “Act”). They bring into force sections 1 and 2 (so far as not already in force), section 3 (partially), section 63 and Part 4 (sections 57-61) of the Act on 1st October 2021, and section 3 (partially), Part 2 (sections 4-21), section 79 and section 84 of the Act on 1st November 2021.

Legislation rushed through parliament to ensure government's chief law officer did not have to resign.

Scott Butler, 39, was found to have more than 400 indecent images of male and female children between the ages of four and 13. 

Equality statements contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021.

Former Commonwealth Secretariat employee siphoned off funds into personal bank account.

The Environment Agency has prosecuted Yorkshire Water Services Limited for illegally discharging sewage effluent into the Potter Carr Nature Reserve.

More than 600 health, social work and education professionals write to home secretary over ‘oppressive’ billA new policing bill that will be debated this week risks deepening racial and gender disparities in the justice system while forcing professionals to betray the trust of vulnerable people, hundreds of experts and a report have warned.In a letter to the home secretary, 665 GPs, nurses, social, youth and outreach workers and teachers have warned that the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill is “oppressive” and would force frontline professionals to betray the trust of vulnerable people and become complicit in surveillance, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords this week. Continue reading...

More than 350 groups join peers in challenging home secretary over ‘attack on democratic rights’ as legislation enters LordsThe home secretary, Priti Patel, is facing a growing revolt in parliament and the country over plans to restrict the fundamental right to protest, as controversial legislation that would increase police powers enters the House of Lords this week.More than 350 organisations, including human rights groups, charities and faith bodies, have written to Patel and justice secretary Robert Buckland this weekend complaining that the measures would have a “profound impact” on freedom of expression, and represent “an attack on some of the most basic democratic rights of citizens”. Continue reading...

Ruth Costello, from West Sussex, is receiving the fines despite never driving in Birmingham.

National Crime Agency, Border Force and Australian Federal Police seize drugs worth £160m on yacht off PlymouthSix men including a Briton have been arrested off the coast of Plymouth after authorities seized more than two tonnes of cocaine worth about £160m.Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said an operation involving its personnel as well as the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Border Force arrested the British man from Stockton-on-Tees and five Nicaraguans aboard a Jamaican-flagged yacht 80 miles out to sea. Continue reading...

Dame Cressida will continue to lead the Metropolitan Police Service until 2024, the Home Secretary has confirmed.

More victims, defendants and witnesses will receive faster access to justice when the first ever ‘super courtroom’ opens in Manchester today (10 September).

Panel member Rob McKeon gives a fascinating insight into how Parole Board members explore the unknown about offenders.

A joint commentary by Chief Inspectors Amanda Spielman (Ofsted) and Charlie Taylor (HM Inspectorate of Prisons).

The Youth Justice Board (YJB) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) have agreed to share information on the ethnicity of children in contact with the youth justice system.

The Chief Inspectors of Ofsted and HMIP have written a joint commentary discussing the impact of COVID-19 on prison education and announcing the launch of a new prison education review.

Inner Temple and Gray’s Inn had said that some of the proposed penalties are ‘disproportionate’.

The inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has been urged to put more focus on the role of lawyers in perpetuating the organisation’s intransigence over the IT system’s problems. The post Post Office scandal inquiry urged to put more focus on the lawyers appeared first on Legal Futures.

Personal mitigation needs to be treated with “caution” in the context of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment, draft new guidance on disciplining barristers warns. The post Treat personal mitigation “with caution” in cases of sexual misconduct appeared first on Legal Futures.

Cost limit increases for emergency civil legal aid certificates take effect 13 September 2021 but certificates for investigative representations are excluded.

The Law Commission is due to produce its paper on corporate criminal liability by early next year.

On Thursday 9September 2021 Richard Faithfull was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months imprisonment for laundering money, contrary to s.327 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He was also disqualified from being a company director for a period of 10 years. Faithfull had previously pleaded guilty to that offence on 16April 2021 and put forward a basis of plea that sought to minimise his role in the offending. The FCA did not accept Faithfull’s basis of plea and the matter was listed for a Newton hearing – a trial of fact on a plea before a single judge – to determine the basis upon which he should be sentenced. Following a 4-day hearing the judge, His Honour Judge Tomlinson, rejected the submissions made by Richard Faithfull’s legal team and accepted the FCA’s statement of the case. Richard Faithfull laundered £2.5million as part of a trans-national organised crime group for longer than 12 months, laundering the proceeds of, at least, 7 professionally run overseas investment frauds. The operation was sophisticated, utilising multiple accounts and front companies in numerous jurisdictions. Faithfull was able to use knowledge gained when he worked in the regulated sector - as an investment advisor - to help the fraudsters continue to defraud victims by paying fictional 'dividends'from bank accounts controlled by him to make it look as though the underlying investments were generating returns. He also involved innocent parties to help assist with his criminal enterprise. To avoid detection he relocated to Ukraine where he lived a life of luxury whilst he continued his criminal activities, enlisting the assistance of local criminal groups abroad. Following his arrest, he spun a web of lies to try and throw the FCA off the case but at the hearing held last week he finally accepted that he was a 'thoroughly dishonest person'. The sentencing judge remarked that it was 'serious offending'which was linked to the 'human misery caused by boiler room fraud'and that 'money coming in [to accounts controlled by Faithfull] was not being invested, it was simply being slaughtered'. Mark Steward, Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the FCA, said: 'Mr Faithfull’s actions showed little compassion for those affected by the underlying criminality instead seeking only to make a profit for himself and others. The FCA remain committed to ensuring that those who choose to break the law are brought to justice. We remind investors to check the FCA’s register are part of their due diligence when looking to make investments.' The FCA will now pursue confiscation proceedings against him in order to try and seize his illegal gains. Notes to editors Faithfull is to be sentenced re Essex firearms offences separately. This was a joint investigation with the City of London Police. Previous updates on the case. Newton Hearings are used where the 2 sides offer such conflicting evidence that a judge sitting alone tries to ascertain which party is telling the truth.

A progress update on understanding our stakeholders' needs and regular engagement.

The Attorney General addressed the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime to talk about tackling economic crime

An angler has been fined £360 after he went fishing without a valid rod licence.

Six year data snapshot of asset recovery, using Proceeds of Crime Act powers, as amended by the Criminal Finances Act, and includes data on the use of the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme.

The user guide to operation of police powers under terrorism legislation is a useful reference guide with explanatory notes.

The management information used by HMCTS for understanding workload volumes and timeliness at a national level, July 2020 to July 2021.

Paul Gambaccini and brother of murdered investigator Daniel Morgan are among those demanding change.

Immigration workers’ union says maritime law would have to be rewritten, and France has rejected proposalsPriti Patel’s plans to send back small boats carrying migrants in the Channel are already “dead in the water”, an immigration workers’ union has said.Border Force staff are being trained to employ “turn-around” tactics at sea under plans developed for two years, a statement from the Home Office said overnight. Continue reading...

A leading criminal defence barrister has been appointed to conduct an independent review of the law around domestic homicides.

Extension said to have been granted because those most likely to replace her are not yet seen as suitableThe government has offered the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, a two-year extension to her term in office.The decision was made by the home secretary, Priti Patel, in consultation with the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, and Downing Street. Continue reading...

A Cheshire man has been sentenced for posting racist abuse about England players on the night of the Euro finals in July.

Campaigners say the sentence given to Sophie Moss's killer sends a "dreadful message".

A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of six years and 25 days for kidnapping a woman in broad daylight at a bus stop in Manchester.

Statutory review of the operation of sections 6-11 on closed material procedure (CMP) in the Justice and Security Act 2013.

This Order commences section 181(1) of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 for the purpose of commencing, for all remaining purposes, paragraph 113(3) to (6) of Schedule 11 (minor and consequential amendments) of that Act which makes amendments to the Extradition Act 2003 with regard to appeals against an extradition order in relation to Category 2 territories.

Police claim plans for end-to-end encryption will stop officers being able to access ‘incisive intelligence’Facebook’s plans to allow encrypted messaging across all its platforms could prevent the detection of up to 20m child abuse images every year, a senior investigating officer has claimed.Rob Jones, the director of threat leadership at the National Crime Agency, said the social media company’s goal of rolling out end-to-end encryption will stop officers from accessing “incisive intelligence” that allows them to rescue abused children. Continue reading...

This policy sets out actions for prison and probation staff in the application of the different types of licence conditions where releasing and/or managing individuals on licence.

HMRC is warning university students to be wary of potential scams, especially if they have a part-time job and are new to interacting with the department.

The body of Richard Okorogheye was found two weeks after he went missing from his west London home.

Campaigners say Sam Pybus’s sentence for strangling Sophie Moss sends ‘dreadful message’A man who strangled a vulnerable woman during sex after drinking 24 bottles of beer has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.Sam Pybus, 32, from Darlington, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after accepting he had killed Sophie Moss by applying pressure to her neck during consensual “rough” sex, but that he did not intend to hurt her. Continue reading...

Law Society says candidates from diverse backgrounds are less likely to receive positive feedback.

From 22 September, owners of certain firearms previously regarded as antique will require a licence.

More violent, diverse and competitive: these are the main characteristics of the cocaine trade in Europe. The new Cocaine Insights Report, launched today by Europol and UNODC, outlines the new dynamics of the cocaine market, which represents a clear threat to European and global security.

CILEx Regulation is delighted to announce that, following a competitive tender earlier this year, it has appointed the University of Law to administer its alternative route to authorising Chartered Legal Executives who would like to apply for additional practice rights. The post CILEx Regulation appoints University of Law as training and assessment provider appeared first on Legal Futures.

How to become part of innovative action to reduce the impact of crime on society.

Whether the claimant or defendant, successful parties to civil litigation can be disappointed to hear that they are highly unlikely to recover all of their legal spend.  The losing party is only required to pay what is considered reasonable and proportionate.  A key feature in what is recovered is the reasonableness of the hourly rates charged by the successful litigant’s solicitors.

These Regulations are made in exercise of the power contained in section 8(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c.16) in order to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (and in particular the deficiencies referred to in paragraph (g) of subsection (2)).

Public will not be able to view civil proceedings until contempt of court safeguards are in place.

A "potentially dangerous batch of crack cocaine and heroin" leads to four overdoses, police warn.

Part 2 of this Order amends the Court of Protection Fees Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1745), the Magistrates’ Courts Fees Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1052), the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1053) and the Family Proceedings Fees Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1054), in order to increase certain court fees in line with inflation.

This document sets out the government’s plan to deliver the change that Britain needs, with less crime, fewer victims and a safer country.

E-scooters seem to have been taking over the roads and pavements of English cities since summer 2020, with the Government e-scooter trials kicking off in July 2020 in Middlesbrough. However, there is confusion about what is and isn't legal in the e-scooter world. Add in e-bikes and people are understandably unsure of what the rules actually are. Insurance? Roads or pavement riding? Can a retailer sell an e-scooter if they are illegal to ride anywhere but on private land? Is an e-bike the same as an e-scooter? The post E-scooters – what’s legal & what’s not appeared first on Legal Futures.

A list of additional courtrooms set up to support the justice system.

Reports of children sexually abusing other children double in two years, BBC Panorama finds.

TikTok, Twitter and Facebook among companies bringing in new measures worldwide that protect childrenTikTok has turned off notifications for children past bedtime, Instagram has disabled targeted adverts for under-18s entirely and YouTube has turned off autoplay for teen users: moves seemingly triggered by Britain introducing a new set of regulations aimed at protecting children online.On Thursday the UK introduced a new set of regulations aimed at protecting children and at a stroke became a global leader in the field, with the prospect of multimillion-dollar fines for companies that breach its new “age appropriate design code” leading to a cascade of last-minute changes across some of Silicon Valley’s largest players. Continue reading...

Man extradited from Italy to face UK court over Essex migrants death  ITV News

Nathan Delgado has had his prison term increased after the Solicitor General, the Rt Hon Lucy Frazer, QC MP, referred his original sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Anthony Paul Carr retires with effect from 3 September 2021. Background information  District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Carr (69) was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1976. He was appointed an Acting Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate (now known as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts)) in 1999 and a District Judge (Magistrates’

‘The bar is considering whether to scrap a student aptitude test that weeds out fewer than 1% of candidates, after concluding that it is “not operating as an effective filter”.’ Full StoryLaw Society's Gazette, 3rd September 2021Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pet Theft Taskforce delivers report with key findings and recommendations

Three officers are to face internal investigations over their actions on the night of the atrocity.

Home Secretary Priti Patel seeks advice on whether the unlawful possession of nitrous oxide should be a crime.