News
Rising Crime Statistics
The rise in crime in England and Wales is accelerating, according to police figures, which show a 14% year-on-year increase in offences recorded by forces across England and Wales.
Knife crime has gone up even more steeply, by 21% in the 12 months to September, and gun crime has risen by 20%, according to quarterly figures released on Thursday.
Police chiefs said the increases – including a 32% rise in domestic burglary to 261,965 offences and an 18% rise in vehicle-related crimes (443,577 offences) alongside the sharp rises in violent crime – marked a turning point after more than 20 years of sustained falls in these categories.
'Hundreds of cases dropped over evidence disclosure failings'
Figures obtained from the CPS show that the number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed because of a failure to disclose evidence increased by 70% in the last two years.
In 2016-15, 916 people had charges against them dropped over disclosure failures, compared to 537 in 2014-15.
'Prosecutors don’t know how biased they are' £££
An article investigating the problems with disclosure, the potential relevance of confirmation bias to the recent issues, and the adequacy of the response from the DPP/CPS.
Disclosure Inquiry by Justice Committee
The House of Commons Justice Committee it to launch an inquiry into the disclosure of evidence and the Crown Prosecution Service.
There has been a substantial rise reported in the number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence.
Joint National Disclosure Improvement Plan
The Joint National Disclosure Improvement Plan is effectively a response by the CPS, police and the College of Policing, to both the recent high-profile disclosure issues and the problems raised by the HMCPSI/HMICFRS and Mouncher Investigation reports.
Law Society Legal Aid Fees JR
The Law Society has launched legal action over cuts to fees paid to defence lawyers for reading criminal evidence, warning that the changes will lead to more miscarriages of justice.
The body, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has begun judicial review proceedings challenging the decision by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to reduce legal aid payments from last October. Lawyers estimate it will reduce payments by 5% to 6% for crown court trials.
Other
Nick Ephgrave - Changing the Culture on Disclosure
The National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Criminal Justice, Chief Constable Nick Ephgrave, has written an interesting piece on disclosure.
R v Natasha Gordon Sentencing Remarks
Remarks of Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, sentencing Natasha Gordon to four years imprisonment for intentionally encouraging a man to commit suicide, contrary to s.2 Suicide Act 1961.
Obscurity
Adverts Within 12 Inches of a Street Name Sign
Placing an advert within 12 inches of a street name sign is contrary to section 19 of the Public Health Act 1925.