News
A free weekly collection of criminal law links - for practitioners, law students, and anyone with an interest in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.
Curated by Sam Willis, a barrister at 5 King's Bench Walk.
Revised Fees Schemes for Prosecution Advocates
Following a comprehensive, evidence-based review of advocate fee schemes, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will implement a range of reforms to the fees paid to prosecution Counsel from 1 February 2020. This follows the introduction of an interim package of measures on 1 September this year.
Changes which will be made from 1 February 2020 include:
- increasing a range of daily (refresher) fees;
- introducing additional payments for the prosecution of multi-defendant cases;
- increasing a range of brief fees, for trial and guilty plea cases, for junior advocates;
- providing additional payment for consideration of unused material;
- making targeted adjustments to the Very High Cost Case scheme; and
- increasing rates paid to advocates prosecuting in magistrates’ courts and the Youth Court.
'MPs demand immediate moratorium on court closures'
A group of MPs that has been investigating the government's £1bn courts reform programme since the start of the year has today demanded an immediate moratorium on court closures. The moratorium is one of 36 recommendations made by the House of Commons justice select committee in a damning report published this afternoon.
The committee said court closures in urban and rural areas have created 'serious difficulties' for many court users, with 'worrying implications for access to justice'. No more courts should be closed 'pending robust independent analysis' of the effect of the courts that have already been shut down.
The full report can be found here.
Serious and Organised Crime Review
A new drive to crack down on all forms of serious and organised crime will begin today with the launch of a wide-ranging formal review. It will look to identify ways of bolstering the response to threats such as county lines, people trafficking, drugs, child sexual exploitation, fraud and illicit finance.
The review will consider the powers, capabilities, governance and funding required to tackle today’s threats across law enforcement and the justice system in England and Wales - including the NCA, local police forces and regional organised crime units.
'Government acts to improve road safety by closing mobile phone loophole'
The government has confirmed it will close a legal loophole which has allowed drivers to escape prosecution for hand-held mobile phone use while behind the wheel.
The revised legislation will mean any driver caught texting, taking photos, browsing the internet or scrolling through a playlist while behind the wheel will be prosecuted for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.