News
The Impact of Social Media on the Administration of Justice
The Attorney General has launched a consultation assessing the impact of social media on criminal trials.
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill Passes Second Reading
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill has passed second reading and will now proceed to committee stage. The Bar Council has produced a working paper outlining how Brexit is likely to affect the criminal justice system.
Juror Jailed For Online Research
A juror who was deciding on a murder trial has been jailed for four months after he made forbidden internet searches during the case.
A study in 2010 found that 5% of jurors look on the internet for information about their case.
'British child sex-abuser, 102, sentenced for crimes from 1970s'
A 102-year-old man given a suspended sentence on Monday for sexually abusing a girl in the 1970s is thought to be the oldest person convicted of a crime in Britain, prosecutors said.
Facial Recognition Concerns
The Biometrics Commissioner, a role independent of government to review the retention and use of biometric data by the police, has issued a warning over the 19m facial images held on police databases.
Cases
The Director of Public Prosecutions v Distill [2017] EWHC 2244 (Admin)
Does "inside a dwelling" include a private garden for the purposes of a "threatening or abusive words or behaviour" charge under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986?
Other
False Memories and False Confessions: 'The Confession Tapes'
An interesting insight into false memories and false confessions, centred on a review of the new Netflix series 'The Confession Tapes'.
Mock Jury Research: Rape Trials
The Times is reporting on a study by researchers looking at jury decision-making in rape cases. The research does not appear to have been published yet, but a summary is available here.
Obscurity
Tethering a Pig on a Highway
Tethering and keeping a pig on a highway is contrary to section 72 of the Highway Act 1835.