Issue 312  23rd September 2023

A second court has been closed due to safety concerns following the government’s review of public buildings. Preston Magistrates’ Court is likely to be shut for between three and four months, with work relocated to neighbouring courts. It has been reported in the Lancashire Post that all cases listed for today have been transferred to Blackpool Magistrates’ Court, with listing officers and backroom staff working remotely. The Ministry of Justice said this was a ‘precautionary action’ after a routine assessment found that reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAACA) previously identified in the court’s roof had deteriorated. The three-floor Preston site in Lawson Street was built in the 1970s...

Sadiq Khan has refused to rule out breaking up the Metropolitan Police if current efforts to reform it fail. The Mayor of London warned "nothing is off the table" when it comes to improving the force's culture. On Friday, he announced the details of a new London Policing Board to further hold the Met to account. The board's creation was a key recommendation made by Baroness Casey in her scathing review of cultures in the Met earlier this year...

... Amid the strongest doubling down on standards in 50 years:

• 100 police officers have been dismissed for gross misconduct in the last 12 months, an increase of 66 per cent on the historic rate of dismissals.
• A total of 183 officers are currently suspended, up from 69 in September 2022 - a 165 per cent increase.
• There has been a 102 per cent increase in the number of officers awaiting a gross misconduct hearing, compared with this time last year (136 to 275).
• We are supported by the public and our officers reporting alleged misconduct, with reports nearly doubling from 876 to 1,668 over the last 12 months. The number of reports by officers and staff has increased by a third.
• A wide-ranging review of culture at the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, including an overhaul of leadership and supervision, has been completed.
• Better leadership training for all 7,500 sergeants and police staff equivalents is taking place amid increased trauma and mental health support for officers and staff...

The UK Government has announced that every Postmaster who was wrongfully convicted and has had their conviction overturned as it was reliant on Horizon evidence will be offered £600,000 in compensation. All reasonable legal fees will continue to be covered and any Postmaster who does not want to accept this offer can of course continue with the existing process. For those postmasters who have already received initial compensation payments or have reached a settlement with the Post Office of less than the £600,000, they will be paid the difference...

Journalists and members of the public could be barred from attending parts of rape and sex assault trials under radical new plans being considered. Proposals put forward by the Law Commission would see complainants in sex offence cases allowed to give evidence in private if they requested it. It would mean members of the public would not be able to observe crucial parts of the proceedings and only one member of the press would be permitted to remain in court...