News
New AGFS Consultation
The Government has published a formal consultation on amending the AGFS, following the Criminal Bar’s acceptance of the offer made.
The consultation runs until 28 September 2018 and makes several changes to the structure and fees of the April 2018 AGFS.
‘Domestic abuse programmes - where is the evidence they work?’
Why is the government continuing to spend thousands of pounds on programmes aimed at reducing domestic abuse when they don’t know whether they work? Today Transform Justice brings out a report on reducing domestic abuse which advocates for greater use of perpetrator programmes to reduce domestic abuse. But it’s only worth using perpetrator programmes which work.
Murderers - No Right To Be Forgotten
Two half-brothers convicted 25 years ago of the murder of a well known German actor have no right to require the media to delete their names from online reports of the case, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. The judgment, in ML and WW v Germany, is the latest clash between articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) over the so-called ’right to be forgotten’. It appears to tilt the balance more towards freedom of expression four years after the Court of Justice of the European Union’s landmark ruling in Google Spain.
ML is the culmination in 10 years of proceedings begun by Wolfgang Werlé and Manfred Lauber as they approached the date of their release from a life sentence for the 1990 murder of Walter Sedlmayr, a nationally known stage, TV and film actor. His killing and the subsequent trial attracted widespread media coverage. Citing their privacy rights under article 8 of the ECHR, Werlé and Lauber brought proceedings against media organisations, including Wikipedia Germany, requesting that archive documents be anonymised.
'Courts ID scheme hit by fees controversy ahead of pilot'
A government pilot allowing barristers and solicitors to bypass onerous court security measures has been hit by controversy after it emerged that several courts will not be participating in the fast-track scheme - and that barristers may have to pay a fee.
From Wednesday, barristers and solicitors will be allowed to bypass checks at Brighton Magistrates' Court, Maidstone Combined Court, Southwark Crown Court, Tameside Magistrates' Court and Wood Green Crown Court as part of a 'Professional Entry Scheme' piloted by HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
Education
‘The demand for and use of illicit phones in prison’
Mobile phones in prisons are used for a range of purposes, both social and criminal, and would appear to have become a significant feature of prison life. During 2013, 7,451 illicit mobile phones or SIM cards were reported to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), formerly the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). This research project, conducted during Spring/Summer 2014, was designed to gain an understanding of what drives the demand for illicit mobile phones by prisoners, and to help identify potentially effective ways of preventing their usage.
Mobile phones were viewed as a feature of prison life across the custodial estate, although rarer in both women’s prisons and among the youngest prisoners. They were seen by Heads of Security to be creating significant problems within prisons and for prisoner management. Significant criminal drivers for the trafficking and use of mobile phones within prisons were reported, with mobile phones being linked to criminal activity both within and outside the walls. Alongside these criminal drivers, a significant proportion of demand was driven by social communication factors and the desire to stay in touch with family and friends.
Obscurity
Penalty Point Record
A driver has been banned from the roads after he was hit with a record-breaking 144 points for speeding.
Ashley Peart, 27, was handed a three-year ban from the roads after four different cars, registered in his name, were caught breaking the speed limit 24 times.