News
First Convictions for Illegal School
The first-ever convictions for operating an unregistered school in England have been imposed at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Nacerdine Talbi and Beatrix Bernhardt faced charges over the Al-Istiqamah Learning Centre, which taught about 58 pupils in a west London office block.
The defendants had argued that this was a study centre where home-educated children had part-time tuition. But the court ruled that they were in effect running a full-time school. The chief magistrate of England and Wales, Emma Arbuthnot, in the first verdict of its kind, said the evidence showed the centre was "being operated as an unregistered independent educational institution providing full-time education".
Revised Code for Crown Prosecutors
Revisions to the Code for Crown Prosecutors have been unveiled today by Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders.
The changes include:
- Considering disclosable evidence pre-charge is included for the first time
- More stringent conditions on how The Threshold Test is applied
- A greater focus on CPS role in recovering proceeds of crime.
Attempted Theft of Magna Carta
Salisbury Cathedral was evacuated yesterday afternoon after someone "tried to smash the case of the historic Magna Carta", in what police believe was an attempted theft of the document.
A spokesman for Salisbury Cathedral said: "We can confirm that at the end of the afternoon yesterday, a man attempted to break into the case which houses Magna Carta in the Cathedral’s Chapter House.
Tommy Robinson Contempt Referral
A judge retrying ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson for contempt of court has referred the case to the government's top legal adviser. Mr Robinson faced an allegation that he had committed contempt by filming people before a criminal trial. But Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC ruled the case needed to be referred up to the attorney general to decide.
Law Commission Hate Crime Review
The Law Commission is to complete a wide-ranging review into hate crime to explore how to make current legislation more effective and consider if there should be additional protected characteristics such as misogyny and age.
Building on the previous work, the project will review the adequacy and parity of protection offered by the law relating to hate crime and to make recommendations for its reform. It will also consider which characteristics (for example gender, age, disability) should be considered as deserving enhanced protection in criminal law and on what basis.
Judicial Salaries Increased
I believe that in order to continue to have a world-class judiciary, we need to be able to retain and recruit high-calibre and highly experienced judges. With that in mind, and following recommendations made by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) in their annual report, I am pleased today to announce a 2% pay increase for members of the judiciary for 2018/19 — the biggest pay rise for judges in nearly 10 years.
It has been reported that judges could be awarded significantly higher pay increases — some as high as 32%. This recommendation, along with many others, was made by the SSRB as part of a major review of judges pay, quite separate to the annual pay increase I am announcing today. No decisions have yet been made, but we are giving careful consideration to the recommendations put forward.
Other
The involvement of the public in the criminal process in the United Kingdom - Speech by Lord Hodge
I generally share the public’s confidence that juries usually reach the correct decision on the evidence which they have heard in criminal trials, particularly in relation to straightforward criminal charges such as assault and murder, or the supply of illegal drugs. My one doubt about the efficiency of the jury system relates to cases concerned with complex financial crimes, which often require long trials involving technical evidence and which place a heavy burden on a jury. I think that there is a case to be made for such offences to be tried by a tribunal or court which includes specialists either in place of or in addition to members of the public. But there are many distinguished lawyers who would not agree because they see the jury system as a fundamental part of the constitution of the United Kingdom.
Obscurity
Illegal Schools
It is an offence contrary to section 96 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 to conduct an independent educational institution unless it is registered.