News
Crime Figures Released: Violent Crime Up
The number of homicides - including murder and manslaughter - rose from 649 to 739, an increase of 14%, in the 12 months to the end of September 2018. It is the the highest total for such crimes since 2007.
Robbery went up by 17%, as did recorded sexual offences, according to the data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Overall crimes recorded by police went up by 7% with a total of 5,723,182 offences recorded.
'Courts IT meltdown: Trials delayed, jurors left waiting and lawyers struggle to get paid'
A 'major disruption' that affected multiple Ministry of Justice IT systems last week continues to cause chaos. Lawyers on the front line have told the Gazette that trials have been delayed, jurors have been unable to enrol and practitioners have been prevented from confirming attendance that will enable them to get paid.
An email sent to barristers and solicitors from the Legal Aid Agency yesterday said internal issues are ‘starting to improve’, but that there are still intermittent issues. ‘Work is still under way to fully resolve the issue,’ the email added.
'CPS can take no more cuts - attorney general'
Attorney general Geoffrey Cox QC MP today rejected the accusation that the Crown Prosecution Service is failing – but said that the organisation cannot handle further spending cuts.
In evidence to the House of Commons justice select committee, Cox conceded the CPS had suffered a 30% funding reduction and ‘significant’ reduction in staff.
Independent Review of Prevent
The Government has today (Tuesday 22 January) announced there will be an independent review of the Prevent programme, which aims to stop vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism.
Prevent is about working in areas where there are risks of radicalisation and offers support predominantly through local community partnerships. 181 community based projects were delivered in 2017/18 reaching over 88,000 participants.
Further details of the review will be set out in due course. It will begin within 6 months of the legislation receiving Royal Assent and will report to Parliament within 18 months.
Domestic Abuse Draft Bill
We have listened to your responses about the provision of special measures. The draft Domestic Abuse Bill will put forward proposals for legislative changes to provide for automatic eligibility for special measures in domestic abuse cases, removing the burden on the victim to prove they are in fear or distress.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has agreed for some police forces to pilot conditional cautions for lower risk first reports of domestic abuse
The draft bill extends the circumstances in which certain sexual and violent offences committed abroad may be prosecuted in England and Wales, where the offence is committed by a UK national or a person habitually resident in the UK. This will ensure that the law in England and Wales meets the requirements of the Istanbul Convention.
Cases
R v PY [2019] EWCA Crim 17
Section 58(8) of the 2003 Act obliges the prosecution to inform the court that the respondent should be acquitted of the offence in the event that leave to appeal is not obtained or the appeal is abandoned. It must do so at the same time or before it informs the court of its intention to appeal. This is generally referred to as "the acquittal undertaking" or, more accurately, the acquittal agreement. The prosecution notified the court of its intention to appeal and gave the acquittal agreement by email. The question arises whether that satisfied the statutory scheme, or whether the steps specified in the statutory scheme must take place in open court.
We consider that there is no impediment to the prosecution informing the court by email, with effect from the handing down of a ruling, of its intention to appeal; nor requesting an adjournment by email, if that is what it seeks. Indeed, a short adjournment pursuant to section 58(4) might well be agreed by the defendant without the need for attendance. Similarly, the court can be informed of the acquittal agreement by email. The judge remains in control of the proceedings and can convene any necessary further hearings.
Other
'A week in the life of a London murder detective'
The number of people killed in London during 2018 was the highest figure for a decade. But what is life like for a senior detective investigating these crimes?
'Unhackable' Mobile Phones
A new generation of unhackable mobile phones is allowing criminals to plot murders and drug deals with no fear their conversations will ever be exposed.
Specialist handsets now boast software so advanced that all incriminating information can be wiped from the device, even if it has been seized by police.
But that ‘kill pill’ is typically unnecessary because the only time detectives have managed to peek behind an Encrochat lock screen is when they took a phone from the hands of a crook as he frantically typed out a message.
Sponsored
Crime Fees - Free AGFS Calculator for iOS and Android
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