15-01-2013 12:01 AM GMT
Albanian prisoners can now be sent back to Albania to finish their prison sentences, following a new agreement signed by Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright and Albanian Justice Minister Eduard Halimi. The compulsory prisoner transfer agreement will allow the British government to seek to transfer those eligible Albanian nationals in UK jails back to Albania to serve the rest of their sentences. This will free up space in prisons here and reduce the cost to the British taxpayer. The UK currently holds almost 200 Albanian national prisoners and the Prison Service has already identified those who are eligible for transfer. All ...
31-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
A major crackdown by the Claims Management Regulation Unit has seen 352 companies shut down, suspended or warned for bad practice in the past six months. The Regulation Unit, part of the Ministry of Justice, is taking a tough stance on claims management companies which short-change customers, whether this is through bad service, misleading marketing or hidden charges. Between April and November this year 209 companies have been shut down and had their licences removed, three have been suspended and 140 have been warned. This comes ahead of Government plans next year to give consumers even more protection against rogue firms. This includes ...
28-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
The creation of the first UK-wide witness protection service was announced today. Witnesses and other vulnerable people afforded protected person status due to a real and immediate risk to their lives will receive enhanced UK-wide protection and support. The new UK Protected Persons Service will support those who help bring criminals to justice by: Introducing national quality standards, Ensuring better co-ordination across existing fragmented services, Promoting intelligence sharing between police forces, and Strengthening local services to create a consistent and accountable service. Victims’ Minister Helen Grant said: 'Witnesses are the unsung heroes of society, especially those who ...
21-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
Baroness Helen Newlove has been appointed as the new Victims' Commissioner, a role to ensure victims' and witnesses' voices are brought to the heart of Government. Baroness Newlove has campaigned tirelessly for victims since the tragic death of her husband Garry in 2007. In her role as the Government's Champion for Active Safer Communities she has also worked with local people to make communities safer and to find solutions for local problems. Baroness Newlove's role, which is an independent appointment through an open recruitment exercise, will last for three years and include: Engaging with victims and witnesses groups, local ...
21-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
Today the Ministry of Justice launched a digital strategy that will transform the way we deliver our services. The strategy, that will help us deliver digital services that are easier to use and better value for users and the Government, is a major step towards becoming digital by default. It will enable us to design our services around the needs of users - whether that's providing victims with more information about their case, allowing individuals and businesses to file claims more easily, or providing tools to help rehabilitate offenders. The strategy outlines our programme of digital transformation and identifies 20 ...
18-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
The Commission on a Bill of Rights has today delivered its report – A UK Bill of Rights? - The Choice Before Us – to the Government. On the key central issue of a UK Bill of Rights, seven of the Commission's nine members believe that, on balance, there is a strong argument in favour of a UK Bill of Rights. Commenting on the publication of the report, the Commission’s Chair, Sir Leigh Lewis, said: 'We hope that our report, based as it is on extensive consultation, will help people to reach an informed view on the issues it covers. ...
11-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
New measures to bring down the number and cost of whiplash claims, including speculative and fraudulent applications has been announced today. Action has been taken after figures showed there had been a 60% rise in personal injury claims related to road accidents since 2006, despite vehicles becoming safer and a 20% reduction in the number of reported accidents over the same period. There were more than half a million whiplash claims last year – and insurers estimate they add £90 a year to the average motor insurance policy. The consultation proposes: Creating new independent medical panels to improve diagnosis of whiplash injuries. This will ...
06-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
The rehabilitation of short-sentenced prisoners to cut crime and make communities safer was the focus of an ITV Tonight Programme on Thursday 6 December, at 7.30pm. The programme looked at the work being done at Leeds prison and spoke to Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright about the rehabilitation revolution. Leeds prison, which is at the forefront of this, works with external providers, including the St Giles Trust, to get offenders employment on release. Prison, probation, police and charity staff work collaboratively to target prolific offenders by addressing drug and alcohol dependency, family issues, housing and employment needs on the new resettlement ...
03-12-2012 12:12 AM GMT
From today a range of new criminal offences and sentences introduced in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offender Act (LASPO) Act 2012 come into effect. The new offences include a mandatory life sentence for people convicted of a second very serious sexual or violent offence, aggravated knife possession, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, measures to strengthen community sentences and tough new sentences for hate crime. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'Criminals should be in no doubt they will be punished for their crimes, with those who commit the most serious offences receiving the most severe sentences. 'Anyone who ...
30-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
Cases of murder, manslaughter, drug dealing and teen crime are being added to the website You be the Judge today. The interactive website lets people weigh-up the facts of real-life cases, pass sentences themselves and then compare it to the sentence actually handed out by the judge. The revamped website is being tried out at Eastlea Community School in Newham, East London, where a group of Year 11 humanities students will take on the tough task of sentencing. Justice Minister, Jeremy Wright said: 'No two cases are the same and this can make the way criminals are punished difficult for ...
29-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
Lawrence Kershen QC, a commercial mediator at Tooks Chambers and former Chairman of the Restorative Justice Council, discusses restorative justice in the criminal justice system. Restorative justice allows victims of crime to be given the opportunity to confront their offender and to have a say in the resolution of the offence. 'What might a justice system which embodied restorative principles look like? What might be the judge's view of a more restorative justice system? To answer such questions we need to give ourselves permission to dream of a justice system where healing and changing behaviour is central. Where the ...
26-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
A new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls has been launched in Thurrock by Victims and Equalities Minister Helen Grant. The new strategy from Thurrock County Council will see specialists from voluntary organisations work with experts from the local council and Essex police to help victims of domestic abuse and violent crime. The Government supports this partnership approach to ensure victims have access to the best support and services they may need. The strategy is launched as part of 16 days of action to support the UN international day for the elimination of violence against women. The campaign has ...
23-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
A ground breaking partnership approach to protecting communities from crime and keeping the public safe has been recognised at a national awards ceremony. Hertfordshire Probation Trust has won this year's Guardian Public Services Award for Digital Innovation for their work on satellite tracking offenders in the community. The Hertfordshire Horizons Programme is a partnership led by Hertfordshire Probation Trust and Hertfordshire Constabulary. It is supported by a range of other public, private and voluntary sector partners to reduce reoffending amongst the county's worst offenders. As well as using satellite tracking tags the Horizons team works intensively with ...
22-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
Draft proposals to ensure that laws on prisoner voting comply with the UK's international legal obligations were outlined by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling today. The draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill will be carefully examined by a Joint Committee of MPs and Peers from different political parties. It includes options to: Maintain the current ban on all convicted prisoners voting Allow prisoners sentenced to less than 6 months in prison to vote Allow prisoners sentence to less than 4 years in prison to vote. Read the Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Draft Bill ...
20-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
A rehabilitation revolution aimed at cutting crime, better educating troubled young people and offering real value to taxpayers was set out by the Secretary of State for Justice today. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling outlines next steps in the rehabilitation revolution: As part of radical reforms aimed at tackling unacceptably high reoffending rates, the Justice Secretary said he wants to see offenders released from prison met at the gates by a dedicated mentor who will help them turn their back on crime for good. The Government also intends to apply Payment by Results methods to the vast majority of rehabilitation ...
19-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
The problem of costly and spurious review cases clogging up the courts will be tackled by new plans announced by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. The proposals would reduce the number of ill-founded judicial review applications so that others can be dealt with more swiftly and effectively. The changes will not alter the important role judicial reviews play in holding Government and others to account but will instead deal with the unnecessary delays in the system. The number of applications has rocketed in the past three decades, from 160 in 1974 to 11,200 last year but the proportion of successful applications is very ...
19-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
More victims of crime will be able to access a high standard of restorative justice across England and Wales with the launch of a new action plan today. Restorative justice allows victims of crime to be given the opportunity to confront their offender and to have a say in the resolution of the offence. 'Restorative Justice Action Plan for the Criminal Justice System' is aimed at increasing the number of trained professionals who deliver restorative justice and improving awareness among victims. It coincides with the start of International Restorative Justice Week and builds on the Government's plans to give ...
16-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
Justice Minister, Jeremy Wright, presented two awards to recognise the achievements of those working in Restorative Justice, victim support and with young people. The Chris Donovan Trust awards ceremony, at The Clink Restaurant at HMP High Down, acknowledged 13 charities and individuals for their contribution. Speaking at the event Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said: 'I'm a strong supporter of the principles of Restorative Justice and these awards showcase the very best projects in prisons and the community. 'We'll continue to increase the awareness, capacity and usage of restorative justice. It's imperative that everyone understands its purpose within the ...
09-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
Legislation providing new powers to block mobile phone signals in prisons has progressed in the House of Lords. The Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Bill has the backing of the Government and will enable Ministers across Britain to authorise governors to use technology to detect and disrupt the use of phones in prisons. This will assist in reducing the intimidation of witnesses, disrupt the supply of drugs and contraband into prison, and impede criminal activity orchestrated by prisoners from their cells. In 2011, over seven thousand illicit phones and SIM cards were found in prisons in England and Wales. Prisons Minister ...
09-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
The latest stage of the competition for eight prisons and a new approach to competing services across the public prison estate has been announced. HMP Northumberland (an amalgamation of the former HMPs Castington and Acklington) and the South Yorkshire group of Moorland, Hatfield and Lindholme prisons will proceed to the next stage with three remaining bidders, Sodexo, Serco and MTC/Amey. This competition process produced a compelling package of reforms for delivering cost reduction, improvements to regimes and a working prisons model in these prisons. This was not the case for HMPs Coldingley, Durham and Onley, so the competition for ...
06-11-2012 12:11 PM GMT
Merseyside Probation Trust has become the first public sector agency to win the British Quality Foundation’s prestigious UK Excellence Award. This award follows the Probation Service's Gold Medal for Excellence last year from the British Quality Foundation (BQF). The award, presented by the BQF’s patron HRH The Princess Royal, was set up in 1994 to recognise organisations which have demonstrated excellence in all areas of operation. The Trust, which supervises and rehabilitates 9,000 offenders a year across Merseyside, won the award for its outstanding performance, commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. The BQF also recognised Merseyside Probation as ...
05-11-2012 12:11 AM GMT
Criminals will face justice far more quickly as court committal hearings are abolished in dozens of areas of England and Wales from today. Scrapping the hearings will help the courts run more efficiently and ensure they provide a better service for users. They were abolished in 12 areas in June 2012 and will be phased out across the rest of England and Wales over the next year. Nationally the changes will mean that around 60,000 fewer hearings will be needed each year. Criminal Justice Minister Damian Green said: "Abolishing committal hearings is another one of the steps we are taking to make ...
31-10-2012 12:10 AM GMT
A new approach to Community Payback that will see offenders completing tougher, more intensive punishments begins today in London. Serco, with London Probation Trust, will run Community Payback so it better tackles reoffending and delivers greater value for money. The four-year London contract will save taxpayers £25 million and ensure: Community Payback begins within days of sentencing Offenders work seven hour days as a minimum requirement Better links with communities so offenders pay back in the area, or even street, their crime was committed in Unemployed offenders work over four full days a week with a fifth day spent job seeking ...
30-10-2012 12:10 AM GMT
New measures to help put a stop to convicted criminals who avoid paying back their legal aid bills have been put out to consultation today. The consultation proposes: Seizing and selling vehicles if criminals fail to pay their legal aid contribution Pursuing criminals for the entire cost of their bill if they refuse to provide the financial information needed to judge their contribution Adjusting the amount they are obligated to pay if assets or earnings come to light after their contribution has been imposed. With £700 million a year spent on criminal legal aid, and estimates that less than 20% of what ...
24-10-2012 01:10 AM BST
Prime Minister David Cameron saw for himself the work prisons are doing to prevent reoffending when he visited HMP Wormwood Scrubs. During the visit he spoke to prison staff and offenders on a drug and alcohol rehabilitation scheme, run by the charity Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust (RAPt). The Prime Minister saw mentors from RAPt run a rehabilitation workshop which supports offenders overcoming damaging addictions. The prison showed David Cameron part of its work programme, a commercial laundry service, which gives offenders the skills they need to find work on release. HMP Wormwood Scrubs Governor Phil Taylor said: 'I was ...
23-10-2012 12:10 PM BST
A new measure announced today will help prosecutors combat corporate offending including fraud, money laundering and bribery - which cost the UK billions of pounds each year. The measure - a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) - can be made between a prosecutor and an organisation to defer prosecution for alleged economic wrongdoing as long as stringent conditions are met. If they agree to enter into a DPA, organisations will publically face up to their wrongdoing and may be required to: Make amends to victims Pay substantial financial penalties Reform their practices to prevent such conduct occurring again Justice Minister Damian ...
23-10-2012 01:10 AM BST
Every adult community sentence will include a form of punishment in radical reforms announced today. Alongside punishments like strict curfews, fines, and unpaid work, courts will now also be able to: Make use of new technology to track offenders during their sentence to protect the public and help prevent criminals committing further offences Access benefit and tax information so that judges can set fines at the right level Take into account criminals' belongings, as well as their income, when setting financial penalties Defer sentencing so that restorative justice can take place encouraging criminals to face up to the consequences of ...
18-10-2012 03:10 PM BST
To mark Anti-Slavery day Helen Grant met victims of trafficking as part of the Government's commitment to stamp out modern day human exploitation. Anti-Slavery day aims to: Urge victims to seek support Reach victims at risk of exploitation Encourage victims to speak out Victims Minister Helen Grant said: 'The transport and exploitation of vulnerable men, women and children by predatory organised criminal groups is something that no civilised country should tolerate. Tackling organised crime groups who profit from this human misery is a priority. 'The Government is clear that it is vital that victims of trafficking receive access to ...
17-10-2012 01:10 AM BST
A new cross-government website Gov.uk has launched making it quicker and easier for you to interact with the government online. The website which replaces Directgov and Business Link includes information on: paying court fines online understanding prison sentences creating a power of attorney applying for legal aid Bringing this information together into one single website will help reduce the financial and administrative impact of running multiple government websites. To help the transition to the new website, if you access Directgov and Business Link you will be automatically redirected to the correct content on Gov.uk The next stage ...
11-10-2012 10:10 AM BST
Dozens of flexible court pilots that will speed up cases and help modernise criminal justice services have been unveiled by Justice Minister Damian Green. The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Magistrates' court. Flexible courts will include: Courts to sit outside traditional working hours and on weekends Increased use of video-link technology including prison to court links where suspects can appear in court from prison and from police stations to the court for first hearings 48 pilots to go live in coming weeks across England and Wales Justice Minister Damian Green said: 'We want ...
09-10-2012 01:10 AM BST
The Defamation Bill has its second reading in the House of Lords this afternoon. It will rebalance the competing rights of freedom of speech and the right to privacy. It will also stop trivial claims, clamp down on "libel tourism", make the law fit for the internet age and stop the law being abused to silence critics. Lord McNally said: "Freedom of speech is the foundation of democracy. We need investigative journalism and scientific research to be able to flourish without the fear of unfounded, lengthy and costly defamation and libel cases being brought against them. &...
09-10-2012 01:10 AM BST
The Justice Secretary today announced that householders would have greater protection from burglars. New measures will mean someone who is confronted by a burglar and has reason to fear for their safety, or the safety of their family, and in the heat of the moment uses force that is reasonable in the circumstances but in the cold light of day seems disproportionate they will not be guilty of an offence. Force which is 'grossly' disproportionate will still not be permitted. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'Being confronted by an intruder in your own home is terrifying, and the public should ...
01-10-2012 01:10 AM BST
Today Justice Secretary Chris Grayling was sworn in as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. The ceremony was held at the Royal Courts of Justice and marks the beginning of the legal year A procession of judges led the ceremony, arriving at Westminster Abbey from the Supreme Court and the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand for a private religious service, followed by the Lord Chancellor's breakfast in Westminster Hall. The Lord Chancellor wore formal dress, alongside Judges and QC’s who were dressed in ceremonial robes. Chris Grayling said what a 'great privilege and honour' it was to ...
01-10-2012 01:10 AM BST
From today many more criminals will be made to pay towards supporting victims of crime. Currently offenders only contribute around one sixth of the funding that supports victims’ services. Hard-working taxpayers provide the rest. In a massive overhaul to the way services for victims and witnesses of crime are funded, the 'Victim Surcharge' is being increased and extended to apply to a far wider range of sentences. Extending the 'Victim Surcharge' is the next step in the Government's drive to see offenders provide up to £50 million more each year for victims services. This is on top of the £66 ...
26-09-2012 01:09 AM BST
Community Payback must be more intensive and delivered within days of an offender being sentenced, new Minister for Probation Jeremy Wright said today. His call for tougher payback came during a visit to Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust where he met frontline staff working to protect the public and punish and rehabilitate offenders. As he watched offenders clearing away rubbish on public footpaths as part of a Community Payback project in Sandwell Jeremy Wright said: 'I am delighted to be able to see Community Payback in action in Sandwell - we want it to be more immediate, more ...
24-09-2012 01:09 AM BST
Prisoners have been forced to pay over three quarters of a million pounds towards helping victims this year, thanks to a new law that literally makes them pay for their crimes. Introduced just a year ago, the Prisoners' Earnings Act takes money out of working prisoners' pockets and puts it back into vital support services - like providing counselling for a victim of traumatic crime or fixing locks and alarms on a vulnerable pensioner's home. Announcing the total raised so far, Victims Minister Helen Grant said: "We want victims to get the support they actually need, and we ...
19-09-2012 01:09 AM BST
New Prisons and Rehabilitation Minister Jeremy Wright today attended the opening of The Clink Cymru restaurant outside HMP Cardiff. Prisoners from Cardiff and Prescoed prisons will be working in the newly refurbished restaurant, where offenders will gain a range of hospitality related qualifications whilst experiencing a real work environment. Jeremy Wright said: 'We are determined to cut reoffending rates by giving offenders the skills and the work ethic they need to find employment on release from custody. 'I'm genuinely impressed by what I've seen here today. The Clink is an excellent example of how we ...
17-09-2012 01:09 AM BST
The Government is committed to supporting families of service personnel who have died while on duty abroad. In reforming the coroners system, the Ministry of Justice has updated the law so, for the first time, the deaths of service personnel abroad can be investigated in Scotland. Until now inquests into such deaths have been heard in England and Wales, meaning bereaved service families based in Scotland have often had to travel long distances to attend the inquest. This change comes into force on 24 September 2012 when the first Chief Coroner of England and Wales, Judge Peter Thornton QC, will have the ...
04-09-2012 01:09 AM BST
Chris Grayling has today been announced as the Secretary of State for Justice following a Ministerial reshuffle. He was previously Minister of State for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions. Speaking about the appointment, Permanent Secretary, Ursula Brennan said: 'I'm delighted to welcome Chris Grayling to the Ministry of Justice. He joins us in the midst of a radical programme to reform the justice system. One of the first things we will be discussing is his vision for the justice system and how we will deliver this. I'd also like to pay tribute to our previous ...
31-08-2012 01:08 AM BST
Squatting in homes and all other residential building is to be criminalised for the first time in England and Wales from Saturday 1 September. It follows on from a public consultation last year on options for dealing with squatting and better protecting homeowners. The new offence will be punishable by a maximum prison term of up to six months, a maximum £5000 fine or both. Previously, the only option was to seek a civil court order to regain possession of the property, which could be time consuming, expensive and stressful. Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'For too long squatters have had ...
29-08-2012 01:08 AM BST
New figures have revealed how efficiently and effectively the courts and tribunals service operated during the Olympics. In the criminal courts, a process was put in place to 'fast track' any cases directly connected with the London 2012 Games. To date 84 such cases have been listed at London magistrates' courts. Of the 84 fast track cases, 36 have already been dealt with by the magistrates' courts and 28 cases have been sent or committed to the Crown Court. The courts are now gearing up to deliver the same efficient service throughout the Paralympics games. Courts Minister, Jonathan Djanogly said: 'I am impressed by the ...
22-08-2012 01:08 AM BST
The Claims Management Regulator (CMR) has launched a consultation which proposes, amongst other things, to end verbal contract arrangements between consumers and CMCs and enforcing a written contract before any fee can be taken. The Rules Review consultation is the next step in the CMR units push to crack down on bad practice by some CMCs. Three main amendments to the rules include: CMCs to only be allowed to agree contracts in writing with their clients, before any fees can be taken. CMCs to be required to inform their clients of any suspension or variation to the business authorisation ...
20-08-2012 01:08 AM BST
A groundbreaking Prison Radio programme bringing crime victims face to face with offenders is behind a BBC Radio 4 programme 'The Victim’s Voice', broadcast tonight. Earlier this year a restorative justice based programme produced for Prison Service Radio, a national radio station for prisoners, received a coveted Gold Sony Radio Academy Award. BBC Radio 4 brings a reworking of this to a national audience as psychologist Professor Tanya Byron invites a group of crime victims into HMP Brixton to meet and challenge offenders serving sentences for similar offences. Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'We are working to increase the use of ...
16-08-2012 01:08 AM BST
Alison O’Mahony runs an organisation called Be StepWise, which helps support step families. She has found that step families can have hidden difficulties that need special attention, and if parents split up acrimoniously in previous relationships it can take some time for children to adjust. Here Alison talks about the importance of using mediation or other non-adversarial routes to resolve conflicts in a divorce or separation – especially where there are children involved. At Be StepWise we find that families who use mediation to negotiate their divorce have much better outcomes than those who follow the more acrimonious court route. ...
16-08-2012 01:08 AM BST
A BBC Three documentary to be broadcast today will offer an insight into addiction through the eyes of Russell Brand. As part of this, he visited HMP The Mount, in Hemel Hempstead, to look at the work being done to treat heroin addicts in prison. Staff from the prison and drug charity RAPt (Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust) successfully provide an abstinence-based drug recovery programme which helps many of offenders each year. This work is part of a wider strategy to tackle drug addiction in prisons. The Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice are working closely with other ...
10-08-2012 01:08 AM BST
The 2011/12 Claims Management Regulation Unit’s annual report shows that over 400 claims management companies have been cancelled, suspended or warned. Regulatory action against claim management companies (CMCs) that failed to comply with industry standards has been stepped up over the last 12 months as the industry continues to develop. While most adhere to the rules, there are a number of CMCs being watched closely by the CMR Unit. The intention of regulation is not to stop CMCs trading but to try and ensure they operate their businesses responsibly, providing a fair deal for the customers they represent. Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly ...
31-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
A new agreement seeing a greater number of Albanian prisoners transferred from the UK to complete their sentences in Albania has been signed. The agreement, signed by Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt and the Albanian Deputy Justice Minister, Brikena Kasmi , is the first to be signed with a country with a large number of foreign national offenders in UK prisons. It will see the compulsory transfer of Albanian national prisoners currently serving sentences in the United Kingdom, to prisons in Albania. The agreement also means that British citizens who are serving prison sentences in Albania may also be compulsorily transferred ...
27-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
People will be able to use a simpler and quicker system to apply for their loved ones to legally manage their affairs under Government plans put out for consultation today. A new secure online service for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) would be created as a key part of the proposals to transform the services of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), which operates the scheme. It would provide a quicker and simpler alternative for the public to the current paper-based system and will retain all the safeguards needed to protect people’s interests. They would be able to ...
25-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
The Honourable Mr Justice (David) Calvert-Smith has been appointed as the new Chair of the Parole Board today. Sir David Calvert-Smith has been a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division since 2004 and was a Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit from 2006 to 2010. He served as the Director of Public Prosecutions from 1998 to 2003. The Lord Chancellor Kenneth Clarke said: 'I am delighted to announce Sir David’s appointment as Chair of the Parole Board. His knowledge and experience will be invaluable in providing leadership and strategic direction to the Parole Board, so it can perform ...
23-07-2012 02:07 PM BST
The Government has appointed David Norgrove as the chair of the new Family Justice Board. Mr Norgrove will oversee the board which is a key part of the reforms announced in the family justice review. The creation of the Family Justice Board forms part of the government’s strategy to ensure better cross-system working. The board, accountable to ministers, is made up of senior figures representing the key organisations in the family justice system. The board is focusing on reducing delay across the system, helping it prepare for the introduction of the statutory six month time limit in care cases. ...
17-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
The Government has today published its fourth Statement of New Regulation (SNR4). This provides an overview of regulations intended to be implemented by Government departments between July and December 2012 and reports on the application of the One-in, One-out (OIOO) Rule to new domestic regulation. In keeping with the Government’s objective to reduce regulation, the Ministry of Justice will not be introducing any regulatory measures during the SNR4 period. This means we have no measures for inclusion in SNR4, and so no measures within scope of the OIOO Rule during the SNR4 period. As a result, the Ministry’...
13-07-2012 01:07 PM BST
A new approach to Community Payback that aims to reform the sentence radically was announced today as SERCO, working in partnership with London Probation Trust, will deliver Community Payback in London. From October this year SERCO will run Community Payback across London, helping to more effectively punish and reform the 15,000 of offenders who receive the sentence each year in the capital. The penalty sees offenders visibly paying back to their communities through appropriate work, including tough physical work clearing-up local ‘grot spots’. Probation Minister Crispin Blunt MP said: 'Community Payback is a sound principle, with offenders being punished making reparation ...
13-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
The Government’s White Paper on criminal justice reform, Swift and Sure Justice: the Government’s Plans for Reform of Criminal Justice has been published today. The White Paper sets out a programme of reform which builds on some of the lessons learned from the response to last year’s disturbances, during which the Police, prosecutors and courts worked together - and offenders were brought to justice within days, sometimes even hours. Swift and Sure Justice: The Government’s Plans for Reform of the Criminal Justice System The paper sets out plans to modernise criminal justice services, speed up court ...
11-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
The Commission on a Bill of Rights has issued a second consultation paper, after the discussion paper published last year. This second consultation runs from 11 July – 30 September. The Commission wants to hear further views from the public on whether there should be a Bill of Rights and, if so, what the form and content of any such Bill might be. Commenting on the release of the consultation paper, the Chair of the Commission Sir Leigh Lewis said: ‘With less than six months until we must make our recommendations we want to hear from as many individuals and interested parties as ...
10-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
Victims of crime should not be made to feel like accessories to the criminal justice system, said Justice Minister Crispin Blunt. Speaking at the Victim Support annual conference, Mr Blunt set out the Governments plans to ensure that victims' and witnesses' services are sustainable, effective and efficient, providing support for those who need it most, at their time of greatest need. Crispin Blunt said: "It is a plain fact that the needs of victims vary locally. The needs of victims in central Manchester will be very different from those in rural Devon. Democratically elected and accountable Police and ...
05-07-2012 01:07 AM BST
Following a recent visit to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Lord McNally today called for all parties interested in the future of Sark to work together to safeguard the future of its unique community. The Ministry of Justice is the UK Government department responsible for the administration of the UK’s relationship with the Crown Dependencies - the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Lord McNally said: 'It is for the people of Sark to decide what the priorities for the future are and how to address them. In my view, Sark needs to adapt ...
27-06-2012 01:06 AM BST
Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust have won first prize in the national GeoVation Ordnance Survey competition. The team's award-winning idea is a phone app that makes it easier for members of the public to nominate and track community payback projects offenders will work on to improve their local communities. Team leader Jason Davies said: "Were overjoyed to win this competition. There were ten seriously good ideas in the final this year, which makes us even more pleased to have won. It was great to link up with other great teams in such a collaborative process." The ...
26-06-2012 01:06 AM BST
The Government’s rehabilitation revolution will be the focus of a prime time documentary tonight as filmmakers go behind the scenes at Brixton prison. Gordon Behind Bars looks at the creation of a 'Bad Boys' Bakery' inside Brixton prison. The scheme engages prisoners in real work – baking cakes for local cafes – while teaching them the value of hard work, rather than the idleness and boredom many have grown used to. While challenging, schemes like this mean prisoners use their time in custody constructively. They also mean they are also far more likely to get a job on release, ...
25-06-2012 01:06 AM BST
A Channel 4 documentary broadcast tonight will offer a unique insight into the lives of offenders facing a lifetime in prison. 'Lifers' talks to a range of offenders at HMP Gartree in Leicestershire, including the first prisoner with a whole life sentence to be interviewed on television. The film's director, Tim Wardle, said "I spent six months filming in Gartree prison for a Channel 4 documentary about life sentenced prisoners. Despite the inherent challenges of making a documentary in a Category B prison, staff were incredibly supportive and made every effort to allow us full access to their work and ...
21-06-2012 01:06 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke officially opened a new state of the art Magistrates’ Court in London today. Westminster Magistrates' Court is a 10-courtroom complex built as part of a wider strategy to improve the capacity and facilities of magistrates' courts in London. Kenneth Clarke said: "The future of our justice system is in modern, more efficient courts that are able to deliver justice swiftly – bringing offenders face-to-face with the consequences of their behaviour as quickly as possible. "Westminster Magistrates’ Court embodies this approach and is equipped with the more modern facilities that the public would expect to see. ...
18-06-2012 01:06 AM BST
Justice Minister Nick Herbert saw first-hand today how offenders are spending their community sentences building a river path and improving local habitat bordering the River Ise, in Kettering. The project, carried out in conjunction with Kettering Borough Council and the Environment Agency, involves up to 10 offenders undertaking unpaid work to improve an area which was once overgrown with weeds and flooded regularly. The project will improve public accessibility to an area of land along the River Ise and contribute to a wider scheme to revive the river and its surrounding environment. Justice Minister Nick Herbert said: 'It's ...
14-06-2012 01:06 AM BST
Justice Ministers Crispin Blunt and Nick Herbert were among guests who celebrated and recognised the work of the St Giles Trust at a House of Commons event. St Giles have been working with offenders – by offering practical support around housing, training and help entering the workforce - for over 50 years. Speaking after the event, Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt, said: 'The St Giles Trust has 50 years of experience which we are now able to fully draw upon as we continue the focus on reducing the rate of reoffending. St Giles is perfectly placed with its experience and skills, but most of ...
01-06-2012 01:06 AM BST
You are invited to nominate people for appointment as Queen’s Counsel ‘honoris causa’ (honorary silk). Nomination forms must be returned to us by 31 July 2012. The Ministry of Justice intends to recommend a number of people to Her Majesty for appointment as Queen’s Counsel ‘causa’ (honorary silk) in spring 2013. We are inviting both the legal sector and the wider public to make nominations. How to make a nomination We welcome nominations for honorary silk from anyone. If you would like to suggest someone for appointment, please let us have the following information: the person's full name their ...
31-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
People can now find out how justice was delivered in their neighbourhood, with new data published on the Government's crime mapping website police.uk The site now shows how crimes were dealt with and whether offenders went to court, increasing transparency in the criminal justice system. Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice Nick Herbert said: 'The public don't just want to know what crime is being committed in their local area; they want to know what is being done about it. Did the person who smashed a shop window get arrested? Has the person stealing from the local ...
30-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Money deducted from prisoners’ pay packets to fund victim support services as part of a new Government scheme has raised £383,724 in its first six months, Justice Minister Crispin Blunt announced today. Under the Prisoners’ Earnings Act up to 40 per cent of the wages earned by low-risk prisoners who work outside of prison to prepare for their release go to national charity Victim Support. This money is used to provide support such as professional counselling and enhancing home security – helping victims to recover from the trauma of crime. Justice Minister, Crispin Blunt, said: 'For too long offenders have not done enough ...
28-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
All public websites will now have to demonstrate that they are taking steps to comply with new EU laws on the storage of personal data using cookies. Cookies are text files that sit on a user's device allowing a website to store information about the user or track their online behaviour. They are often used to remember a user's browsing session for example, or for advertising purposes.The Ministry of Justice will use cookies to:measure traffic to its websiteallow users to share its content through social media sites. The department will also be helping those associated bodies who have ...
24-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
The Government is proud of its human rights' record, Justice Minister Lord McNally today told a United Nations’ review of the UK's human rights record over the last four years. As well as reaffirming the United Kingdom's long-standing commitment to advancing human rights both at home and internationally, Lord McNally outlined key milestones the Government has recently delivered. This includes a Commission on a Bill of Rights, set up to review how best to protect and extend British liberties, and the Brighton Declaration, which will allow the European Court of Human Rights to focus on the most serious human rights ...
24-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has launched the new enterprise ONE3ONE Solutions with a mission to increase the productive, commercial work done by prisoners. ONE3ONE Solutions will win and manage contracts for work for prisoners with both the public and private sectors. As well as expanding the scope for prisoners to rehabilitate, increasing prison work will provide an opportunity to generate reparation and rehabilitation funds. Operating to a Code of Practice that will continue to ensure work is sourced and charged for fairly and that prisoners are not exploited, ONE3ONE will look for opportunities to support businesses and ...
23-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Bill Wood, who is the acting Chair of the Civil Mediation Council, talks about the success of mediation in the civil justice system. Mediation in England and Wales is a huge success story, helping to save businesses, citizens and the Government from some of the huge expense and uncertainty involved in court cases.Recent governments have given considerable support to the increased use of mediation in the civil justice system. UK mediators are in demand around the world both as mediators and mediation trainers.On 8 May I attended a meeting at the House of Commons where Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly ...
21-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Will Riley was a victim of a burglary ten years ago when the home he shared with his wife and young daughter in North London was broken into. Will confronted the burglar who attacked him before the police arrived. A while afterwards he was asked if he would come and meet the man responsible for the burglary - who had since been arrested, found guilty and sentenced to prison for the crime. Will had never heard of restorative justice (RJ) before then, but agreed to attend the meeting which took place at Pentonville Prison. There, in the presence of ...
17-05-2012 02:05 PM BST
Plans for a new tool to tackle economic crime were published today for consultation by Solicitor General Edward Garnier QC and Justice Minister Crispin Blunt. Under Deferred Prosecution Agreements, companies would agree to publically admit wrongdoing, and meet tough conditions such as payment of substantial penalties, undertaking internal reform and submitting to regular review and monitoring. The whole process would be overseen by a judge and the threat of full prosecution would remain hanging over a company should they fail to comply with the agreement. Solicitor General Edward Garnier QC said:'If we can encourage companies to self-report ...
11-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
More women and people from minority backgrounds will be encouraged to become judges under plans announced today by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke. Mr Clarke revealed that new laws would be put in place to remove obstacles which can limit diversity in the judiciary. They include changing the rules to extend part-time working patterns for senior judges, intended to help balance work and family lives, and enabling ‘positive action’ for appointments – meaning that if two candidates are completely equal in their abilities, a selection can be made on the basis of improving diversity. The moves will not change the over-riding principle ...
10-05-2012 04:05 PM BST
Courts in England and Wales will be more publicly accessible than ever before when television broadcasting is introduced, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today. Plans to overturn the ban on filming and broadcasting from law courts were yesterday unveiled as part of the Queen’s Speech and will form part of the Crime and Courts Bill announced today. Once the legal changes have been made broadcasting will be introduced initially at the Court of Appeal, where filming will be permitted of opening and closing legal arguments made by lawyers and the judgements handed down. The Government will later look to ...
10-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Paul Turner, who leads on conciliation and mediation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, explains why they are supporting the business dispute resolution commitment, part of reforms outlined in 'Justice for business: supporting business and promoting growth'. In the current economic climate, the huge potential to save costs, time and the need to find a business-driven commercial solution must make the use of mediation a first step in any dispute, whether it's for the individual, partnership, company or corporate. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has already recognised the advantages and benefits ...
09-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Senior representatives from business, consumer, digital and legal organisations met Lord McNally, to share their views on the proposed Common European Sales Law. The European Commission believe that their plans to create a Common European Sales Law will help make cross-border trade simpler for businesses and consumers. However, others claim that there is no need for change, and that the proposals may create uncertainty and confusion. The Government has issued a Call for Evidence designed to help decide whether or not the proposals would benefit the UK, and inform the Government's response to the proposal. The event was ...
09-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
A raft of new measures to transform the justice system were set out today as part of the Queen’s Speech at the annual state opening of Parliament. Over the next year the courts and tribunals service will be reformed to increase efficiency and transparency, while the judicial appointments process will be reformed to encourage greater judicial diversity. Measures will also be put in place to protect free speech, and to make the security services more accountable, by allowing civil courts to consider all information relating to a case - even where national security prevents it from being made public. ...
08-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly met with business leaders to launch ‘Justice for Business: Supporting Business and Promoting Growth,’this morning. The new paper outlines how the Government’s ambitious reform programme is making the justice system more effective, less costly and better for business. The reforms include streamlined court processes, improved regulation of legal services and reduced burdens on business through cheaper and easier dispute resolution. Jonathan Djanogly launched the paper at the business led Dispute Resolution Commitment Breakfast with FT350 business leaders where he commended their support for out-of-court ways of resolving disputes. Mr Djanogly said: 'The vital role ...
04-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
A new Timpson training academy at HMP Blantyre House was opened by Secretary of State and Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt. The academy will train male and female prisoners from around Kent in skills such as shoe and jewellery repair, engraving, photo-processing, mini-lab operation, poster printing, retail procedures and key cutting. This is the first time this set up, releasing prisoners from multiple establishments on temporary licence to work at a single academy, has been used in England and Wales. The Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, said that he is pursuing this venture so that prisoners are not 'simply warehoused' while in ...
01-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Fraudsters are using the name of the Ministry of Justice and other organisations to trick members of the public into parting with large sums of money. The Ministry of Justice is warning the public to be alert after a recent increase in scams where consumers are being telephoned or emailed by people falsely claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice and other organisations. This scam usually involves fraudsters contacting a consumer and saying they are calling from the Ministry of Justice, the HM Courts, the Tribunal Service or another high profile organisation. They tell the victim they could be ...
01-05-2012 01:05 AM BST
Senior officials from the Commonwealth met in London yersterday for an extraordinary meeting of senior officials of law ministries (SOLM). Primarily arranged to reach agreement on civil society engagement in Commonwealth Law Ministers Meetings, the meeting will also be used to try promote UK objectives on human rights and Rule of Law. Civil society - community groups, professional associations, unions, faith-based organisations and charitable organisations - play a central role in making citizens aware of their rights and responsibilities, and in holding governments to account. They are vital to the Commonwealth’s aims of promoting democracy and good governance, human ...
20-04-2012 01:04 PM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has announced that the UK has negotiated a landmark agreement on reform of the European Court of Human Rights. The Brighton Declaration has now been formally adopted by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe following talks in Brighton this week. Mr Clarke said: 'These reforms represent a substantial package of reform and are a significant step towards realising the goals that the Prime Minister set out in Strasbourg. 'Taken together, these changes should mean fewer cases being considered by the court. Those that it considers should be allegations of serious violations or major points ...
19-04-2012 01:04 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke today opened key international talks on the reform of the European Court of Human Rights. The two day conference in Brighton sees representatives of 47 member nations of the Council of Europe gather to agree ways to improve the Court. As current Chair of the Council of Europe the UK has made reform of the Court its priority. Speaking to delegates in Brighton, Mr Clarke said: 'As one of the founder members of the Council of Europe, and as the first State to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights, the UK is delighted to be ...
18-04-2012 11:04 AM BST
I originally came across mediation through Stephen Ruttle QC from Brick Court; he asked me to sit in on mediation and I could immediately see the positive and creative application of mediation for families. Family breakdown is not a legal issue but a relationship issue. I trained as a mediator first with The Regents College of Psychotherapy and then with the Family Mediators Association. I have now been co-mediating for three years and during this time I have seen again and again the positive outcomes that come out of mediation: how it gives a structure within which couples can ...
18-04-2012 01:04 AM BST
Today marks the second National Stalking Awareness Day. The aim of the day is to help more victims feel confident seeking help early and to make sure that those they report the crime to know what can be done to help them. One in five women and one in 10 men are a victim of stalking at some point in their lives. The Government is introducing two specific criminal offences to tackle this abhorrent crime: stalking, and stalking where there is a fear of violence or where the stalking causes serious alarm or distress that has a substantial effect on the ...
16-04-2012 01:04 AM BST
Victims of terrorist attacks abroad can apply for compensation from a new Government scheme today, Justice Minister Crispin Blunt has announced. Until now, UK victims injured in overseas terrorism have been unable to claim compensation. The scheme will help people who are still suffering injuries following the below incidents: Bali, Indonesia – 12 October 2002 Kusadasi, Turkey – 16 July 2005 Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt – 23 July 2005 Dahab, Egypt – 24 April 2006 Marmaris, Turkey – 27 August 2006 Mumbai, India – 26 November 2008 Those injured in other terrorist attacks abroad can still apply - the Foreign Secretary can consider adding the incident to the scheme. Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'We should support and ...
11-04-2012 01:04 AM BST
Court hearings are becoming more efficient and prisoner movements are being reduced in Hertfordshire thanks to the region’s first ever virtual court. The new virtual court at Hatfield Remand Court allows an accused person, charged in Watford's police station, to have their first hearing within hours of being charged. About 20 cases have been dealt with so far. The same equipment has been used in the region to enable police officers to provide evidence at court from the police station – a process known as Live Links. Courts Minister, Jonathan Djanogly said: 'The first virtual court in Hertfordshire demonstrates the ...
04-04-2012 01:04 AM BST
Discussing the Justice and Security Green Paper, and the proposals to hold parts of some civil cases in closed session, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said: 'I'm trying to make the security services more accountable to Parliament – a lot of proposals for strengthening the control of Parliament – but also to the courts, by having more evidence actually taken into account by the judge in these cases. The alternative is that no-one will ever hear it; no-one will ever consider it. 'There are some cases when, at the heart of the matter, there will be information that has to be kept ...
02-04-2012 01:04 AM BST
Two new state of the art magistrates’ courts with first class facilities open for business in Chelmsford and Colchester today. The new courthouses have been built as part of a wider strategy to improve the capacity and facilities of the magistrates’ courts in Essex. Both courts will deal with the full range of criminal and family work dealt with in the magistrates’ court. Chelmsford will also have the capacity to deal with Crown Court cases. Facilities at the courts include: Video Link facilities in all courtrooms Hearing Loops for the deaf and hard of hearing Secure docks in all courtrooms ...
29-03-2012 01:03 PM BST
Visitors to London’s Royal Parks can expect a cleaner and safer experience this summer thanks to new measures announced today by Justice Minister Crispin Blunt. The Government plans to give police the power to issue on-the-spot penalties to people who drop litter, fail to clear up after their dogs or who cycle in prohibited areas of the parks, which cover 5,000 acres of the capital including Hyde Park, The Regent’s Park and Greenwich Park. The new powers will bring the Royal Parks in line with other parks and public areas around the capital and country and will help the ...
28-03-2012 01:03 AM BST
Consumers in England and Wales will find solicitors more competitive, more efficient and easier to access as new High Street providers are announced today. Today three firms have been given approval to operate as Alternative Business Structures (ABSs) including Co-operative Legal Services, Lawbridge Solicitors Ltd and John Welch and Stammers, ABSs remove existing restrictions on legal firms allowing them to offer more competitive services to customers by joining up with other businesses, such as high street shops, banks and supermarkets, to offer legal services alongside other products. To mark the occasion Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly visited Co-operative Legal Services Headquarters ...
27-03-2012 01:03 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has today launched radical proposals to strengthen community sentences and modernise the Probation Service. The proposals in the two consultations will ensure community sentences are a tough and credible punishment, supported by the innovation, capacity and diversity of voluntary and private providers, in partnership with the Probation Service to reduce reoffending and protect the public.Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said:'All too often community sentences are seen as an easy option, sometimes just a weekly meeting with a probation officer or a few hours of unpaid work in an entire week. This is inadequate. 'That ...
21-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
Plans for radical reforms to the justice system have moved another step forward in the Houses of Parliament. The House of Lords’ Report Stage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill was completed yesterday. (Tuesday 20 March) The Bill will now move forward to a Third Reading in the Lords next week, on Tuesday 27 March. The Bill sets out the Government’s plans to reduce reoffending, improve the sentencing framework, reform the legal aid system and improve the laws for no-win no-fee legal claims. It includes measures to crackdown on knife crime, dangerous driving, squatting, hate crime and ...
19-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has told law students that they hold the key to helping people to use mediation services in future. Speaking to students on the Bar Professional Training Course at BPP Law School in London, Jonathan Djanogly said: 'I do strongly believe that for the vast majority of disputes in civil, family and administrative justice, it can be a better way of reaching a resolution for all concerned - quicker, less expensive, certainly less stressful, and a solution that the parties themselves will buy into because they have shaped the outcome. 'One of the barriers to mediation's ...
19-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
From today all designated money claims in civil cases in England and Wales will be dealt with at one business centre. The centre will be supported by a dedicated contact team that deal with all telephone queries relating to claims. The new County Court Money Claim Service will process around 600,000 money claims in the coming year. In announcing the new service the Courts Minister, Jonathan Djanogly, said: 'The new County Court Money Claim Service will ensure that we make the most effective use of our administrative resource and provide an effective, efficient and consistent service to court users across ...
16-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
Violent and disruptive drinkers will be targeted by a new Sobriety Order to reduce reoffending and cut crime, Justice Minister Nick Herbert announced today. New powers will be introduced targeting criminals found guilty of committing crimes fuelled by drink. The powers will force offenders to go sober and face up to the causes of their behaviour. If they fail the sobriety tests they could face jail sentences. The powers, developed in conjunction with London’s Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse and supported by the Met Commissioner, allow for alcohol levels to be monitored either by innovative alcohol tags which test ...
15-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
Victims of rape and sexual violence will receive the specialist help they need as the Ministry of Justice funds five new rape support centres. The new centres in Mid-Wales, Southend, Leeds and Northumbria and Ipswich, will receive around £600,000 over the next 12 months. Justice Minister, Crispin Blunt said: 'Rape and sexual violence are traumatising crimes which ruin lives. 'We want to ensure victims of these terrible crimes get the specialist support they need to recover which is why the Government is funding these new centres. 'This is part of the Government's long-term commitment to victims of rape and sexual ...
15-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
To mark the first day of Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Convention, Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke and former MP Jonathan Aitken joined major businesses to encourage more employers to create opportunities for job seekers with previous criminal convictions. At an evening reception in London, 150 delegates including representatives from business, prison and probation services and ex offenders will met for a showcase of the Employers’ Forum for Reducing Re-offending , a collaboration of businesses committed to reducing re-offending which is managed by Business in the Community. Commenting, Secretary of State Kenneth Clarke said: 'Gaining employment plays a ...
13-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
Justice Minister Lord McNally today visited the Hammersmith-based women’s community centre, Minerva, to see first-hand how significant investment has helped bring about changes in the way women are dealt with in the criminal justice system. Much has been done to address the needs of female offenders since Baroness Corston led a review on women in the criminal justice system five years ago. New regimes in women’s prisons have been introduced and there is now a strong commitment to fund women’s community services and divert more women from custody. The Minerva Centre, in common with a number of ...
12-03-2012 09:03 AM GMT
A new BBC documentary starts today, exploring criminality over the past 60 years and featuring a number of prisons in England and Wales. 'Crime and Punishment' is presented by Louise Minchin and Gethin Jones and sees them revisiting landmark cases and charting changes in illegal activity, law enforcement and incarceration. In the first episode of the ten-part series, Louise Minchin heads to West Midlands Police HQ in Birmingham while Gethin Jones visits Bristol Prison. The Category B local prison has changed significantly over the last 60 years and the series portrays the difficult, demanding roles the staff at the prison exercise every ...
09-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
Simon Shepherd is Director of The Butler Trust, a charity which promotes excellence in prisons, probation and youth justice. He explains why the Butler Trust's annual award scheme for staff and volunteers is such an inspiring event. 'We have just enjoyed the highlight of our year, the annual award ceremony at Buckingham Palace presided over by our Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. This was the 27th such occasion and once again it was a truly memorable day with some inspirational people receiving due recognition for their outstanding work. The Butler Trust was founded in 1985 in memory ...
09-03-2012 12:03 AM GMT
Ministry of Justice staff and volunteers were winners across the board at this year's Butler Trust Awards. Individuals and teams working in England and Wales prison and probation services won nine awards and 18 commendations from The Butler Trust, a charity which promotes excellence in prisons, probation and youth justice. The Princess Royal, who is Royal Patron to the charity, presented the awards, which are now in their 27th year. Outstanding achievementThe Princess Royal’s overall prize for outstanding achievement was awarded to Kate Knight, from Surrey and Sussex Probation, for her outstanding practice as a probation officer and manager. ...
29-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
The UK is hosting the first G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group meeting in London. The two-day event will see G20 countries discussing how to make progress on the G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan. As co-chair of the Group, the UK is committed to combating corruption and enforcing laws against foreign bribery, effective implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption and tracing and recovering stolen assets. The first year of Plan has already seen significant progress with China criminalising foreign bribery, Russia participating in the OECD Anti-Bribery Working Group and India ratifying the UN Convention Against Corruption. Speaking at the event, Justice Secretary ...
28-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
You will see some changes to justice.gov.uk The changes include: a simpler topic-based structure fly-out menus providing easy access to content fresher, cleaner design that also works on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets the ability to filter search results in a number of different ways If you have any queries or comments on the changes please email us. Why have we done this? Our user survey last Summer gave us valuable user feedback on the look, structure and functionality of the site. These changes put in place many of the suggested design and ...
28-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
The Government has today published its third statement of new regulation (SNR3). SNR3 provides an overview of regulations intended to be implemented by Government departments between January and June 2012 and reports on the application of the One-in, One-out (OIOO) rule to new domestic regulation. MoJ continues to work to support the Government’s objective to reduce regulation, and will not be introducing any regulatory measures during the SNR3 period and therefore has no measures for inclusion in SNR3. This means, we also have no regulatory measures within the scope of OIOO that are planned to be brought into force ...
27-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
The Princess Royal visited Manchester to meet with staff from award-winning probation teams. Princess Anne is the patron of The Butler Trust, an organisation that recognises probation and prison staff for excellent and innovative practice. The Princess Royal met staff in the Manchester-based Intensive Alternative to Custody (IAC) team, who scooped a Butler Trust award last year for their specialist work with offenders. She also met with probation officers from the Butler Trust winning Manchester Offenders: Diversion, Engagement and Liaison project (MO:DEL), who work with offenders with mental health issues to divert them away from re-offending and help them ...
27-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
Video hearings are being extended in a number of courts across the country as part of an initiative involving police and courts staff working together. Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie from Cheshire Police explains the benefits of these new 'virtual courts' for the justice system. For a number of years in Cheshire video hearings have taken place for defendants remanded to prison awaiting trial, thereby reducing the requirement to transport them between prison and court on a regular basis. Virtual courts have extended this process to the police service by allowing defendants in custody at a police custody suite ...
27-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
Justice Minister Lord McNally visited Croatia to discuss the country’s accession to the European Union next year and the UK’s plans for reform of the European Court of Human Rights. The minister gave a speech at the University of Zagreb, where he emphasised the UK’s support for Croatia’s accession to the EU.Lord McNally said: "As a strong supporter of enlargement, let me say how very pleased the UK is with the results of your recent referendum. "Croatia has been taking forward reform for over six years and judicial reform in particular has been at the ...
17-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
Dr Steven Everson is the Director General of the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA), the sole trade association representing certificated bailiffs in England and Wales. He explains why the current system needs to change and why he welcomes the Ministry of Justice's consultation on the activities of bailiffs.'For over a decade now the enforcement industry has been pressing for the reform of enforcement law and CIVEA welcomes the publication of the consultation document by the Ministry of Justice on transforming bailiff action.The current system is outdated and unnecessarily complex. It has evolved over centuries through case law ...
17-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has unveiled proposals for a major legal overhaul of the bailiff industry that will clamp down on bad practices. The Ministry of Justice consultation on bailiffs, which opens today, sets out how ethical activity should be enshrined in law so bailiffs can continue to enforce the payment of debts and fines. Mr Djanogly said: 'Too many people have experienced intrusive, expensive and stressful bailiff action and more often than not the public do not hold bailiffs in high regard, despite the fact most bailiffs carry out their work professionally. 'We want to restore balance to the ...
15-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
A new Victim Support drop-in centre which will help victims of crime in Leicester was opened by Justice Minister, Crispin Blunt. The charity, which is mainly funded by the Ministry of Justice, is one of the largest victims' organisations in the world and the new centre will help the 30,000 victims of crime referred on by Leicestershire Police. Justice Minister, Crispin Blunt, said: 'I am pleased to open Victim Support's first drop-in centre because receiving prompt, specialist advice and support when needed can make a positive difference to victims of crime. It marks a move away from a non-specific offer of ...
10-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
The Ministry of Justice has been named as one of the top reforming government departments in 2011 according to a new analysis by the independent think tank Reform. The think tank has ranked each big government department and its ministers on its reforms of public services. The introduction of payment by results programmes in prisons was singled out as one of the 'big successes' of the first 18 months of the coalition government. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke was also praised for leading the reforms, which the think tank said have presented 'the best arguments for competition of any department'. A Ministry of ...
09-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
Individuals and businesses will find it cheaper, quicker and less daunting to resolve their disputes in civil courts, through new measures announced today. The measures are set out in the government’s response to the consultation Solving Disputes in the County Courts. They include plans to simplify the majority of cases, modernise and streamline the county court system and free up the High Court to only deal with especially complex cases. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said: 'Individuals and businesses tell me that the civil justice system at the moment can sometimes be intimidating and that they don’t know if ...
06-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
Children and families in England and Wales will benefit from major reforms to the family justice system, which will tackle delays and streamline processes. In the Government's response to the recommendations made by the independent family justice review panel, ministers have outlined their plans to change the system to help strengthen parenting, reduce the time it takes cases to progress through the courts, and simplify the family justice system. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said: 'The reform of family justice and child protection is a critical priority for Government. Our reforms are ambitious and system-wide and particularly tackle the crucial problem ...
01-02-2012 12:02 AM GMT
Courts across England and Wales have started using a new interpreter service which is expected to save taxpayers more than £18m a year. The change means that all courts and justice agencies are now being provided with skilled interpreters and translators through a single agency, Applied Language Solutions. The new system came into effect this week and means that interpreting assignments across several agencies, including the police and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, can be allocated to interpreters more effectively. For example, a single interpreter can now complete consecutive assignments for different agencies in the same general location where ...
30-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
An overhaul of victims' services could see up to £50m generated from offenders to help create a speedier, more supportive system for victims of serious crime. Criminals will be forced to fund victims' support services and those with unspent convictions could be banned from claiming compensation, under new proposals announced by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke. The planned shake-up is now out to public consultation. Kenneth Clarke said: 'Victims in this country must be able to rely on a justice system which punishes offenders properly and ensures that victims who suffer serious consequences are properly helped and supported.' He added: ...
27-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
Tomorrow is Data Protection Day. To mark the occasion, Minister Lord McNally explains why protecting people's data without sacrificing their freedom should be at the heart of privacy and personal data protection policy in 21st century Europe. We all value our privacy. We all have legitimate concerns about how much both the state and the private sector should know about us and what purpose they should put such knowledge. Yet it is also true, in this information age, that we all benefit from our ability to access and use data. One of the great challenges to Government in ...
25-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
A new approach to managing offenders on community sentences will be trialled by two Probation Trusts Justice Minister Crispin Blunt announced today. Staffordshire and West Midlands and Wales Probation Trusts have been chosen to run the two pilots as part of the government’s world-leading Payment by Results (PbR) programme to cut reoffending. The Trusts will build partnerships with the private and voluntary sector to provide frontline services across their communities for up to 2000 offenders. They will start working closely with the Ministry of Justice and the National Offender Management Service to finalise the exact details of their approach. ...
24-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
Community projects that tackle female offending have been awarded £3.5m in funding, Justice Minister Crispin Blunt announced today. The one-year package will be funded by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). It will be shared across 30 centres helping female offenders and women at risk of offending to turn away from a life of crime. More than 5,000 women this year are expected to benefit from these centres, which focus on addressing the root causes of offending, including substance abuse and issues around domestic and sexual violence. Crispin Blunt, Minister for Prisons and Probation, said: 'We are committed to tackling offending among ...
23-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has urged separating couples to consider mediation when they separate or divorce, instead of turning to the courts. He met family mediators in Milton Keynes who work with couples and families to reach agreements when they separate or divorce - especially where children are involved. Mr Clarke said: 'In the vast majority of cases mediation is a much more sensible way for couples to conduct their separation – it is quicker, cheaper, less confrontational and it encourages people to resolve their issues rather than turning to judges and lawyers.' Rules introduced last year mean that all ...
17-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
The Forestry Commission (FC) has been recognised for its cost-effective schemes helping ex-offenders secure careers in forestry on their release from prison. David West, FC's Development Manager in the South West, talks about the award-winning Dartmoor Prison Rehabilitation Project. In November our own work supervisor Mark Jefferies was chosen as overall winner in the 'Excellence in Service Delivery' category at the 2011 Civil Service Diversity and Equality Awards for his work with offenders. For Mark to receive the award was particularly pertinent as the Dartmoor Rehabilitation Project has evolved and been delivered by the small team of four professional foresters who ...
13-01-2012 09:01 AM GMT
New standards defining acceptable behaviour for bailiffs across the country were today unveiled by Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly. The reforms will protect people from rogue bailiffs who use unsafe or unfair methods, while at the same time making sure businesses and authorities can still collect debts fairly. Mr Djanogly said: 'Bailiffs are an important part of the justice system so the few unscrupulous bailiffs must be stopped from putting people in harm’s way or taking advantage of the vulnerable. 'Whilst I know the majority of bailiffs are responsible, too many are not. We often hear stories, and see evidence, ...
12-01-2012 09:01 AM GMT
A new set of court statistics published today support the case for a comprehensive reform programme across the justice system. For the first time, quarterly court statistics show the average length of civil and family cases at every County Court, and the duration of criminal cases at every Crown Court and local magistrates’ court group.The figures will allow people to see how quickly cases are handled at their local court, and to compare it to other courts across England and Wales.The new timeliness statistics showed that in July to September 2011, on average:Care proceedings took 55 weeksHearings for small ...
10-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
The second part of a three part documentary presented by the Bishop to Prisons was aired on BBC Radio 4 last night. In 'The Bishop and the Prisoner', Rev. James Jones gives his view of the Prison Service and visits HMP Liverpool, High Down and Forest Bank as well as spending time with probation officers in Manchester and with charities that work with offenders. The programme includes interviews with the Secretary of State for Justice Ken Clarke and the Minister for Justice Crispin Blunt, but also prison governors, inmates and probation chief executives. You can listen again to parts one and ...
09-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
Kenneth Clarke visited a community centre in London to see first-hand how areas of the capital are already benefiting from hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. The Justice Secretary toured Lilian Baylis Old School community centre in Lambeth to see how sport is being used to help transform local communities. The centre provides sporting facilities and a wide range of activities including football, boxing and basketball, to help develop social skills such as team work, responsibility and respect for others. Mr Clarke said: 'The Olympics and Paralympics will generate huge interest and enthusiasm and create jobs and ...
06-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly is encouraging families to consider mediation in the New Year as an alternative to going to court. The first weeks of January are a peak time for couples to consider divorce or separation, with a much higher number of searches on Directgov for 'divorce' and related terms. The minister said: 'Turning to mediation instead of the courts, people can take charge of their own futures and work towards a better outcome for everyone involved.' Mediation involves couples working through issues in the presence of a qualified mediator to make arrangements both sides can agree with, ...
06-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
Michael Todd QC, the Chairman of the Bar Council, explains why we have a legal services sector to be proud of and why he believes we can all invest in its future. It was whilst I was attending the International Bar Association's (IBA's) Annual Conference late last year, in Dubai, that I witnessed with considerable satisfaction and pride, the esteem in which our justice system, judges and practitioners are held by not only the rest of the common law world, but also those who practise within civil systems of justice. What struck me, in particular, was the desire and enthusiasm ...
03-01-2012 12:01 AM GMT
From today UK consumers and businesses will find solicitors' firms more competitive, more accessible and more efficient following reforms to legal services. The reforms mean the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is being added to the licensing authorities for the new Alternative Business Structures (ABSs). ABSs remove existing restrictions on legal firms allowing them to offer more competitive services to customers by joining up with other businesses, such as high street shops, banks and supermarkets, to offer legal services alongside other products. Solicitors who want to take advantage of the new systems can apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority to be ...
30-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
Government records from 1981 have been made available online for the first time by The National Archives (TNA). Highlights from the collection include records of: civil disorder after disturbances in Brixton, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, and London districts and the Prime Minister’s meetings with community leaders Maze Prison - the IRA hunger strikers splits in Cabinet over the government economic policy defence cuts relations with France Thatcher’s relationship with Reagan bombing of Iran by Israel. Oliver Morley, Chief Executive and Keeper, TNA, said: 'Every year, TNA releases the fascinating files from 30 years before and in their way, they are as ...
21-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
Offenders sentenced to Community Payback in Kent cooked a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings at a lunch club for the elderly. The lunch scheme is run all-year round by Kent Probation, with the help of charity Age UK, who provide the premises for the lunch club in Gravesend. The scheme offers a vital service for old people in the area, giving them the chance to have a hot meal and socialise with others in their local community. Supervised by Kent Probation, the offenders cooked a two-course Christmas meal for the club. They also washed the minibuses used to ...
20-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
A small quantity of heroin has been unearthed in an 80-year-old file at The National Archives - the latest in a long line of unusual discoveries at the archives. The discovery was made after several sachets of a mysterious powder were found in a sealed pouch inside a Foreign Office file dating from 1928. The file, which originated from the British Consulate in Cairo, detailed a criminal assault court case involving possession of narcotics. It had been ordered by a researcher in The National Archives’ reading rooms in Kew, who found the sealed pouch. The pouch was taken to the Collection ...
09-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
Justice Secretary and International Anti-Corruption Champion, Kenneth Clarke, has welcomed UN International Anti-Corruption Day. 'As the UK Government's lead Minister on International Anti-Corruption I am delighted to support UN International Anti-Corruption Day. 'We are working hard to tackle corruption both at home and abroad. Through the Bribery Act, the UK has sent a unequivocal message that we intend to take a strong stand on corruption and that bribes should not play any part in winning business. This significant step has been reflected in our improved ranking on Transparency International's Annual Corruptions Index, reflecting the UK’s status as one ...
08-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
People who murder disabled or transgender people in hate crime attacks will face life sentences with a starting point of 30 years, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today. The Ministry of Justice plans to amend the Criminal Justice Act 2003 so that murders motivated by hatred or hostility towards disabled or transgender people will have the same starting point as for murders aggravated by race, religion and sexual orientation. This will double the current starting point for disability and transgender hate crime murders. The Act will also be updated so that where any offence is shown to be motivated by hostility towards ...
07-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Kenneth Clarke talks about the new Rolls Building and how this state of the art court complex is flying the flag for UK legal services. I was privileged to attend the official opening of the new Rolls Building when it was formally opened by HM The Queen. Part of the Royal Courts of Justice, this impressive new court complex is located at the heart of the City of London on Fetter Lane and is the largest specialist centre for the resolution of financial, business and property litigation anywhere in the world. As a centre of ...
07-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
Located off Fetter Lane in the City of London, the Rolls Building brings under one roof the expertise of the Chancery Division of the High Court, the Admiralty and Commercial Court and the Technology and Construction Court. The state of the art court complex covers more than 16,000 square metres, houses 31 courtrooms, 11 hearing rooms and 55 consultation rooms. It is equipped with the latest IT facilities and three 'super courts’ able to handle the most complex and multi-party trials. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said: 'The world's business leaders come to the UK to settle their disputes so that they can move forward, ...
05-12-2011 12:12 AM GMT
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke saw a team of Community Payback offenders brightening up an underpass blighted by graffiti today. The offenders from Ipswich whitewashed and painted over the graffiti in a town centre underpass, preparing it for a community mural to be painted by a local artist. The artwork, called 'The Never Ending Mural,' will see the face of Ipswich transformed for the better and improve the environment for the local community. The project is being run by Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Trust in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council. Speaking to probation staff and offenders working on the ...
30-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
An ex-prisoner who turned his life around has won a national award helping offenders behind bars record bedtime stories for their children. Chris Dredger scooped Talk Talk's 'Digital Heroes' Award for working with charity Storybook Dads as an audio and video editor while serving time and has continued to work for them after his release. The 30-year-old, who is still on probation with Devon and Cornwall Probation Trust, beat 11 other finalists to win the award. He said: 'I feel very proud to have represented our charity. I hope that my success might show other prisoners there can be a way ...
29-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
In a wide-ranging interview with the International Bar Association, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke laid out his plans for the Prison Service as well as his thoughts on the sentences handed out following this summer's disturbances. During the 40-minute face-to-face discussion, recorded at the Ministry of Justice's headquarters in Westminster, the Justice Secretary took the opportunity to explain the Department’s innovative plans to reduce reoffending. He was also quizzed on changes to the legal aid system, as well as his views on the UK's chairmanship of the Council of Europe. Watch the Secretary of State's full interview with the ...
29-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
David Wootton is the new Lord Mayor of the City of London. A lawyer by profession, he explains why it's important to help the UK legal sector flourish and promote London as a global centre for dispute resolution. 'As a lawyer by profession and having just taken up the role of Lord Mayor of the City of London, I am particularly honoured to fly the flag for UK legal services at home and abroad. Next year, I will spend over 90 days visiting some two dozen countries, to promote UK-based financial and professional services. A key element of my work abroad ...
28-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
Increased use of virtual courts and live links technology is making justice quicker and more effective, Justice Ministers Nick Herbert and Jonathan Djanogly said today. The ministers witnessed the video technology in action when they visited a Police station in North Kent and a virtual court in Chester. They saw how it allowed for swifter and more effective court hearings, benefitting victims, witnesses and saving valuable police hours. Virtual courts allow a defendant, charged in a police station, to have their first hearing held over secure video link from the magistrates’ court. This can happen within hours of ...
25-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
Payment by results is a smarter approach to offender management, Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt said today. Speaking at the Capita conference on payment by results in prisons, he said the system would reward providers who successfully rehabilitate offenders, ensuring value for money for taxpayers. Crispin Blunt said the Government would only pay for genuine success. 'Providers will be held accountable for their performance, and will need to bear the financial risk of failure. The tax payer will not foot the bill for services that fail. He added: 'By piloting, we are taking the first step towards long term system ...
24-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
A community liaison prison officer at HMP Norwich has been named Guardian public servant of the year 2011. Dave Damerell's work helping offenders get jobs through work experience struck a chord with the British public who voted him the winner in the newspaper’s national competition. Speaking after winning, Dave said: 'I was very shocked to win, but also very honoured and humbled. I'm just one of many officers who do a terrific job and it highlights the great work we do here at Norwich Prison.' Building partnerships An officer for 20 years, Dave’s latest project started two ...
21-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
Julie Townsend is deputy chief executive of Brake, a charity that campaigns for safer roads and justice for people bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. To mark the start of road safety week, she explains why changes to the law on dangerous driving are being welcomed. 'Through Brake’s work supporting families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes, we hear first-hand about the terrible devastation and trauma these victims suffer. We also hear, very often, that their suffering has been compounded by a feeling of outrage over lenient sentences given to the drivers who have inflicted such ...
11-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
Minister Crispin Blunt went to see an innovative scheme at Peterborough Prison that aims to stop offenders returning to a life of crime after prison. The six-year Social Impact Bond (SIB) scheme is the world’s first payment by results pilot involving mentors giving support and guidance to offenders on release from prison. The pilot, known locally as the ‘One Service’, targets male prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months who receive no statutory probation supervision after they are released. Crispin Blunt, who launched the pilot a year ago, said: 'I was really keen to visit Peterborough ...
11-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
As the country marks Armistice Day, The National Archives is publishing online around 15,000 First World War nursing files, in one of the largest ever collections of women’s records. The files date from 1902 to 1922 and chart the nurses’ full service history including their date and place of birth, the hospitals and other medical units they served in, and even confidential reports assessing their performance. William Spencer, Principal Military Records Specialist at The National Archives (TNA), said: 'By making this vast collection accessible online, more people than ever before can learn about these unsung heroines of the Great ...
07-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
The UK takes on the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe today for six months. The Chairmanship will allow the UK to play a leading role in the work of the Council of Europe in promoting rights, democracy and rule of law across the continent. As a founder member of the Council and the first country to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights, the UK chairmanship will focus on promoting and protecting human rights. Some of its priorities include: reforming the European Court of Human Rights and strengthening implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights strengthening the rule ...
07-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
The UK is actively supporting anti-corruption activities at home and abroad, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today. Speaking at the first anti-corruption All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the Justice Secretary said the Government was serious about tackling corruption and advocating that other countries raise their standards. Mr Clarke, who is also the International Anti-Corruption Champion, said: 'I take my role as Champion very seriously. 'Corruption hurts individuals, business, society and development. Bribery and corruption are extremely serious offences which should be punished with the full force of the law.' The Justice Secretary also welcomed the formation of the new APPG, ...
04-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly praised mediators in Ipswich for helping separating families resolve their differences outside courts. The family mediators at Fosters Mediation are professionally trained to work with couples and families to reach agreements without going to court - especially where children are involved. Mr Djanogly said: "Court can be intimidating for everyone involved and it is fantastic to see mediators working with agencies and parents to give them the skills they need to think about the best interest of the child – not just in the short term, but for the future too.” Quicker and cheaper Mediation ...
01-11-2011 12:11 AM GMT
The public can now request information from three new bodies under the Freedom of Information Act. An order has come into effect bringing the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), university admissions body UCAS, and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) under the scope of the Freddom of Information Act (FoI). The Ministry of Justice has extended the Act to these three bodies, following a period of consultation, on the basis that they all perform functions of a public nature. Justice Minister Lord McNally, who signed the order today, said: 'The public clearly deserves a Government that is open and accountable ...
28-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Strong legal services will help put the UK on a path to long-term growth, Justice minister Lord McNally said yesterday. Speaking at the launch of the Unlocking Disputes campaign to promote London as a centre for global dispute resolution, Lord McNally said: 'Since coming into office Ken Clarke and I have given high priority to this campaign to help international business to realise what UK legal services can offer. 'Effective dispute resolution removes barriers to effective economic growth, and that benefits everyone.' Unlocking Disputes Unlocking Disputes is funded and led by TheCityUK, the Bar Council, the Law Society and ...
27-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced a new sentencing regime that will see more mandatory life sentences for a broader range of crimes. Under the plans, more dangerous criminals will be given life sentences for crimes other than murder. Mandatory custodial sentences will also be available for both adults and 16-17 year-olds convicted of aggravated knife and offensive weapon offences. The announcement follows the Government's commitment to review the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence, which was criticised for being confusing and difficult to understand. Kenneth Clarke said: 'The new regime will restore clarity, coherence and common sense to sentencing, rid ...
26-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced tough measures to better protect people from intruders, dangerous criminals and excessive no-win no-fee legal costs. The proposals in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill are the latest in a series of radical moves to reduce reoffending, improve sentencing and reform the legal aid system. Mr Clarke said: 'People should feel safe in their communities and especially in their own homes and these measures, along with the rest of our radical package of reforms, will ensure they are protected.' The measures include: Making squatting in residential buildings a criminal offence Strengthening ...
21-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
The extension of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act has improved openness in Government, Lord McNally said. Speaking to stakeholders and FOI experts at a Westminster Legal Policy Forum, the minister said: 'The FOI Act and the Government's wider transparency agenda take us further down the road of delivering the openness and accountability that the people of this country deserve.' The minister said transparency was the foundation of accountability, adding, 'People should be able to hold the public sector to account over how their money is spent and the decisions made on their behalf.' Challenges Lord McNally also ...
19-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
New proposals allowing secret intelligence to be used in courts were announced by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke today. The Justice and Security Green Paper will ensure that the sensitivity of evidence does not prevent cases being heard in the courts - enabling justice to be done without compromising national security. The paper also sets out proposals to reform how the security and intelligence agencies are overseen and scrutinised. Modernising the system Civil cases have previously collapsed because vital evidence could not be given in a public courtroom for fear of compromising national security and public safety. The new proposals will ...
17-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
The Probation Service has scooped an excellence award for continually improving the quality of its services It was awarded the 2011 British Quality Foundation’s (BQF) 'Gold Medal for Excellence' at an awards ceremony in London hosted by journalist Louise Minchin and attended by HRH the Princess Royal. It is the first time a public sector organisation has won the award, previous winners of which include Ricoh UK Products, Siemens UK and TNT Express. Crispin Blunt MP, Minister for Prisons and Probation, said: 'This prestigious award recognises the professionalism of probation staff and the excellence of their work. 'This ...
13-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
As a new 'payment by results' pilot is launched at Doncaster Prison the prison’s director, John Biggin explains how the four-year scheme will provide innovative rehabilitation services both within the prison and 'through the gate' in the community. We know that ex-offenders are most vulnerable in the first three months after release – they may have lost their homes and jobs and have little to return to. This is when they are most likely to reoffend, and why the support we can provide them with is so important. Most offenders at Doncaster are serving sentences of 12 months ...
12-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Justice Minister Crispin Blunt spoke to BBC Radio 4's PM programme about reducing reoffending and the launch of a new 'Payment by Results' pilot at Doncaster Prison. You can listen to the programme on the BBC website: Part one of the interview Part two of the interview ...
11-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Minister Jonathan Djanogly visited the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) on its first birthday to see how staff there handle calls. The minister saw how staff working for this free service look at legal complaints in a fair and independent way and heard about some of the successes. Mr Djanogly said: 'It’s been a successful first year. Before the OLC, complaints were dealt with by an array of approved regulators. Consumers lacked confidence in the old system and generally felt that it favoured the professionals. I’m pleased the system is working better and so many consumers ...
07-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said it was a 'landmark day' for the legal industry as new business structures were launched - opening up the legal services market for lawyers and non-lawyers for the first time. Alternative Business Structures (ABS) are firms which are partly or fully owned or controlled by non-lawyers to provide legal services, or a mixture of legal and non-legal services. High street shops, supermarkets and internet firms for example, will be able to sell consumer legal services in England and Wales for the first time alongside their other products. This opening up of the legal services market ...
07-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Dangerous drivers who seriously injure others could spend up to five years in jail thanks to a new criminal offence, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced today. The new offence of 'causing serious injury by dangerous driving' will more than double the current maximum sentence of two years, allowing the courts to impose tougher punishments on dangerous drivers. The changes will be taken forward as part of the Government's Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said: 'We have listened to the victims of dangerous drivers, their families, MPs, judges and road safety groups and ...
06-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Community groups and voluntary organisations are crucial to making the Government's 'rehabilitation revolution' a reality, Justice Minister Lord McNally said. In a lecture to the St Albans Diocese group entitled 'Rehabilitation Revolution - pipe dream or penal policy for the 21st century?' the minister said: 'I believe that groups like yours have a vital role to play. 'I welcome the fact that you're able to meet to exchange views, and to try to discern imaginative solutions to problems that individuals and communities face every day.' Lord McNally also outlined the reforms under way to better rehabilitate offenders, ...
06-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
Separating couples in Liverpool are resolving their disputes more cheaply, quickly and less stressfully following new rules introduced by Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly. The new rules, which came into effect on 6 April, mean that anyone setting out to contest the terms of their separation in court will first be required to consider mediation. Mediation involves couples working through issues in the presence of a qualified mediator to make arrangements both sides can live with, rather than putting lawyers and a judge in charge of deciding a couple's future arrangements. Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly met with mediators and divorcing couples ...
03-10-2011 01:10 AM BST
A prison in Bristol is piloting increasing the number of hours inmates work in its workshops by 50 per cent. Thirty prisoners working at HMP Bristol's Waste Management Unit now do 33.25 hours per week instead of 22, in a move towards lengthening their working day and eventually introducing full working weeks. A similar pilot is also being trialled at the prison's laundry unit, with a group of 15 prisoners. Nikki Secker, Head of Business Development at the Category B prison, explains that working longer hours gives the prisoners more time to gain skills that they can use in the outside world on release. &...
29-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
A new civil mediation directory will replace the National Mediation Helpline from 1 October. The civil mediation directory will help individuals and businesses to find a civil and commercial mediation provider anywhere in England and Wales. The mediation directory is an online tool and lists a number of local and national civil and commercial mediation providers, all of whom are accredited by the Civil Mediation Council. Individuals can search the directory for a mediation provider that is local to them; and the cost of mediation is based on a fixed fee, depending on the value of the dispute. The directory will ...
27-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Kenneth Clarke is spending three days in Delhi this week highlighting the mutual benefits of increasing the levels of legal business between the UK and India. The Justice Secretary will tell Indian political and business leaders that improving business relations between the UK and India is in the best interests of both countries. Mr Clarke will also meet prominent Indian businesspeople and lawyers to promote the UK as a centre of excellence for litigation and alternative dispute resolution and will give his full backing to work to liberalise India’s legal services – the Indian legal market is currently ...
26-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
The Ministry of Justice along with other government departments has today published its second Statement of New Regulation (SNR2). SNR2 provides an overview of all regulations intended to be implemented by government departments between July 2011 and the end of December 2011. The Ministry's SNR2 includes only one measure which relates to commencing the provisions in the Legal Services Act 2007, which establish the arrangement for a new licensing regime for Alternative Business Structures (ABS). This is a deregulatory measure which will relax the restrictions in law firm structure and allow non-lawyer ownership of law firms with different types of lawyers and non-lawyers ...
26-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Up to £1million a year will be seized from prisoners’ pay packets and used to fund victim support services, the Ministry of Justice announced today as the Prisoners’ Earnings Act comes into force. The money will go to the national charity Victim Support and pay for new support services, helping victims to recover from the trauma of crime and forcing criminals to take responsibility for the harm they have caused. The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, Nick Herbert, said: 'For too long the financial burden of repairing the damage done by crime has fallen to ...
21-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
As the Koestler Trust charity launches a ground breaking exhibition of offender art, Chief Executive Tim Robertson explains why it's so much more than just a display of prisoners' creativity. 'At the Koestler Trust this is our most hectic, exciting and slightly daunting time of year. We are about to open our annual national exhibition at London’s Royal Festival Hall - the 50th in our history. I’m writing from our base at Wormwood Scrubs, surrounded by carefully wrapped packages of paintings, drawings, photos, needlework, sculpture, pottery and matchstick models - not to mention CDs of ...
15-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
The Ministry of Justice has published detailed court statistics related to the public disorder in England for the first time. The new bulletin gives details about the ages and genders of those who have appeared before the courts on charges related to the disturbances between 6 August and 9 August 2011. It also gives regional breakdowns and information about the offences committed, sentences given, and previous criminal history of those involved. Statistical bulletin on the public disorder of 6th-9th August 2011. ...
14-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today he will be promoting UK legal services to a worldwide audience. 'The rule of law is one of our greatest exports,' he said. 'I am prepared to wear out much shoe leather promoting the UK as lawyer and adviser to the world.' Speaking at an event for legal and business leaders in London, the Justice Secretary outlined a number of initiatives the Government is undertaking to further the interests of the UK’s legal businesses, which provided £23 billion to the UK economy in 2009. Mr Clarke added: 'I want to ...
14-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
The Justice system should be swift and sure, and fit for the 21st century, Minister Nick Herbert said. In a speech to the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales the minister for policing and criminal justice said the UK riots showed what the criminal justice system can achieve in terms of speed and efficiency. 'We must bring justice into the 21st Century,' he said. 'We need to learn from the response to the riots and see where justice could normally be done more effectively.' The minister added that by next April, the entire criminal justice system would ...
13-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
More offenders will face the consequences of their actions with the launch of the first-ever register of restorative justice practitioners. Funded by the Ministry of Justice and implemented by the Restorative Justice Council (RJC), the register lists all qualified practitioners of restorative justice - a process where offenders meet their victims and hear about the pain they have caused. Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'Restorative Justice demands criminals take an active role in acknowledging the harm they have caused, as well as making amends. 'The register we are launching today will encourage the increased use of restorative justice by making ...
12-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Justice Minister Lord McNally has been seeking business leaders’ views on how best to promote the UK’s legal services abroad. The Ministry of Justice has an ongoing campaign to maximise the benefits for the UK economy of marketing the country’s quality commercial courts, lawyers and mediation services overseas. Speaking to legal and business representatives at a breakfast meeting hosted by The City UK, Lord McNally said he was keen to hear from people who work in the sector about how they think the Government can help them promote their services. Lord McNally said: 'The legal ...
09-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Referral fees for personal injury cases will be banned to help tackle rising insurance costs, as part of the Government’s commitment to curb compensation culture. Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said currently, insurance companies pass the costs they incur through increased compensation claims directly onto motorists and those with other insurance policies, unnecessarily forcing up the cost of living. He said: 'Honest motorists are seeing their premiums hiked up as insurance companies cover the increasing costs of more and more compensation claims. Many of the claims are spurious and only happen because the current system allows too many people ...
08-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Offenders at a prison in Hertfordshire are working alongside musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) in a music rehabilitation project designed to help them learn instruments and put together a creative arts performance. ‘A Bigger Sound’ is a project organised by charity and community organisations Music in Prisons and Rideout and the RPO. The project gives prisoners at HMP The Mount the opportunity to take part in music and creative arts workshops, culminating in a cross-arts performance inside the prison at the end of September . Alec Haylor from RPO said: 'All the musicians have had ...
06-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
You can help shape the future of our public services by taking part in a government consultation called Open Public Services. The consultation was launched following the publication of the Open Public Services White Paper earlier this summer, which outlined the Government's vision for improving public services by encouraging innovation and giving individuals and communities more choice and control. The website explains what Open Public Services will look like and what the plans mean for members of the public, public sector professionals, voluntary groups and businesses. To comment, simply go to the home page and click on the button ...
06-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Broadcasters will be allowed to film in courts for the first time, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today. Mr Clarke said the current ban on filming in law courts would be overturned to improve people's understanding of the justice system as part of unprecedented plans to improve transparency. He said: 'The Government and judiciary are determined to improve transparency and public understanding of court through allowing court broadcasting. We believe television has a role in increasing public confidence in the justice system.' Broadcasting will initially be allowed from the Court of Appeal, and Government will look to expand to ...
06-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Reforms to the coroner system will ensure that inquests are more timely, more efficient and more effective, Minister Jonathan Djanogly said. In an article published today on the Politics Home website, the minister wrote that reform 'is absolutely necessary to place the needs of the bereaved at the heart of the coroner system and I am committed to achieving this. 'My focus is on outcomes, and I am confident these reforms will ensure that inquests are more timely, more efficient and more effective,' he added. To read the full article visit the Politics Home website. ...
01-09-2011 01:09 AM BST
Custody providers, including prisons, secure hospitals, police and juvenile detention facilities, will be covered by corporate manslaughter laws from today. The Government has also extended the law so that it will also apply to Ministry of Defence and UK Borders Agency customs custodial facilities. The Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007, which came into effect in 2008, created a new offence of corporate manslaughter which can be committed by organisations which cause the death of a person through gross negligence management failings. Today's change increases the accountability of custody providers (public and private) under the criminal law. Circular: Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide (Commencement ...
30-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
New contracts for escorting prisoners across England and Wales will save the Government over £250m. The contracts for the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service (PECS) were awarded in London/South East, Humberside/North West, Yorkshire/East Midlands and South East/South West, and will bring in innovative new arrangements for escorting prisoners. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'These contracts will save the Government over £250m, a saving of 20 percent over the seven year contract. 'The National Offender Management Service is committed to making its contribution to reduce public borrowing and achieving best value for money for the ...
26-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Britons who become victims of crime in other EU countries will get a guaranteed minimum level of support, Justice Minister Nick Herbert said today. He confirmed the UK had opted in to the proposed EU directive on the rights of victims, so the Directive will also apply in the UK. Nick Herbert said: 'Support for victims in other European countries can vary hugely. This directive will help to ensure that victims' rights are clear and consistent.' 'Coming into contact with the Criminal Justice System can be an intimidating experience at an already difficult time,' he added. 'When it ...
24-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Offenders will be made to do a full five-day week of hard work and job-seeking, under new proposals for community sentences outlined by Minister for Prisons and Probation, Crispin Blunt. The work will include four days of hard manual labour, improving public areas by clearing up litter, cleaning graffiti and maintaining parks and other green spaces. The fifth day will be spent looking for full time employment. Previously, community payback programmes could be spread out over 12 months with some offenders working for a minimum of just six hours per week. The new, more intensive scheme, will also be imposed ...
23-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Crispin Blunt today thanked staff from across the National Offender Management Service who have been working to meet the extra demands placed on the justice system after disturbances across England a fortnight ago. The Justice minister said: 'I'm very conscious of the hard work put in by prison, probation and escort staff during the unprecedented events of the last few weeks. Prisons have been staying open through the night as staff processed new prisoners and worked hard to make sure space was available where it was needed. Probation staff have worked very long hours providing reports to overnight and weekend ...
23-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Secretary of State Kenneth Clarke is one of 11 Justice Ministers from across Europe who has signed an open letter expressing serious concern at ongoing reports of harassment and persecution of lawyers in Belarus. The signatories have called on the Belarusian Minster of Justice to stop the extraordinary qualification exams for already qualified lawyers and to reinstate the licences of those lawyers already disbarred. More broadly, the signatories have urged the Belarusian government to allow lawyers to perform their professional functions without fear of retaliation. The letter is signed by the Justice Ministers of the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, ...
17-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
As the courts deal with offenders following the recent riots across the UK, the Ministry of Justice explains how our sentencing system works. Magistrates and judges are independent of Government. Their sentencing decisions are based on the individual circumstances of each case and offender. That is why different offenders may be given different sentences for what might appear to be similar crimes. To provide a consistent base for these decisions an independent body of experts, the Sentencing Council set guidelines for them to use. These provide a range of sentences that could be given for particular types of crime, including ...
17-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Announcement of the forthcoming publication of the fifth summary bulletin of coroners' reports to prevent future deaths and responses. The fifth summary bulletin of coroners' reports to prevent future deaths and responses under Rule 43 of the Coroners' Rules as amended ("Rule 43 Reports") will be published on 13 September 2011. The bulletin will give details of reports made by coroners to prevent future deaths, and responses received, during the period between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011. It will include trends, reports with wider implications and annexes giving details of the number of reports issued by each coroner district, organisations who have not responded to ...
12-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Offenders carrying out Community Payback are helping to clear up the rubbish created by the riots in Manchester. Three teams supervised by staff from Greater Manchester Probation Trust are working in the Northern Quarter, Great Ancoats, and near Piccadilly station. Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law and a way for offenders to make up to the community for the harm they have done. Steve O’Neill, Community Payback Development Manager, said that probation had a long-standing relationship with Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police and was delighted to help in the clear-up operation. He added: ...
12-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Minister Jonathan Djanogly praised staff across the justice system who are working around the clock to fast-track the hearings of people charged over the recent riots. Speaking after meeting staff and magistrates at Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court in London, he said: 'I congratulate courts, prisons, probation, youth and emergency services for the difficult work they are doing. 'Today I met court staff and Judges who had worked 30 hours straight. I am very grateful for all their hard work and impressed at the cohesion and spirit between the teams who are working so closely together to deliver speedy results and would ...
08-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Offenders will be forced to spend longer in their homes as daily curfews are extended from 12 to 16 hours as part of tougher community sentences. The period for which curfews can be imposed will also be extended from 6 to 12 months, to protect communities and ensure offenders face meaningful punishments that help stop them reoffending.Curfews not only restrict liberty but they can help bring order to chaotic lives. These new proposals are part of the Government’s plans to reform sentencing and tackle the root causes of offending. Keeping communities safe Prisons and Probation Crispin Blunt said: 'These tougher curfew ...
04-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Care charities and other not-for-profit organisations are being asked whether they think they can provide 'deputyship' services for people lacking mental capacity. In a call for evidence published today, the Office of the Public Guardian is asking these organisations for their views on whether they could provide ‘deputies’ to protect the interests of people who lack mental capacity through illness or after an accident. Deputies are appointed by the Court of Protection to help make decisions and manage the affairs of people who don't have capacity to do so themselves. Deputyship services are currently provided by a mixture ...
02-08-2011 01:08 AM BST
Offenders supervised by Northumbria Probation Trust took on vital conservation work in a national park. The 12 offenders worked for a week at Snowdonia doing construction work with the National Trust and Charity Mobex North East. They also built dams to help re-establish the wetland, improve vegetation for wildlife and stop erosion. During the week the offenders improved their communication skills, increased their self esteem while also paying something back to society by helping with this important conservation work. Nick Hall, acting chief executive for Northumbria Probation Trust said: 'I am very impressed with the work the offenders completed and the ...
29-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
Record numbers of unscrupulous or unauthorised claims management companies have been shut down by the Ministry of Justice in the last year. Nearly 350 firms were closed down last year in comparison to 35 the year before - a ten-fold increase. This follows the Ministry of Justice's sweeping reforms to tackle concerns that a growing compensation culture is paralysing schools, businesses and community groups due to a fear of being sued. The reforms included restructuring 'no win, no fee' deals to discourage needless and excessive litigation as well as reviewing the ways advertising is used by claims management companies to attract ...
27-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
Lord McNally said restorative justice was 'not a soft option', after visiting a probation trust and a prison in Norwich to see how offenders there are being made to face up to their crimes. Restorative justice allows a victim of a crime and the offender to meet face-to-face, enabling both of them to play a part in finding a positive way forward. The practice, already being used across England and Wales, can empower victims and communities to come to terms with their trauma and may also help to reduce crime by making offenders understand the impact of their actions. Lord ...
22-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
A garden designed and created by young offenders supervised by Southend Youth Offending Service has scooped a prize at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The garden is a representation of a British Home Front garden during the Second World War, and won a bronze award at this year's show. The award was the culmination of months of preparation, which involved young people preparing a design for a garden, which was submitted to the organisers of the Hampton Court Flower Show. The youngsters, aged 10 to 18, then worked together to create the award-winning garden. The entry into the flower show came about ...
19-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
A public consultation on the future shape of the youth secure estate was launched today by the Ministry of Justice and the Youth Justice Board. A fall in both youth crime and the number of young people in custody means the secure estate has been going through a period of change. The consultation asks for people's views on a proposed strategy for the organisation of the under-18 secure estate for the years 2011/12 to 2014/15 including: Principles and priorities governing the secure estate Developing enhanced units to better meet the particular needs of young people Reorganising the estate in response to decreasing ...
19-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
Records showing the full extent of British involvement in the Spanish Civil War have been put online by The National Archives to mark the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the war in 1936. The Security Service files list the names of more than 4,000 volunteers who left Britain on the way to the frontline in Spain. They were among the first of their generation to take up arms in the fight against Fascism. Despite the British government's official policy of non-intervention, thousands of men and women were inspired by their political beliefs to defend the Second Spanish Republic against a military ...
13-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
A new crime of squatting has been proposed by Justice Minister Crispin Blunt as part of a range of proposals designed to protect both home and business property owners from the problem. The options up for public consultation could make squatting a criminal offence for the first time and abolish so-called 'squatters' rights’ which currently prevent rightful commercial property owners from using force to break back in. Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'Far too many people have to endure the misery, expense and incredible hassle of removing squatters from their property. Hard working home and business owners need and ...
12-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
Vulnerable crime victims across England and Wales will benefit from £30m of Government funding, over the next three years, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced. The money will go to support local organisations that have a proven track record in supporting victims at their most vulnerable. Children's groups are among those that will benefit, along with charities supporting victims of rape, domestic violence, hate crime, burglary, anti social behaviour and other violent crime. Those bereaved by murder, manslaughter and fatal road traffic crimes will also get the specialist support that they need. Kenneth Clarke said: 'Grass-roots groups know the ...
08-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
Volunteers who are using mediation to heal community rifts have featured on national television. The team from Manchester are the focus of a new television series which follows them as they help neighbours locked in long-term conflicts over issues like playing loud music, bad parking and overgrown hedges. Mediation is often a quicker and cheaper way of resolving disputes and stops people having to go through the anxiety of attending court. Visiting the city to meet the team, Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said the project was an example of communities taking the initiative to sort out their own problems ...
01-07-2011 01:07 AM BST
The Bribery Act comes into force today, enabling the country to play a full part in tackling corruption. The Act will allow Britain to tackle this serious obstacle to trade and development without placing additional burdens on business and legitimate enterprise. The Bribery Act introduces a corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery by persons working on behalf of a business, and makes it a criminal offence to give or offer a bribe and to request or accept a bribe either in this country or abroad. Normal corporate hospitality will be largely unaffected by the new Act. Justice Secretary, Kenneth ...
29-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Squatters will no longer get legal aid to fight home owners trying to evict them from their properties, under proposals set out in the Sentencing, Legal Aid and Punishment of Offenders Bill which has its second reading in the House of Commons today. Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said the proposals will close a loophole in the law that allows squatters to use legal aid to fight evictions in court, leaving landlords to foot the bill for their own legal costs. The measure is part of a package of reforms designed to ensure legal aid reaches the people who need ...
28-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
The Government has today published a consultation paper proposing that some decisions on straightforward applications to the Court of Protection are taken by authorised court officers. The Court of Protection deals with issues relating to vulnerable or elderly people who lack the capacity to make decisions themselves. At present all applications to the Court must be decided by a judge, even if the issue involved is not contentious, such as an undisputed application for a person to become a ‘property and affairs deputy’ in order to make financial decisions on behalf of a relative or friend. Judges will ...
28-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has today been explaining reforms to tackle the problem of 'no win, no fee' legal schemes and fears of a compensation culture. Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme Mr Djanogly said: 'The cause is the costs system. At the moment claimants are able not to lose a penny even if they lose their case. And if you can’t lose anything, why should you not sue, even if your chances of winning are negligible? That is the mechanics of the compensation culture. 'The new law we are proposing will mean that the mark-up for ...
23-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
The National Archives (TNA) has released new online files to the public, including records of a review of the Order of the British Empire during 1933. The review details suggestions that the title and award 'Dame' should be replaced with 'Lady' as the term would always be associated with 'a woman of great age' by the public. There is also a suggestion that 'Knights' be replaced with 'Chevaliers'. Other highlights are: a file about Special Operations Executive Raphael Beugnon, who went on to become a Hollywood Oscar-winner a letter from Albert Einstein requesting the release of an Austrian scientist from Nazi ...
23-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
The Government has signed the first Dispute Resolution Commitment (DRC), which requires all departments and agencies to use mediation, arbitration and conciliation wherever possible before taking disputes to court. The move is part of the Government's drive to use better, quicker and more efficient ways of resolving legal disputes. Today's DRC will build on this and save further time, money and stress for everyone involved by reducing their legal and court costs, and in turn reducing the number of cases unnecessarily clogging up the courts. Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said: 'I believe that government should be leading by example by ...
22-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Special units to help prisoners kick their drug addictions are launching in five prisons as part of the Government's plans to reform sentencing. The drug recovery wings will be piloted at Manchester, Holme House, High Down, Bristol and Brixton prisons. They are designed to help prisoners serving short sentences of under 12 months who need intensive support during the early stages of their recovery from addiction. The Government believes that given the strong association between drug use and reoffending, there should be more focus on recovery and challenging offenders to come off drugs. The drug recovery wings will therefore also place ...
16-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Justice Minister Lord McNally visited the Midlands to see how one local authority is leading the way in transparency and Freedom of Information. Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) is widely recognised as a front runner in the field of transparency - both for the quality of its replies to requests made under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, and the way it makes information freely available to the public through its website. Lord McNally visited the council's Northampton headquarters where he learned about the council's track record on transparency, including how the council was the first in the country to proactively ...
13-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
A number of Ministry of Justice staff, including those working in prisons, courts and probation services, joined celebrities such as entertainer Bruce Forsyth and actor Colin Firth on the Queen's Birthday Honours list 2011. Those honoured were drawn from across the Ministry, as well as some partner organisations in the voluntary and private sector. They were chosen for their commitment and dedication to delivering high quality justice services. They were: Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Judith Killick, Executive Director Judicial College. Her Honour Frances Kirkham. For services to the Legal Profession and to the Administration ...
13-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Channel 4's 'Dispatches' goes behind the scenes of an integrated offender management scheme, tackling persistent criminals who say they want to change. The one-hour documentary looks at how the IMPACT scheme in Bristol uses a multi-agency approach to dealing with prolific offenders. Probation, prison and police work together to manage around 800 offenders who are responsible for crimes like burglary, robbery and shoplifting. The documentary focuses on the story of three offenders who are all addicted to drugs and have supported their habits through crime - amassing almost 1000 offences between them. It also highlights the challenges facing many frontline staff working ...
09-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Do you want to know more about tracing your family tree or looking at state records? You can get all your answers online today when experts from The National Archives (TNA) will be on hand to answer any questions on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account will be able to ask questions throughout the day about the collection, online resources and how to get the most out of research at TNA. The archivists will be pleased to advise on topics such as how to get started on that special research project, where to find a particular record, and how TNA ...
06-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Probation staff in Northumbria have helped score top marks for keeping offenders on the straight and narrow. Northumbria Probation Trust achieved an 'exceptional' performance rating during all four quarters of the year to March - its first year of operation as a public sector probation trust. The figures show the Trust easily exceeded its targets for the year. 85 per cent of offenders completed their community order successfully, and 91 per cent completed alcohol treatment requirements, while 72 per cent met the drug rehabilitation requirements set by the courts. A total of 181,000 hours of unpaid work was also delivered in communities as part ...
03-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
Children are the most important people in the family justice system and their voice needs to be heard in proposed reforms, a panel set up to review the system said. The innovative 'Young People's Guide', published today by an independent panel, is written specifically for young people and in language they can understand. It accompanies the interim report published by the Family Justice Review and gives children a unique opportunity to participate in the ongoing consultation. Their views will be given the same consideration by the Panel as an independent advisor invites them to gives their opinions on reforming the ...
02-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in partnership with Clinks is launching two informal mentoring pilots for offenders in Merseyside and Nottingham to improve their rehabilitation prospects. The 12 month pilots, which coincide with Volunteers' Week (1-7 June), aim to build on the valuable offender mentoring work already done by NOMS, supported by volunteers at Sefton Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) and Catch 22 in Nottingham. This pilot supports voluntary and community organisations in the criminal justice system – an important part of the Green Paper Breaking the Cycle. Sefton CVS and Catch 22 proposed two very different models of informal mentoring ...
01-06-2011 01:06 AM BST
You are invited to nominate people for appointment as Queen’s Counsel ‘honoris causa’ (honorary silk). Nomination forms must be returned to us by Friday 29 July 2011. The Ministry of Justice intends to recommend a number of people to Her Majesty for appointment as Queen’s Counsel ‘causa’ (honorary silk) in spring 2012. We are inviting both the legal sector and the wider public to make nominations. How to make a nomination We welcome nominations for honorary silk from anyone. If you would like to suggest someone for appointment, please let us have the following information: ...
31-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
A new court building specialising in financial, business and property dispute resolution is set to open for business in the autumn. The Rolls Building will bring under one roof the expertise in the High Court in London of the Chancery Division, the Admiralty and Commercial Court, and the Technology and Construction Court. The court complex is located off Fetter Lane in the City of London. It covers more than 16,000 square metres, houses 31 courtrooms, 11 hearing rooms and 55 consultation rooms. Equipped with the latest IT facilities and three 'supercourts,' the Rolls Building will be the largest centre for the resolution of ...
27-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
The first report into the Social Impact Bond pilot at HMP Peterborough will 'inform our continued progress in payment by results' schemes to reduce reoffending, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said. The pilot is the first payment by results scheme commissioned by the UK Government in any sector and is an exciting way of attracting new investment from social entrepreneurs to tackle reoffending, whilst lightening the burden on the taxpayer. The findings in the report are based on interviews with 22 key stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the Social Impact Bond (SIB), and raise issues and potential lessons ...
26-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Europe is in danger of making the wrong choices on new data protection rules, Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke said. Speaking at the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, Mr Clarke reiterated the UK Government's commitment to restoring civil liberties, citing the Government's achievements in scrapping ID cards, and working to end the misuse of anti-terrorism stop and search powers. He stressed that collecting data in the interests of national security must not come at the expense of UK citizens' basic freedoms, particularly the right not to have their personal data treated carelessly or even fall into the ...
26-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
New Criminal Justice Statistics – published for the first time today – show a dramatic increase in the number of criminals who persistently reoffend. In the last decade the number of offenders committing 15 or more crimes has nearly doubled, underlining the need for a new approach specifically designed to tackle reoffending - so cutting crime and making our communities safer places to live. Measuring sentencing, prosecutions, convictions and offending history data over the last year (to December 2010), the new publication Criminal Justice Statistics in England and Wales shows there have been continuing increases in Crown Court workload. The numbers ...
20-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
The Government has launched a report outlining plans to break the cycle of reoffending by giving offenders better access to skills that employers demand. Under the reforms, there will be greater emphasis on the results that education and training in prison delivers. The way learning is delivered in prisons will also be overhauled to better reflect the way the prison system is organised and improve value for money. Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'Previous investment in offender learning lacked adequate links with employment outcomes on release from prison and was commissioned too remotely from the prisons in which ...
19-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke will be a panel member on the BBC's Question Time tonight when it is broadcast from inside a prison for the first time. The show, chaired by David Dimbleby, is being broadcast from the Chapel in Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London. Around 10 prisoners and 10 prison staff will join 100 members of the public in the audience where they can question Kenneth Clarke and his predecessor Jack Straw, among other panellists. See Kenneth Clarke at Wormwood Scrubs tonight on Question Time, 10.35 pm on BBC ONE. ...
17-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
A new education programme to help young people better understand the justice system and the role they might play in it has been launched in London. The London Justice Programme is run by the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (NCCL). It tries to encourage adults working in the justice system to transfer their knowledge and experience to young people - inspiring the next generation of lawyers and judges It also aims to reduce youth offending by showing young people the consequences of their actions once they enter the justice system. The programme, which was first piloted last year, ...
16-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Plans to strengthen the UK's reputation as a world leader in legal services were unveiled by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke and Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green today. A new Action Plan has been published by the Ministry of Justice and UK Trade and Investment setting out how the country's commercial arbitration, mediation and court services will be promoted to a global audience. The Action Plan is part of the Government's Plan for Growth, and aims to encourage overseas commercial clients to make use of UK legal services, with particular emphasis on the potential benefits for businesses. The UK's ...
12-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Work to tackle women's offending can continue at 26 community projects thanks to a one-off £3.2m funding deal between the National Offender Management Service and the Corston Independent Funders' Coalition. Local projects to turn women away from crime and help them address their problems have been up and running for two years after receiving an initial grant from the Ministry of Justice. This funding will mean women's community services can continue to run programmes including drug and alcohol treatment whilst working with probation, police and other agencies. Minister Crispin Blunt, said: 'I am delighted to see an example of local ...
11-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Separating couples in Manchester are resolving their disputes more cheaply, quickly and less stressfully following new rules introduced by Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly. The success has been welcomed by the Government which has been working to encourage more people to resolve disputes outside court by using alternatives like mediation. The new rules mean that anyone setting out to contest the terms of their separation in court will first be required to consider mediation. This usually takes place through a mediation awareness session, where both parties find out what the process can offer before they decide if it is right for ...
10-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Channel 4 show The Secret Millionaire this week sees benefactor Piers Linney go undercover in a prison for young offenders in Wolverhampton. Piers investigates the controversial world of prisoner rehabilitation. Challenged by the work he sees, he delves into the personal lives of offenders and their families to see its impact first-hand and finds himself confronted by the unglamorous side of philanthropy. 'I am looking forward to the show's transmission so that I can share my journey,' he says. 'I also think my show was special for reasons that will become clear in terms of the special access we ...
09-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Adult victims of human trafficking will be helped to recover from sexual exploitation and forced labour by a £2-million-a-year government support service headed up by The Salvation Army. Men and women who have suffered exploitation through trafficking will be given specialist support to help them recover and rebuild their lives, including safe accommodation, counselling, medical care, translation services and legal counselling. The Salvation Army has a strong track record of supporting victims of human trafficking and will work with a wide range of experts to ensure that specialist, individually tailored support is available to every victim. This will ...
09-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
Prison life is back under the TV spotlight with Strangeways, a new documentary series filmed at HMP Manchester. Filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to Britain's largest high security prison, known as Strangeways before it was rebuilt and renamed following a series of riots in 1990. ITV describes the three part series as 'a close up view of prison staffs' efforts to cope with the many challenges thrown at them, often in the face of extreme provocation and physical violence. 'By tracking individual stories, with prisoners talking openly on camera, the series provides an intimate perspective on offenders’ ways of dealing ...
06-05-2011 01:05 AM BST
The National Archives (TNA) will publish an international online catalogue of looted art taken by the Nazis for the first time. The project will give people access to all records related to looted cultural artefacts by cataloguing and digitising the archival materials and making them available through a single international research web portal. TNA and the Commission for Looted Art in Europe signed a global agreement with leading national archives and museums to provide the catalogue, which will aid historians, researchers and families trace objects taken by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. Oliver Morley, TNA Chief Executive and Keeper said: 'By ...
20-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
The National Archives will take over leadership of UK archives next year following the closure of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. There are more than 2000 bodies, both public and private, that hold regularly accessible archives in the UK including universities, local authorities and other institutions. The transition will take place from 1 April 2012. Minister Lord McNally said: 'Our country's archives are one of our greatest national treasures, preserving our history for future generations and underpinning our national identity. 'I am pleased that The National Archives (TNA) is taking on responsibility for overseeing the wider archive sector. TNA's excellent track ...
14-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
Minister Jonathan Djanogly said the legal industry already makes a 'huge contribution' to the UK economy, but has the potential to boost growth further. In a speech at the Future of Legal Services Forum, he said the legal industry generated £23.1 billion in 2009 - 1.8 percent of the UK's GDP - while law firm exports came to £3.2 billion. Mr Djanogly said: 'The UK has long been recognised throughout the world as a beacon for quality legal services, and this excellent reputation attracts consumers from across the globe. 'I would hope that allowing law firms to structure themselves ...
13-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke discussed justice issues with EU ministers in Luxembourg at the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Mr Clarke and his counterparts talked about matters such as the European directive on the right to information in criminal proceedings, and the directive on combating sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. The Presidency then presented its conclusions following a conference on protecting victims in the EU, which took place last month in Budapest. Mr Clarke held bilateral meetings with Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, the French Justice Minister and the German Justice Minister. EU accession Before attending the ...
12-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
Offenders are helping spruce up a Lancashire country park ahead of a visit there by Prince William and Kate Middleton. Supervised by Lancashire Probation, the team of offenders on community payback cleared the athletics track, removed litter, scrubbed away graffiti and installed benches at Blackburn's Witton Country Park before the royal visit - one of the couple's last official engagements before they get married on 29 April. Geri Byrne-Thompson, Assistant Chief Executive at Lancashire Probation Trust, said: 'Community Payback provides rigorous and demanding work to ensure offenders pay back to their communities for the crimes they have committed. 'We were delighted ...
08-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
The Ministry of Justice has scooped an international award for developing an interactive guide to help people better understand sentencing. The 'You be the Judge' campaign was awarded a bronze for effectiveness, by the International Visual Communications Association. The project team was represented at the ceremony by the Ministry of Justice's Juliet Lopez-Real and Aidan Muller, and production company Speakeasy's Mark Turner and Magnus Wake. The awards are among the largest and most prestigious corporate communication awards, and 'You be the Judge' was competing against campaigns by global corporations like Starbucks. The success of 'You be the Judge', which ...
07-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
The Lord Chancellor Kenneth Clarke presided over the swearing in of this year's 120 Queen's Counsel (QC) and six Honorary Queen's Counsel. The ceremony is held every year in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster in London. It awards the rank of Queen's Counsel to either practising barristers or practising solicitors with Higher Courts Rights of Audience, who have demonstrated excellence in the higher courts. The honorary rank is made to lawyers, including legal academics, who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales outside practice in the courts. It is not a 'working title' and ...
05-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
Revised Probation National Standards were published today and will be implemented over the next year. The standards will allow frontline probation staff to manage their work with offenders as the risks of each case demands, using their knowledge and drawing on their professional training and experience The Government is committed to reducing bureaucracy and the changes will scrap unnecessary tasks, recording and, monitoring. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'We are committed to allowing frontline staff to better use their judgement and professional skills to cut reoffending and protect the public. 'Offender managers must be able to focus their work ...
05-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
Offenders on Community Payback in London are clearing up the subways at Hyde Park Corner in preparation for the royal wedding on April 29. One of the many projects in England and Wales, this Community Payback scheme has been set up with London Probation Trust and Westminster City Council to provide a cost-effective way of cleaning the tunnels. The offenders, supervised by London Probation, will spend their time mopping walls and scraping chewing gum from the floors of the underpass near Hyde Park as part of their community sentence. One of the offenders, Jimmy, said: 'I think Community Payback is ...
04-04-2011 01:04 AM BST
A number of top secret files have been released by The National Archives (TNA). The files, available to the public online, include files from the Security Service MI5, revealing secret plans for assassination plots and use of poisons after the Second World War. This latest batch of files released contains 180 files, bringing the total number of Secret Service files at TNA to 4,725. Other highlights include: Captured French Abwehr agent, Oliver Marie Joseph Mordrelle, revealed under interrogation secret Nazi plans to create post-war 'world disorder' from which they hoped a Fourth Reich would emerge MI5's responses to the articles of ...
29-03-2011 01:03 AM BST
The first major overhaul of the civil justice system in 15 years and reform of controversial 'no win no fee' deals were announced by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke today. The proposals, which have been launched for public consultation, aim to modernise the civil justice system and make it simpler, quicker, cheaper and more effective. Mr Clarke said: 'An effective system of civil justice is one of the cornerstones of a civilised society. Without it businesses couldn't trade, individuals couldn’t protect their liberties, and government couldn't be held to account. 'But with no major reform for 15 years, the civil justice ...
24-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
The United Nations Human Rights Council on 23 March adopted a declaration on human rights education and training. The declaration is not a legal instrument and does not contain any new rights but is important in signifying the international community's commitment to making people aware of their fundamental rights. The declaration consists of 14 articles that cover a range of practical education and training activities which aim to help people to understand their fundamental rights and liberties better. Commenting on the UK's support for the UN declaration Justice Minister Lord McNally said: 'Everyone agrees on the importance of upholding human rights. The ...
23-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
A National Offender Management Service (NOMS) staff member has been named Boss of the Year in a national competition in the Guardian newspaper. Gill Mortlock, director of offender management, was chosen out of hundreds of entries that came in from across the UK, representing both the public and private sectors. She was nominated by her administration officer KT Elliott, with whom she has worked for two years. KT says: 'Gill is always even-tempered with everyone and pours a lot of energy into getting people involved in all areas of the business.' She also explains that Gill's inclusive style and ...
23-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
Research into gang violence has found that the main reasons why people join gangs include the desire for money or respect and a way to seek protection or a sense of belonging. The study funded by the MET police, Ministry of Justice and the Home Office was commissioned to increase understanding of the psychological processes behind violence carried out by prisoners who were street-gang members. The findings have provided information that can help improve the design of violence reduction and risk assessments across the National Offenders Management System (NOMS). Commitment The Government is committed to tackling gang-related violence and as ...
21-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
A clinical director at a prison has scooped the top prize in this year's Butler Trust Awards for excellent work with offenders. Jacqui Saradjian from HMP Whitemoor was awarded the prize for outstanding achievement for her work with offenders with a personality disorder. Jacqui is Clinical Director on the prison's Fens Unit for personality-disordered offenders. Judges noted her commitment, leadership and creativity, which has put the Unit and the approach she has pioneered at the forefront of this area of work. She was presented with her award by HRH The Princess Royal, who is the patron of the Butler Trust. &...
16-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
Entries are open for an annual awards of prisoner art, with judges this year including TV presenter Jeremy Paxman, and Turner-prize winning artists Grayson Perry and Jeremy Deller. Every year the Koestler Awards, run by prison charity the Koestler Trust, also exhibit a selection of art entries that are displayed at Royal Festival Hall in London. Tim Robertson, chief executive of the Koestler Trust, said: 'I hope the Koestler Awards are helpful to frontline staff - a tool you can use to motivate offenders to take up a positive activity and achieve their best. 'And the entries don't have to ...
15-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
Justice Minister Crispin Blunt visited a community payback project in Worcester to see first hand how offenders are being punished. Mr Blunt saw the work led by West Mercia Probation Trust, where a team of offenders have been clearing a private road which has been used for drug taking. He said: 'We need to make community payback more punitive. 'Here in Worcester this is a good example.' He added: 'At West Mercia they have developed a strong partnership with the local authority to nominate schemes. 'This is an approach which needs to be taken across the whole country.' ...
09-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
The consultation on the government's proposals for reforming sentencing and improving the rehabilitation of offenders has now closed. The 'Breaking the Cycle' Green Paper set out plans to break the destructive cycle of crime by making prisons places of hard work, bringing in more constructive community sentences, improving rehabilitation by opening it up to innovation from the private and third sectors, and continuing to lock up serious and violent offenders to protect the public. The consultation, which was launched in December, attracted more than 1200 responses, including views from victims' groups, service providers, voluntary groups and organisations with an interest in ...
09-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke visited Nottingham to speak to staff and offenders about several rehabilitation schemes that stop offenders committing more crime by helping remove barriers to education and employment. On the visit at Nottinghamshire Probation Trust the Justice Secretary met drug misuse offenders who told him about the treatment, training and education they received to stop them offending. The projects are a good example of best practice and the type of work the Ministry of Justice is looking to take forward within payment by results models that will see the tax payer only paying for what works. ...
09-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
Four new centres offering support for victims of rape and sexual violence are set to open. The centres are funded by the Ministry of Justice and will be located in Hereford, Trafford, Dorset and Devon. The announcement on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day is part of the government's commitment to increase rape support centres across England and Wales and ensure victims who need the most help get it. The £600,000 funding will allow the new centres to help victims get their lives back on track by providing specialist services. Minister Crispin Blunt said: 'Rape and sexual violence are ...
03-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
Today the Ministry of Justice hosted a conference on using payment by results models in the justice system – bringing together for the first time ministers, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and industry. The Ministry's 'Breaking the Cycle' Green Paper outlines its commitment to commission at least six new Payment by results pilots covering a significant proportion of the offender population. The 'Payment by results symposium' gave ministers the chance to speak to and encourage those who will be involved in delivering payment by results projects. Speaking at the symposium, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth ...
01-03-2011 12:03 AM GMT
A prison PE officer is starting a rugby course at HMP Wormwood Scrubs to help support and rehabilitate offenders. Nigel Seaman is one of the Service's biggest advocates of sport and fitness and has already introduced the Rugby Football Union Leadership Award course at HMP Chelmsford to great acclaim. 'The course combines rugby coaching, refereeing and leadership with first aid and safety and protection for children,' he explains. 'I'm pretty confident it will go down well at Scrubs.' Nigel's course was chosen as runner up in the Outstanding Contribution to Working with Offenders category at the national Justice ...
25-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
An animal shelter says using offenders on Community Payback means money that would have been spent on outside labour can instead be used on caring for abandoned animals. This winter offenders have been carrying out maintenance at the RSPCA’s Block Fen Animal Shelter in Wimblington, Cambridgeshire, including gardening, cleaning and other work to improve the site. Kirstyn Gaunt from the RSPCA said: 'If they couldn’t help us out the way they do then we’d have to source somebody outside, which would cost us money. That money could be better spent on the animals. 'We ...
22-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
Minister Nick Herbert spoke about the benefits of restorative justice and the need to embed it in every part of the criminal justice system. Restorative Justice allows a victim of a crime such as burglary and the offender, to meet face-to-face, enabling both of them to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward. The practice, already being used across England and Wales, can empower victims and communities to come to terms with their trauma and may also help to reduce crime by making offenders understand the impact of ...
18-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
Crispin Blunt has visited an award-winning probation project which sees ex-offenders working with a local organisation to learn construction and improve their job prospects. The ex-offenders referred by Avon and Somerset Probation Trust, are being trained in construction by the local Restore Trust and have started renovating empty local authority housing in deprived areas that have been left in a poor state of repair. The Restore Trust helps ex-offenders to improve their skills and employability and reduce reoffending. Restore Trust project manager Adam Mcmeechan said: 'It's early days but already we are seeing noticeable changes to behaviour as trainees ...
17-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
A community payback supervisor has scooped a justice award for his work with offenders. Richard Ward from Avon and Somerset Probation Trust supervises offenders working on projects such as graffiti removal and fly-tipping clearance, amounting to over 5,000 hours of work a year. He won the award for commitment and enthusiasm towards Community Payback, and for leading projects such as creating a Mobile Welfare Trailer, which allows offenders to use hot and cold running water and a toilet whilst working around Bristol. Richard says: 'From my point of view this is the bread and butter work that you should be doing, ...
14-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
The fourth summary bulletin of coroners' reports to prevent future deaths and responses under Rule 43 of the Coroners' Rules as amended (Rule 43 Reports) will be published on 15 March 2011. The bulletin will give details of reports made by coroners to prevent future deaths, and responses received, during the period between 1 April and 30 September 2010. It will include trends, reports with wider implications and annexes giving details of the number of reports issued by each coroner district, organisations who have not responded to the coroner and all reports received. ...
11-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
Rare and beautiful photographs of Colonial Africa have been made available online for the first time by The National Archives (TNA). The treasure trove of some 10,000 images, dating from 1860 to 1960, came to TNA when the Colonial Office Library closed in 2005, and contains some of the earliest known photographs of the continent. Highlights from the collection include: Photos from Harold MacMillan's 1960 tour of Africa, including MacMillan draped in leopard skin at his investiture as an Honorary Paramount Chief during a visit to South Africa. An album of photographs from the Prince of Wales' (the future Edward VIII) 1925 visit to the Gold ...
09-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
There’s just 23 days left to respond to the Government’s Green Paper on sentencing and rehabilitation of offenders and to give your views on how justice should be delivered. The 'Breaking the Cycle' Green Paper sets out plans to cut crime, create safer communities and ensure there are fewer victims. It proposes measures to break the destructive cycle of crime by locking up serious and violent offenders, making prisons places of hard work, introducing more robust, immediate and constructive community sentences, getting prisoners off drugs and improving rehabilitation by opening it up to innovation from the private ...
08-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
Minister Crispin Blunt said spotting and acting on signs of criminality in a child's early years is crucial to bringing down youth offending. Mr Blunt said in an interview with Children and Young People Now he hopes reforms outlined in December's sentencing green paper will herald a radical change in approach over the next decade. Most prevention programmes in the youth justice system focus on children already on the fringes of crime, but the minister said he is keen for more to be invested in earlier interventions. 'I see it as common sense,' he said. 'Mothers are not getting ...
03-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
Temporary courtrooms are being used to extend a busy crown court and help it to meet its increased workload. The prebuilt units, known as modular courts, have been placed on site at Woolwich Crown court as part of a £10m scheme to provide five additional courts. As well as increasing courtroom capacity at the busy court, the initiative is also allowing MoJ to pilot the concept of a standard modular courtroom that can be used to help meet short-term increases in Crown Court workloads. Court Manager Michelle Filby said: 'We are very proud to be piloting such an innovative ...
02-02-2011 12:02 AM GMT
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly visited an innovative legal advice surgery based at a GPs’ practice in Surrey. The visit formed part of the ongoing work by the Government to raise awareness of mediation - a way separating couples can work out the details of their divorce without a court battle. Creating links between GPs and legal advisers means doctors can help direct their patients towards legal services. Doctors are often first to see the signs of strain in families which are breaking up, in both the parents and children. Better outcomes Jonathan Djanogly said: 'Mediation can be quicker, cheaper ...
27-01-2011 12:01 AM GMT
There are positive indications that Drug Courts are helping offenders on the road to rehabilitation, a study has found. Speaking at the Social Market Foundation Rehabilitation Revolution conference, the minister said proposals for reform set out in the Green Paper would help create a ‘rehabilitation revolution’. He said plans to introduce payment by results and outcome based commissioning would be of 'profound benefit to those receiving the services and those delivering them.' 'I expect that England and Wales delivering through payment by results over the next five years will become a global market leader.' The minister ...
25-01-2011 12:01 AM GMT
Crispin Blunt said criminal justice reforms such as payment by results for offender management, are vital to breaking the destructive cycle of crime and better protecting the public. Speaking at the Social Market Foundation Rehabilitation Revolution conference, the minister said proposals for reform set out in the Green Paper would help create a ‘rehabilitation revolution’. He said plans to introduce payment by results and outcome based commissioning would be of 'profound benefit to those receiving the services and those delivering them.' 'I expect that England and Wales delivering through payment by results over the next five years ...
18-01-2011 12:01 AM GMT
The need to make prisons places of hard work and meaningful employment is clearly set out in the Government’s new Green Paper on justice reform. Prison Industries are meeting the challenge by linking up with companies in the private sector. One of these is Timpson - the UK’s largest shoe repairer, key cutter, engraver and watch repairer. Timpson’s 2,400-strong workforce includes 89 ex-offenders who trained at the company’s prison workshops. James Timpson is Managing Director of Timpson, and believes that prison works for his company as well as for the former prisoners on ...
14-01-2011 12:01 AM GMT
A piece of history is being preserved by offenders serving Community Payback sentences. As part of their punishment offenders supervised by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Probation Trust have been clearing scrub, weeds and rubbish in the village of Longstanton - and their hard work has uncovered a World War II guard post known as a pillbox. The trust plans to get offenders to rebuild a second, dilapidated pillbox in the Cambridgeshire village as a lasting legacy to the men and women who served in the war. As part of the punishment the offenders will learn new skills that will improve their ...
11-01-2011 12:01 AM GMT
What are the challenges of working directly with offenders? We look at a typical working day for newly-qualified probation officer Sian Sadler. It’s 10am on a winter’s day. A young man is slumped in his seat, aware his life is spiralling out of control. His girlfriend has left him; he’s racked up a criminal conviction for smashing up her property and fears he may lose access to his child. He can’t sleep and gets through a crate of beer a day. The man is the first of three offenders being seen that ...
06-01-2011 12:01 AM GMT
Staff from across the Ministry of Justice have been recognised in the New Year Honours list 2011 for their commitment and dedication to delivering high quality justice services. Philip Taylor, the Senior Governor at HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs received an OBE. He joined the Prison Service in 1978 as an Officer and has just completed 32 years of service. He said he was ‘overwhelmed’ at being awarded and is 'exceedingly proud and humbled at receiving this honour'. He hopes that 'those who have and do work with me can share in this award as recognition of the work of the prison ...
04-01-2011 12:01 AM GMT
During Christmas and the New Year many families will have been coming together, but for some this year’s holiday season will have been a difficult time. Some people may have been experiencing breakdown in relationships or disputing with a partner the arrangements they have to see their children. The first working day of the year is when lawyers, marriage counsellors and family mediators report the most enquiries from people intending to separate — which has sometimes led to it being coined 'Divorce Day' by the media. We are looking at how we can best support people going through ...
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