On 16 July 2020, amid the #BlackLivesMatter protests across the world, the Government launched the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities to explore the issues of racial and ethnic disparities in the UK, with particular reference to the areas of health, education, criminal justice and employment. It intends to report by the end of 2020. […]
JUSTICE submits response to the Home Office on the proposed ‘Serious Violence Reduction Orders’
November 8, 2020
JUSTICE appreciates the importance of tackling knife crime. However, this must be done in a fair, proportionate and evidence-based manner. In the first instance, it is not clear why SVROs are necessary. The Home Office’s own data indicates that stop and search is ineffective in tackling crime, with its application to knife-related offences suggesting no […]
JUSTICE submits response to the Ministry of Justice on the Sentencing White Paper
November 5, 2020
On 16 September 2020, the Secretary of State for Justice brought before the House of Commons a White Paper titled ‘A Smarter Approach to Sentencing’. While JUSTICE commends the aims of certain policy proposals, there nevertheless remain several points of concern which we would invite the Government to address through consultation. By way of background, […]
JUSTICE submits a briefing to Lords on the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill
November 4, 2020
This briefing addresses JUSTICE’s concerns with the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill. The Bill would amend Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and allow public bodies to authorise covert human intelligence sources (“CHIS”) to engage in criminal activities – including rape, murder and torture – with impunity. JUSTICE would welcome […]
JUSTICE to intervene in UK Supreme Court appeal in the case of Begum
November 3, 2020
JUSTICE has been granted permission to intervene by written submissions in the UK Supreme Court appeal in the case of Begum. The Court is considering whether (1) a fair and effective appeal can take place without Begum being granted leave to enter the UK to take part in the substantive Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) […]
JUSTICE submits response to the Justice Committee’s Legal Aid Inquiry
JUSTICE submitted a response to the Justice Committee’s “Future of Legal Aid” Inquiry at the start of November 2020. Our contributions focused on civil legal aid, and included submissions on: how LASPO has impacted access to justice, citing particular issues with legal aid provision in family, housing and benefits disputes, in accordance with our discrete […]
JUSTICE Response to Justice Committee Court Capacity Inquiry
October 23, 2020
The Justice Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into whether the number of sitting days available will be sufficient to clear the backlog of cases in the courts and what long-term solutions, including digital hearings, may be possible. We submitted a response, highlighting our work on the virtual jury trial as a possible solution. We […]
JUSTICE submits a briefing on the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
October 5, 2020
This briefing addresses JUSTICE’s concerns with the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. JUSTICE recognises the unique role and status of the UK’s armed forces, and the difficulties faced by service personnel. However, this Bill fails to support current and former service personnel whilst also depriving victims of serious crime to proper access to […]
Nealon & Hallam v Secretary of State for Justice
August 6, 2020
The Appellants have applied to the European Court of Human Rights for the court to review whether the test for compensation for miscarriage of justice that applies in England and Wales violates the presumption of innocence protected by Article 6(2) ECHR. JUSTICE has sought permission to intervene and is awaiting whether the Court will hear […]