Tag: Ministry of Justice

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 3 August 2023.

All information on new criminal court cases in England and Wales now sits on a single digital platform as the government delivers its latest milestone to modernise the justice system.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 3 August 2023.

Victims of rape and sexual violence will be better supported following a £26 million investment in specialist services across England and Wales announced today (3 August).

The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF), initially launched in 2011, is part of the government’s commitment to quadruple funding for victim support services by 2025 compared to 2010.

Innovative projects set to be funded for the next 2 years as a direct result of today’s cash boost include:

• Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre, who offer support for adults and young people, including parent and carer sessions and family therapy – keeping victims connected to their loved ones
• Trafford Rape Crisis, supporting women in Greater Manchester include offering a new holistic service which is specifically focused on supporting black and minoritised women
• We Are Survivors, who provide male-specific sexual assault and rape support

The news comes as new figures show the government has achieved its third and final ambition in its landmark End-to-End Rape Review 18 months ahead of target – restoring Crown Prosecution Service charges to 2016 levels.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said:

I am pleased that all three 2021 Rape Review ambitions have been met so far ahead of schedule. There is more work to do, but this milestone demonstrates real progress in strengthening justice for victims of these appalling crimes.

This continued funding means we can continue our work to ensure victims of sexual abuse across England and Wales receive the support that is so vital to recovery.

Victims have benefitted from funded support services for over 10 years thanks to the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund, which was recently extended as one of the commitments in the government’s Rape Review.

The fund was informed by rape victims to better understand their experiences and what they want from support services, helping to inform the commissioning of future support for victims.

62 grants have been awarded to organisations across the country to offer victims tailored support programmes, including counselling and therapeutic services, advocacy, outreach, and group activities.

Justice Minister, Ed Argar, said:

We are determined that, alongside this Government’s clear focus and progress on ensuring more criminals who commit rape and sexual offences face justice, victims and survivors of these dreadful crimes get the support they need.

The funding announced today helps ensure that charities and organisations up and down the country are able to continue doing their vital work helping victims of these crimes.

Jayne Butler, Chief Executive of Rape Crisis, said:

The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund provides vital funding for front-line services that provide specialist support to victims and survivors. The funding awarded will help them to continue their work providing specialist and trauma-informed support to victims and survivors impacted by all forms of sexual violence and abuse.

Fay Maxted OBE, Chief Executive of The Survivors Trust, said:

The Survivors Trust welcomes the funding made available to our specialist voluntary sector through the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund. Funding of this kind is vital in enabling community-based, voluntary sector rape and sexual abuse services to provide much needed counselling and other support to survivors.

Gary Pleece, CEO of Male Survivors Partnership, said:

The Male Survivors Partnership welcomes the announcement that £26 million is being allocated to support survivors. This was the first government fund that recognized the needs of male survivors and provided dedicated funding for them; 65% of men have experienced sexual violence and this funding is essential to their support.

The funding comes as CPS data published today shows charges for adult rape-flagged cases increased to 567 in the latest quarter, (January – March 2023), 5% over the 2016 quarterly average and Rape Review ambition of 538. This means the Government has already met all 3 key ambitions in the Rape Review ahead of schedule – restoring the number of police referrals, CPS charges and cases reaching court to 2016 levels.

In July all 43 police forces across England and Wales, and all rape prosecutors across the country, began implementing a new approach to dealing with rape and other serious sexual offences, ensuring forces conduct thorough investigations which put the focus on the suspect and centre the rights and needs of victims.

This new approach, developed through Operation Soteria and previously piloted in 19 police forces and 9 Crown Prosecution Service Areas, uses academic evidence and insight to enable forces and prosecutors to transform their response to rape and serious sexual offences.

The Rape Review progress report published last month shows improvements have been made in response to rape across every stage of the criminal justice system and, crucially, data suggests more and more victims are reporting these abhorrent crimes to the police – demonstrating an increase in victim confidence.

Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said:

Rape is an abhorrent crime and this government has not shied away from the fact that that victims of sexual violence have been failed by the criminal justice system.

I have been clear that we must transform the way these investigations are handled, to make sure that all victims have the best support possible throughout the entire process. That is why we have funded an ambitious programme, Operation Soteria, to transform the way that rape investigations and prosecutions are handled and progressed. All 43 police forces and all CPS areas across England and Wales are implementing the new National Operating Models developed through the programme.

Alongside the £26 million announced today, I have given over £8 million to support police forces keep improving their response to rape and the service they provide to victims, ensuring investigations focus on the suspect, and never on seeking to undermine the account of the victim.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Rape and Adult Sexual Offences, Chief Constable Sarah Crew, said:

This funding by the Ministry of Justice will help to bring more support to victims of the terrible crimes committed by rapists and sex offenders.

It is timely as all 43 police forces transform their approach to investigating sex offences and supporting survivors, through the recent introduction of a new national approach. Forces are turning the tables on perpetrators to ensure they are the focus of investigations, not the credibility of victims.

Policing continues to work with partners to help support victims and bring offenders to justice, but we cannot do this alone. Funding is vital to enable this to happen and we welcome this round.

A £1.2 million training programme has also been launched for Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisors who provide emotional and practical support to victims. The government is funding 1,000 of these posts and the training to make sure these vulnerable victims get better help and stay engaged with the criminal justice system.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 August 2023.

The former Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre is set to reopen as a Category C men’s prison, in the latest of a string of measures to boost jail capacity, Prisons Minister Damian Hinds has announced today.

The refurbishment of the Rainsbrook site will create up to 131 new prison places – helping to put serious offenders behind bars and provide a boost to the local economy with 100 new jobs.

The new jail will operate as an annexe of neighbouring HMP Onley, a Category C prison that helps offenders turn their backs on crime by giving them the skills through workshops and additional support to find work on release – an approach proven to cut crime and save the tax-payer money.

This is the latest step in the government’s commitment to boost prison capacity, which includes creating 20,000 modern prison places, the largest prison-building programme since the Victorian era – with 5,400 of these places already delivered.

The 20,000 places are being delivered through the construction of six new prisons, alongside expansions and refurbishments at existing jails and the delivery of 1,000 Rapid Deployment Cells.

HMP Fosse Way in Leicestershire, the second of these new state-of-the-art prisons, opened its doors last month.

Prisons Minister Damian Hinds said:

Redeveloping Rainsbrook is the latest step in our plans to create more prison places as we continue to take serious criminals off the streets.

Alongside vital taxpayer savings and creating more jobs for the local economy, we are making sure that every acre of the prison estate is being used effectively to rehabilitate offenders and help them turn their backs on crime for good.

Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre was previously a secure unit for children aged between 12 and 17 and closed in 2021. The redevelopment of the former Rainsbrook site is due to be completed by early 2025.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 August 2023.

Stricter rules to govern how police use cautions will ensure they should only be used for minor, first-time offences under a new code of practice published today (2 August).

Last year, the government changed the law to end a patchwork of cautions, warnings and penalties that had previously led to the inconsistent and, sometimes, inappropriate use of so-called Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs).

It was replaced with a simpler two-tier caution system designed to deal with low-level and first-time offences in a proportionate way outside of court, while sending a clear message that serious, persistent offenders will always be pursued rigorously through the courts.

The new, draft Code of Practice provides stricter guidance to police on how and when to use OOCDs, including the need to consider victims’ views when considering using them and the conditions applied to any caution.

Justice Minister Damian Hinds said:

The current system for these punishments has grown unwieldy, and has led to inconsistencies in their use.

This simplified system will ensure victims see justice being delivered, better nip lower-level criminality in the bud and guarantee the most serious offenders always face the full glare of the courtroom.

The new cautions framework introduced through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has 2 types:

• Community Cautions (lower tier) where a breach of the conditions can result in a fine
• Diversionary Cautions (upper tier) where a breach of the conditions can result in prosecution for the original offence

They are an important way of tackling the early stages of offending behaviour, helping to nip it in the bud and steer people away from a life of crime.

Unlike in the previous system, both cautions must be issued with one or more meaningful conditions focusing on rehabilitation or providing direct restitution to the victim or the local community. These could include targeted unpaid work such as cleaning up graffiti, drug treatment courses or a compensation payment to the victim.

Offenders must admit their offence to be eligible for the new cautions, meaning they accept responsibility for their actions and engage with their punishment. Certain serious crimes like use of offensive or bladed weapon will be specified as excluded offences, sending a strong signal that serious offences should be pursued through the courts.

The changes will also provide clarity to frontline police officers over when and how cautions should be used, empowering them to deliver swift justice for low level offences while ensuring the public are always protected and serious offenders are always pursued through the courts.

NPCC Lead for Out of Court Resolutions (Disposals), Cmdr Dr. Alison Heydari, said:

I am delighted that we are moving into the next phase of the delivery of the new cautions framework.

The new simplified framework affords us the opportunity to divert those away from offending behaviours through appropriate Diversionary Interventions who otherwise might have entered the Criminal Justice System. The strategic intention is to support, educate and rehabilitate where it is appropriate to do so leading to better life outcomes for families, communities and wider society.

The consultation launched today sets out the draft Code of Practice for Diversionary and Community Cautions. Once finalised, the Code will provide operational guidance on the use, administration, and scrutiny of the new cautions. It will be used by Police, Crown Prosecutors, and other authorised bodies when considering sanctioning an offence out of court.

The draft Code of Practice sets out our proposals for how the new cautions will work, including factors to consider case-by-case for their repeat use and available financial penalties.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 August 2023.

A new government-backed scheme providing free legal advice to help 38,000 people a year at risk of losing their home launches today (1 August).

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 28 July 2023.

One year anniversary of cameras starting to roll in the Crown Court.

Millions of viewers have seen justice served in over 30 serious criminal cases in the last year – shining a spotlight on the inner workings of the Crown Court and boosting public understanding on how trials operate.

Today (Friday 28 July) marks the one-year anniversary since the first TV broadcast of sentencing remarks from the Old Bailey, capturing the sentencing of Ben Oliver who was in the dock for the manslaughter of his grandfather.

Since that landmark moment – made possible thanks to a major change in the law permitting camera crews to film judges in the Crown Court as they sentence serious criminals – broadcasters have filmed the sentencing of 33 offenders, including Thomas Cashman and Wayne Couzens.

And in a bid to further boost public understanding of how justice is delivered in England and Wales, Parliament is now consulting on whether to expand filming to include Court of Appeal judges sitting in the Crown Court.

If the law is extended, it would mean sentencing remarks in even more serious cases could be captured and beamed to the nation, throwing the doors open on the workings of the country’s most senior judges.

Justice Minister, Mike Freer, said:

Today marks one year since this landmark change opened up the Crown Court to television cameras, seeing them broadcast judges’ sentencing remarks for some of the most serious offenders for the first time.

It has allowed the public to see justice being done in their courts and to understand the complex decisions judges make, building confidence in the justice system.

Measures only allow for the judge to be filmed during sentencing remarks to protect the privacy of victims, witnesses and jurors.

Chair of the broadcast group filming proceedings, John Battle, (ITN’s Head of Legal and Compliance) said:

Filming of sentencing has been a great success and has swiftly become the norm. It has brought public engagement with the justice system to a whole new level.

For many it will have been the first time they have seen inside the Crown Court and the sentencing process.

Authorised broadcasters – Sky, BBC, ITN and Press Association – must apply to film and broadcast the sentencing remarks and requests are decided by the judge in each case.

Filmed remarks are aired with a short delay when broadcasting live to avoid any breach of reporting restrictions or errors, with footage subject to the usual reporting restrictions. They are then hosted by Sky News on a dedicated YouTube channel where they have so far generated hundreds of thousands of views.

The change has been made possible thanks to HMCTS staff alongside media partners.

This provision comes alongside the government’s wider court reform and digitalisation programme to increase access to justice, including the roll out of video technology to facilitate thousands of remote hearings and the use of video-recorded evidence for victims of rape and sexual offences.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 July 2023.

The Lord Chancellor has written to the Chair of the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority following the Mail’s investigation.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 July 2023.

Tens of thousands of people will be able to access free mediation to resolve disputes away from court following major reforms to the civil justice system announced today (Tuesday 25 July).

Following a consultation launched last year, the government has committed to fully integrate mediation as a key step in the court process for small civil claims valued up to £10,000, starting with specified money claims which make up 80% of small claims. This could include claims such as a homeowner suing their builder for failure to deliver a service as promised or businesses recovering debts from a customer.

Over 180,000 parties will be referred automatically to a free hour-long telephone session with a professional mediator provided by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) before their case can be progressed to a hearing.

It is estimated that greater use of mediation could positively impact up to 92,000 cases per year. This could free up to 5,000 sitting days a year, providing a substantial boost to court capacity and helping the government to reduce waiting time for the most complex cases.

Changes will also provide parties with the opportunity to resolve disputes out of court, reducing costs and removing some of the unnecessary stress court cases can bring.

Today’s news is the first step in the government’s journey towards simplifying processes for civil cases, a commitment that will see a reduction in lengthy, stressful, and often unnecessary, county court cases.

Justice Minister Lord Bellamy KC said:

A vast number of cases that go through the civil courts each year could be settled far more swiftly and with less stress through mediation.

By integrating mediation for small civil claims we will create valuable court capacity, freeing up time for judges and reducing pressures on the courts.

To support these changes coming into effect, HMCTS will be expanding the Small Claims Mediation Service (SCMS) by recruiting and training additional mediators and updating necessary technology. The SCMS has been providing voluntary mediation since 2007, settling over half of claims referred to it each year within weeks of starting the case.

By integrating mediation for civil claims up to £10,000, the government is going further than the Civil Justice Council’s recommendation for claims up to £500, supporting even more people to reach a resolution away from court.

James South, Chief Executive of CEDR, said:

The success and satisfaction rates of the current small claims mediation service has shown how mediation can bring those benefits to parties involved in small claims.

It is for this reason, CEDR has always been very supportive of automatic referral of civil disputes valued up to £10,000 to mediation, as this will provide more disputants with access to the benefits that we know mediation can bring them.

Today’s reforms are part of wider government action to make broader changes in the culture around dispute resolution in England and Wales.

In March of this year, the government announced plans to mandate mediation for separating families to protect children from witnessing disputes in the family courts, with an ambition to help 2,000 separating families. The scheme has now distributed almost 20,000 mediation vouchers – ten times the original goal. Analysis of the first 7,200 scheme users shows 69% reach a full or partial agreement without needing to go on to court.

Mia Forbes Pirie, a Director of the Civil Mediation Council (CMC), said:

Mediation is key to resolving disputes of all sizes efficiently and cost-effectively. Mediation can be adapted to suit most types of claim and has high success rates both for small and large matters. It saves the parties and the courts time and money and we are delighted that the Ministry of Justice has decided automatically to refer claims of up to £10,000 to mediation.

Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said:

An accessible, fair and affordable dispute resolution system is vital to small firms. Introducing an automatic referral to free mediation for civil disputes up to £10,000 is a welcome step and will help speed up access to justice, and avoid expensive litigation for small civil claims. We would also like to see the small claims limit raised, so more parties can benefit from cheaper dispute resolution.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 24 July 2023.

The Lord Chancellor has announced the reappointments of Mrs Justice Jefford to the role of Deputy Chair for the Boundary Commission for Wales and Mr Justice Lane to the role of Deputy Chair for the Boundary Commission for England.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 20 July 2023.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Her Honour Deborah Taylor as the new Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board for 18 months from July 2023.

The CLAAB was established following Lord Bellamy’s Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR) recommendation that an independent Advisory Board be established to take a wider view and encourage a more joined-up approach to criminal legal aid within the criminal justice system.

The CLAAB will ensure that criminal defence practitioners have ongoing input into the future development of the criminal legal aid system.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk said:

Her Honour Deborah Taylor’s extensive experience in criminal law will be invaluable to the Board as we continue our work to strengthen the legal aid system.

Legal Aid is a crucial part of ensuring victims get access to justice and strengthening the rule of law, and our reforms are putting it on a sustainable footing both now and for the future.

Biography

HH Deborah Taylor was a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court and Recorder of Westminster until her retirement from the Judiciary in December 2022. In 2022 she was Treasurer of Inner Temple, where she advocated for greater diversity at the Bar.

Since March 2023, Deborah has been Chair of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) which deals with doctors’ fitness to practise and ensures members of the public are adequately protected. Deborah is also a member of the Advisory Board of Durham University Law School and a Trustee of Shakespeare’s Globe.

Notes

The CLAAB’s purpose is to provide independent advice to the Lord Chancellor on the operation and structure of the existing and future criminal legal aid schemes and to assess how these schemes should adapt to support a high-performing criminal justice system and the wider objectives of the legal profession.

The CLAAB has met three times since it was first established – in October 2022, then in January and April 2023. The Board will meet again on 20 July 2023.

The membership currently includes representatives from the Bar Council, the Law Society, Criminal Bar Association, London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association, CILEX and Ministry of Justice officials.