Tag: Ministry of Justice

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

Justice ministers from around the world will convene in London today (March 20) to boost international support for the independent International Criminal Court’s (ICC) vital investigations into war crimes.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 17 March 2023.

Domestic abusers who kill their partners or ex-partners will receive tougher sentences under government plans published today.

The law will be changed so a history of coercive or controlling behaviour against the victim or the use of excessive or gratuitous violence are made aggravating factors in sentencing decisions for murder.

It means these violent and controlling criminals will face more time behind bars, as judges must consider longer jail terms for their abuse and aggression.

The changes follow recommendations made by Clare Wade KC in an independent review into domestic homicide sentencing, which the government will respond to in full in the summer.

Her review found the current sentencing framework does not adequately reflect that many domestic homicides are preceded by years of abuse.

Around one in four (26%) homicides in England and Wales are committed by a current or former partner or relative. Of the murder cases reviewed by Clare Wade over half (51%) involved controlling or coercive behaviour while excessive violence, or overkill, was identified in 60%, with men being the perpetrator in all but one case.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab said:

This government will do everything we can to protect vulnerable women, and keep in prison for longer those who attack or threaten them.

The changes I am announcing today will mean longer jail sentences for those who kill women in the home, by taking greater account of the specific factors involved, whether it is controlling and coercive behaviour or cases involving particular savagery known as ‘overkill’.

The government has also asked the Sentencing Council to review the manslaughter sentencing guidelines to explain to judges that cases where deaths occur during rough sex should be punished with longer jail terms. While the law is clear that there is no such thing as a “rough sex defence”, the review found that the high risk of death these acts may carry should be reflected in sentences potentially several years longer.

A public consultation will also be launched to determine whether a higher sentencing starting point of 25 years should be applied in murder cases where there has been a history of controlling and coercive abuse. Currently, the 25-year starting point only applies to murders where a knife has been taken to the scene with intent.

Together these measures build on the government’s zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and girls by ensuring that sentencing in cases of domestic homicide deliver justice for the victims and families.

Justice Minister Edward Argar said:

Julie Devey and Carole Gould have campaigned bravely and tirelessly after the awful killing of their daughters, Poppy and Ellie, and the Government is determined to see an end to murders and violence by abusive partners.

No one should ever feel unsafe in their own home, and we will continue working with Julie and Carole and others to make further progress in tackling the dreadful crime of domestic abuse.

The Wade Review was established to understand whether the law could be updated to better protect both victims of domestic homicide and the public, while ensuring women who lash out after years of mistreatment are not inadvertently punished with longer jail terms than necessary.

The government’s full response and the consultation on introducing a new 25-year starting point for domestic murders preceded by coercive or controlling behaviour will be published in the summer.

The measures announced today expands on the government’s ongoing work to tackle domestic abuse including:

• Quadrupling funding for victim support services compared to 2010, this includes investment for the recruitment of 300 more Independent Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Advisors – bringing the total to 1,000 overall.
• Putting controlling or coercive behaviour put on a par with physical violence, which will mean offenders sentenced to a year or more imprisonment or a suspended sentence will automatically be actively managed by the police, prison and probation services under multi-agency public protection arrangements.
• Recording offenders sentenced to a year or more for controlling or coercive behaviour on the violent and sex offender register.
• Trialling stricter management of domestic abusers, who could now be fitted with a tag, prevented from going within a certain distance of a victim’s home, and made to attend a behaviour change programme, using domestic abuse protection notices and domestic abuse protection orders in three areas in the UK.
• Expanding the Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) support scheme, which is already in operation in over 5,000 pharmacies across the UK in over 88 cities, towns and villages, into 18 jobcentres and jobs and benefit offices. Since the scheme launched in 2021, the emergency support has been accessed on average once a week.
• Adding violence against women and girls to the strategic policing requirement, which for the first time categorises violence against women and girls as a national threat and sets clear expectations about how this threat should be tackled by police forces.
• Strengthening Clare’s law with new guidance for the police, which reduces the timeframes for police to disclose information about an individual’s violent or abusive behaviour so it will be quicker to access information on a partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 16 March 2023.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State has approved the reappointment of James Hayward as a Non-Executive Director of Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) for 3 years from 1 April 2023.

GFSL is part of the Ministry of Justice established, in February 2018, as a limited not for profit company. GFSL’s role is to provide facilities management services to the prisons in the south of England.

Biography

James was first appointed a GFSL NED, for 3 years, on 1 April 2020.

James is a Professional Building Services Chartered Engineer with over 40 years’ experience. He has worked, at Trust Board level, in medium and large sized acute NHS healthcare settings responsible for delivering estates, facilities and capital project services. Currently semi-retired, in addition to being a GFSL NED, he is also the Chairman of Beyond Housing; a highly performing large housing association in North Yorkshire and Cleveland. He has also been involved with several local and national charitable organisations.

James has declared no political activity.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 March 2023.

CodeBase and Legal Geek will receive £3 million of government funding to turbocharge the development and use of technology in the legal sector.

The news is another boost to the UK’s thriving legal services market which is the second largest in the world, employing more than 300,000 people and worth around £25 billion to the economy.

The government-backed LawtechUK programme plays an important part in this innovation and the new providers announced today (15 March) will continue to set the country apart as a leader in emerging technologies.

CodeBase is one of the country’s largest incubators which has helped hundreds of start-ups grow and scale up. They will work with Legal Geek which runs events and programmes to connect legal businesses and the technology sector.

Together they will showcase the UK as a leading place for lawtech innovation, raising the quality of start-ups and generating industry-level views to shape the country’s lawtech agenda.

They will also build on LawtechUK’s success and further support the work of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce, an industry-led body which promotes the use of English law alongside digital legal innovations worldwide.

Justice Minister Mike Freer said:

The UK is a world leader in delivering legal services and expertise, and our ongoing investment in new technologies will make sure we are continuing to lead the way in advances and new ways of working

CodeBase and Legal Geek bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of LawtechUK that will nurture new, cutting-edge innovation in the UK.

Stephen Coleman, OBE, CEO of CodeBase, said:

Together with our delivery partners Legal Geek, who are renowned for delivering top-tier legal events, we are eager to push the boundaries of innovation and transformation in the legal industry.

We truly believe that LawtechUK will have a significant impact on the future of the legal sector, and we feel privileged to be leading the charge in this endeavour.

Beth Fellner, Legal Geek Director, said:

We will be working in partnership with CodeBase to deliver a transformational programme of activity that will engage, inspire and educate.

Legal Geek will ensure LawtechUK develops the legal sector nationwide, equipping organisations of all sizes with the culture, expertise and confidence to innovate.

LawtechUK is a government-backed initiative, launched in 2019 when Tech Nation, a leading scale-up network and growth platform for tech companies, was tasked with incubating LawtechUK and driving its objectives forward with an initial £2 million investment. It provides resources, programmes and courses to promote new ways of delivering and accessing legal services.

LawtechUK success stories include the Lawtech Sandbox – a programme helping UK founders and legal businesses develop new products including the development of software to help businesses detect risks of potential legal disputes with stakeholders.

CodeBase and Legal Geek were awarded funding following a competition process, and will take over from Tech Nation, the firm which has delivered LawtechUK for the past 3 years. They will take over LawtechUK from 1 April 2023.

The LawtechUK programme will continue to be supported by the expert LawtechUK Panel.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 March 2023.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 March 2023.

The Access to Justice Foundation has been awarded funding to administer the ‘Improving Outcomes Through Legal Support’ grant.

The grant will help thousands more people get access to early legal help after the government announced £12 million of new grant funding in November 2022.

This new grant will run from July 2023 until March 2025, with a greater emphasis on the provision of at court support and building an evidence base through robust data collection. The Access to Justice Foundation has published details on how to apply.

The funding will be awarded to charities providing advice and support to people with legal problems– helping them to better understand their issues and avoid costly court proceedings. This will help to ensure that for those cases where court or tribunal proceedings are necessary, people have the support they need to navigate the process effectively.

This funding adds to more than £5 million of investment from MOJ in this financial year, including a £1 million cost-of-living grant, to help organisations respond to increasing demand for free legal advice. Specialist guidance is offered in person, by telephone or online, to help deal with problems before they escalate or to support those who need to appear in court.

The current Help Accessing Legal Support grant worth £4.8 million will conclude in June 2023.

The Access to Justice Foundation has now launched the application process to award funding to organisations that will directly offer guidance and support. The closing date for applications is 4pm on Friday 5 May 2023.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 9 March 2023.

The Lord Chancellor has reappointed Diane Astin, Nicola Critchley, Elisabeth Davies, Andrew Higgins and Rhodri Williams KC as members of the Civil Justice Council for a further term of 3 years.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 6 March 2023.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Judiciary of England and Wales are calling on employers to join the hundreds already benefitting from supporting staff to volunteer as magistrates.

With new government data showing 7 million people took part in volunteering between 2021-22*, the MoJ is calling on more employers to join the hundreds who are already feeling the business boost and encourage staff to volunteer as magistrates.

Over 12,000 magistrates currently volunteer across England and Wales and are developing transferrable skills such as critical analysis, complex problem solving and mediation. And according to MoJ research,** 55% of decision-making employers think employees who also serve as magistrates will develop better soft or professional skills.

In fact, HR and business leaders report the top qualities of their staff, who are magistrates, as having sound judgement (89%) and effective decision-making skills (81%).

Supporting staff to volunteer can also boost recruitment. Evidence suggests people are more likely to want to work for organisations that give back to society.

Furthermore, having a magistrate as an employee offers organisations the win-win of attracting and retaining talent. Nearly 1 in 10 volunteers recognise it as a way to ‘get on in their career’, so employer support is likely to be welcomed.

Pam Sheemar, a magistrate and NatWest employee, said:

I am passionate about being a magistrate as it is important for the court system to reflect the communities and people it serves. I have never looked back after six years of service and would encourage anyone who wants to support their community to get involved.

While 84% of business decision-makers would be generally supportive if an employee wanted to be a magistrate, research from the MoJ suggests some employers may need more awareness of how volunteering as a magistrate will impact their business. Only 66% of decision-makers said they knew what a magistrate is and does, and 56% were unaware that magistrates only need to be in court 13 days a year.

In reality, many magistrates fulfil this crucial role alongside full-time employment and caring responsibilities.

Through targeted marketing, the MoJ and the Judiciary aim to put a spotlight on the role of a magistrate and attract 4,000 new volunteers across England and Wales. This recruitment drive is the largest in the history of the magistracy.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, said:

Magistrates play a vital role in our justice system and develop a range of skills when undertaking training and making important court decisions that are invaluable in the workplace.

They bring these to bear for their employers, bringing significant benefits to the businesses they work for.

Employers, by law, must allow an employee who is a magistrate reasonable time off work to carry out their duties. Volunteering staff will have to be in court at least 13 days, or 26 half-days a year, but since a judicial rota is provided well in advance, there will be plenty of time to plan and agree on time off.

While employers are not required to pay employees for their magistrate work, many choose to. However, magistrates not being paid by their employers can claim an allowance from a court for loss of earnings.

Dipesh Mistry, Chair of the NatWest Midlands and East Regional Board, said:

NatWest is committed to supporting and giving back to the communities we operate in.

The Ministry of Justice’s recruitment drive and the qualities they are looking for in people who will become great magistrates align with our values as an organisation to be inclusive, curious and robust.

By encouraging our employees to volunteer as magistrates, not only are they creating positive change for their community and reflecting our values, but they are able to build skills which benefit our business such as decision making and teamwork.

Volunteering as a magistrate is open to most of the workforce. No legal qualifications or experience is required, and an individual’s level of education is no barrier. Anyone aged between 18 and 74 that wants to challenge themself, develop new skills and create positive change for the good of their community can be a magistrate.

Volunteers will work closely with two other magistrates and a legal advisor, who offers guidance on the law.

Vacancies in many regions are now open. Anyone wanting to apply, or to be notified when a vacancy opens in their region, should visit the magistrate recruitment site for more information.

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

New modern prison cells that can be built and rolled-out at speed in order to boost jail capacity and keep the public safe were unveiled at HMP Norwich yesterday (2 March 2023).

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

First ever ‘Independent Public Advocate’ to launch in England and Wales.

Survivors and the bereaved families of major disasters like Hillsborough, the Manchester Arena bombing and the Grenfell Tower fire will receive new dedicated support in the future under plans unveiled by the government today (1 March).

An expert panel will act to represent families as a new Independent Public Advocate ensuring that the voices of victims and their families are better heard, right from the immediate aftermath of a tragedy until all inquiries and inquests have concluded.

The Independent Public Advocate will bring together a specialist panel of people appointed on their relevant expertise and on their experience of working with public authorities. This includes former social workers, ex-civil servants, retired doctors, emergency services, professionals with media experience and community leaders.

The trained advocates will provide practical support to families, the bereaved and those who have suffered life-changing injuries including:

• signposting them to vital financial, physical and mental health services such as Victim Support, the Homicide Service and any charities established as a result of a major disaster
• providing them with regular updates about the investigation including helping them receive information at inquests or inquiries
• making sure they understand processes and their rights, so they can fully participate in the investigation where there is a right for them to do so
• advocating on their behalf to public authorities and government, providing a direct channel to voice concerns around the responsiveness of organisations such as the police or local councils

Crucially, the Independent Public Advocate will be responsible for producing a report once all investigations have been completed and make recommendations to the government for improvements based on the experiences of survivors and the bereaved.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab said:

We’re creating the Independent Public Advocate so that the survivors and bereaved of a major tragedy have practical support and are given a greater voice in seeking answers for the loved ones that they have lost.

The IPA will empower the victims throughout any inquiry, make sure they are listened to, and get the support they need from day one.

The intervention delivers on a previous manifesto commitment to create an Independent Public Advocate by the then Prime Minister Theresa May MP, which was welcomed by Bishop James Jones in his report into the experiences of the Hillsborough families. The creation of an IPA has also been championed by both Maria Eagle MP and the Rt Hon the Lord Wills in Parliament. The report called for greater representation for survivors and the bereaved in similar situations moving forward.

The Rt Hon Theresa May, MP, said:

I welcome the introduction of an Independent Public Advocate which was a commitment in our 2017 manifesto. I look forward to working with the government to ensure that it delivers the support needed in the aftermath of a public disaster so that families don’t have to go through years of struggle to get to the truth as happened after Hillsborough.

Establishing a panel builds on this original commitment by making sure victims receive the best support possible from a range of different professions, backgrounds and geographical areas.

In 2018, a government consultation highlighted that the various processes that take place after major disasters, such as the Grenfell Tower fire and the Manchester Arena bombing, can be overwhelming and complex for victims as they often involve multiple unfamiliar agencies.

The Independent Public Advocate will directly address these issues by supporting victims through every aspect of the processes that follow a major disaster. It will also act as a crucial line of communication between victims and government so concerns are addressed quickly.

It will be made up of multiple advocates, supported by a full-time permanent staff, so the Independent Public Advocate can respond quickly, effectively and at short notice. This will provide better support and resilience than a single advocate, especially where disasters involve large numbers of people.

Advocates will be appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice, but critically the Independent Public Advocate will consult with and represent victims before any inquiry is set up. Victims will also be able to nominate community leaders as an advocate.

Victims and families will be able to make representations to stand up or stand down the Independent Public Advocate following an incident.

The Independent Public Advocate will also be able to recommend the government set up investigations quickly, such as a Hillsborough style panel inquiry.

Legislation to create an Independent Public Advocate will be introduced shortly.