Tag: Ministry of Justice

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 26 September 2022.

The Government has today (26 September) delivered on its pledge to ensure this vital measure is available nationwide to boost rape convictions and ensure better support for victims.

The tool allows victims and witnesses of crimes such as rape and modern slavery to have their cross-examination video-recorded and played later during trial. This is subject to a successful application to the court.

The recording takes place as close to the time of the offence as possible, while memories remain fresh, and helps victims avoid the stress of giving evidence under full glare of a live trial setting, which many find traumatic.

From today, the measure will be available at a final 20 Crown Courts in Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia, Essex, London and the South East, and marks the completion of national rollout.

The move follows the successful implementation for vulnerable victims, such as children or those who have limited mental and physical capacity, across the country – with more than 3,000 witnesses having already benefitted from the technology since August 2020.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis said:

We’re overhauling the entire response to rape – boosting support for victims so that more cases come to court and more rapists are put behind bars.

Today we have delivered on our pledge to roll out pre-recorded evidence to every Crown Court in England and Wales, sparing victims of this awful crime the additional trauma of testifying under the full glare of a courtroom.

The successful rollout of pre-recorded evidence meets a key pledge within the Government’s Rape Review Action Plan which sets out clear actions for the police, prosecutors and courts. These include a new approach to investigations in order to reduce the number of victims withdrawing from the process and  increase the number of cases reaching court.

The measure is designed to maintain a defendant’s right to a fair trial and any decision to pre-record evidence is made by a judge on a case-by-case basis. Following today’s completion of national rollout to Crown Courts, the Government has announced that it will be piloted for children and vulnerable adult witnesses for all offences at Leeds Youth Court, considering how it could be used more widely in trials of under 18s.

Jayne Butler, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales said:

We very much welcome the fact that pre-recorded evidence for intimidated witnesses and victims will now be available in all Crown Courts in England and Wales. Pre-recorded cross-examination prior to trial, offers choice to victims and survivors, and can make seeking justice far more accessible for rape victims and survivors who often feel re-traumatised by having to go into court. For many, attending court can be intimidating, and this measure is an important step forward in improving the experiences of survivors in the criminal justice system.

For this special measure to be a success, it is crucial that everyone working in and engaging with crown courts is aware of it, offers it as an option for survivors, and approves its use where appropriate. If implemented correctly, this measure will go some way to ensure that intimidated witnesses and victims – constituting the large majority of rape and sexual abuse survivors – have better experiences of court.

In June, the Government published the latest Rape Review Progress report and committed to piloting specialist rape support in three courtrooms as recommended by the Joint Inspectorates of the CPS and Police. These courts offer support such as Independent Sexual Violence Advisors within the court itself as well as trauma training to court staff and are being set up at Snaresbrook, Leeds and Newcastle Crown Courts.

Notes to Editors

• This final phase will include:
  • Amersham, Aylesbury, Basildon, Cambridge, Canterbury, Chelmsford, Guildford, Hove Trial Centre, King’s Lynn, Lewes, Norwich Combined Court Centre, Peterborough Combined Court Centre, Reading and Southend in the South East;
  • Croydon, Snaresbrook, Southwark, the Central Criminal Court, the Inner London Sessions House and Woolwich.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 12 September 2022.

Most hearings will not take place on Monday 19 September 2022, following the announcement that Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral will be on this day, which will be a national bank holiday.

As previously agreed, however, urgent hearings, including overnight custody cases will continue in consultation with the judiciary. Where possible, and in consultation with the relevant judiciary, we’ll seek to list these types of hearings either side of the funeral.

We’ll adjourn cases where defendants have been remanded in custody to appear in court on the day of the funeral to the next available date. We’ll contact all parties and inform them of their new hearing date and venue. All our venues including the Royal Courts of Justice, Crown Courts, County Courts, Civil and Family Courts, magistrates’ courts, tribunals, business centres and Service Centres will close to the public as a mark of respect.

All court and tribunal users can use the Royal Family’s online provision for books of condolence.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 6 September 2022.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Russell Agius as a Member of the Judicial Pension Board for 3 years from 5 September 2022.

Russell Agius has been advising on pension schemes for over 28 years. He is a Partner at Aon. He spends most of his time advising trustees but also has various corporate appointments. He has carried out secondments with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator.

The Judicial Pension Board (JPB) is responsible for helping the Lord Chancellor to manage and govern the Judicial Pension Schemes.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates the appointment of JPB Members and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 5 September 2022.

The Lord Chancellor, in consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, has announced the reappointment of Bronwen Curtis CBE as a lay panel member of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office.

The reappointment will run from 1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023.

The Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office is an independent office which supports the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice in considering complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office-holders.

Appointments and reappointments are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The reappointment has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biography

Bronwen Curtis CBE has held leadership positions in both the private and public sector and most recently as Director, Human Resources and Organisational Development, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. Bronwen is a lay member of the Speakers Committee for IPSA and a member of the regulatory appointments panel for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She is a former UK Board member of a global corporation and previously named Midlands Businesswoman of the Year.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 September 2022.

The Lord Chancellor has announced the reappointment of 3 lay panel members of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office for a third term of 9 months.

The Lord Chancellor, in consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, has announced the reappointment of 3 lay panel members of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office. The members are:

Paul Curtis; Jenni-Douglas Todd; Judith Webb MBE;

The reappointments will run from 1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023.

The Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office is an independent office which supports the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice in considering complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office-holders.

Appointments and reappointments are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The reappointments have been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biographies
Paul Curtis is Tribunal Chair of the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service. He is a panel Lay Member at the General Optical Council. He is also Lay Chair at the School Admission Appeals Panel and Lay Chair Independent Review Panel (School Exclusions) at the East Sussex County Council

Jenni Douglas-Todd is a Director of Equality and Inclusion at NHS England, Southampton. She is currently Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Jenni is a former chief executive of Hampshire Police Authority and the Office of the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner. She is Independent Chairman of the Dorset Integrated Care System. Jenni is a member of the English Cricket Board’s Regulatory Committee; Non-Executive Director with Hampshire Cricket Board and a Trustee with the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.

Ms Judith Webb MBE is a board member of the Cairngorms National Park Authority and a member of the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel. Her previous appointments include: Chair of Defra’s Rural Development Service during its transition into Natural England; Deputy Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; and Commissioner for Forestry Commission in Wales.

 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 September 2022.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Christina Blacklaws as Chair of the Judicial Pension Board for 3 years from 1 September 2022.

Christina is an entrepreneurial solicitor who established a virtual law firm and the first UK ABS with the Cooperative Group. Christina acts as a non-executive director for law firms and tech companies, provides strategic advice on transformational change, innovation and diversity and inclusion, sits on the QC Selection Panel and chairs the MoJ’s Lawtech UK Panel.

The Judicial Pension Board (JPB) is responsible for helping the Lord Chancellor to manage and govern the Judicial Pension Schemes.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates the appointment of the JPB Chair and the recruitment process must comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 September 2022.

Work has begun on a new 214-place houseblock at HMP Stocken (category C, Rutland)  creating more than 100 new local jobs – with at least 10 roles earmarked for ex-offenders with constructors Wates.

As part of a drive to skill-up offenders to equip them for a life free from crime, the block includes an innovative partnership with shipping and logistics company DHL which will run courses at a purpose-built workshop. Prisoners will earn qualifications in the logistics industry, helping them find work upon release – boosting efforts to reduce reoffending and keep the public safe.

The new houseblock will also include new prisoner classrooms and fitness facilities for offenders to aid rehabilitation.

Prisons Minister, Stuart Andrew, said:

This government is delivering on its promise to create 20,000 new prison places, complete with the workshops and facilities that will help to steer offenders towards the straight and narrow.

This not only transforms the lives of the prisoners who will be set on a better path, it will protect us all by driving down reoffending and cutting crime.

HMP Stocken Prison Governor Russ Truman said:

This development will boost the prospects of prisoners by giving them even more opportunities to earn the skills and qualifications they need to find work on release.

The Prison Service’s longstanding partnership with DHL sees them employ around 500 prisoners to pack more than 66,000 orders a week of food and toiletries purchased by offenders in jail.

Construction of the houseblock is expected to be completed at the end of 2023, with the first prisoners arriving in early 2024.

Andrew Riggs, Head of Government Sector, Wates, said:

I’m delighted construction can begin on this positive project at HMP Stocken.

We have been working closely with the MOJ for almost two decades to support the expansion of its estate and look forward to drawing on our in-house expertise to deliver these new prison places and create first-class facilities to help rehabilitate offenders.

The development is part of a programme to create more than 4,000 new places across England and Wales by expanding existing jails, with construction already underway at HMP High Down and two houseblocks earmarked for HMP Guys Marsh.

This is a key element of the government’s overall £4 billion investment to build 20,000 modern and innovative prison places, ensuring the right conditions are in place to truly rehabilitate prisoners. This will give prisoners the education, skills and addiction support they need to live crime-free lives on release, helping to cut crime and protect the public.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 September 2022.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 September 2022.

The Lord Chancellor has announced the reappointment of 11 lay panel members of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office for a third term of 9 months.

The Lord Chancellor, in consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, has announced the reappointment of 11 lay panel members of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office. The members are:

Clive Chalk
Bronwen Curtis CBE
Paul Curtis
Jenni Douglas-Todd
Victor Marshall OBE
Patrick Stayt
Lynne Vernon
Suzy Walton
Judith Webb MBE
Peter Wrench
Wendy Yeadon
The reappointments will run from 1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023.

The Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office is an independent office which supports the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice in considering complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office-holders.

Appointments and reappointments are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The reappointments have been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biographies
Clive Chalk is a retired Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police Service. He is a Lay Member of the Governing Board for Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group and Lay Chair of the General Dental Council’s Investigating Committee.

Bronwen Curtis CBE has held leadership positions in both the private and public sector and most recently as Director, Human Resources and Organisational Development, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. Bronwen is a lay member of the Speakers Committee for IPSA and a member of the regulatory appointments panel for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She is a former UK Board member of a global corporation and previously named Midlands Businesswoman of the Year. Bronwen was appointed CBE in 2007.

Paul Curtis is Tribunal Chair of the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service. He is a panel Lay Member at the General Optical Council. He is also Lay Chair at the School Admission Appeals Panel and Lay Chair Independent Review Panel (School Exclusions) at the East Sussex County Council

Jenni Douglas-Todd is a Director of Equality and Inclusion at NHS England, Southampton. She is currently Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Jenni is a former chief executive of Hampshire Police Authority and the Office of the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner. She is Independent Chairman of the Dorset Integrated Care System. Jenni is a member of the English Cricket Board’s Regulatory Committee; Non-Executive Director with Hampshire Cricket Board and a Trustee with the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.

Victor Marshall OBE is the professional standards co-ordinator for the Police Superintendents’ Association. Victor joined Sussex Police in 1979 and served in a variety of roles including firearms, public order, uniform, CID and professional standards retiring as a detective superintendent. He was appointed OBE, in 2010, and holds two Royal Humane Society awards for saving lives.

Patrick Stayt: undertakes a number of voluntary roles and was formerly a member of the Police Remuneration Review Body and National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body. Patrick was previously National Secretary of the Police Superintendents’ Association for England and Wales. He retired from the Police Service, in 2010, after a 30-year career and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

Mrs Lynn Vernon is a retired Detective Chief Inspector. During her 30 years’ service with Greater Manchester Police she managed public protection, counter corruption and homicide investigation units. She now undertakes various roles as a lay member of the General Chiropractic Council Investigating Committee, Social Work England and the Royal college of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She is a Medical Education Partner at Manchester University, involved in the admissions for the Medical and Dental schools and the student Health and Conduct panel. She is a former chair of the GDC Investigating Committee.

Dr Suzy Walton is a Chartered Director, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and a Chartered Scientist who has sat on over a dozen boards of large organisations both in the UK and internationally. She is a member of the board of the Institute of Directors and Vice President at the Royal Society of Medicine. Suzy is a regulatory Board member and Chairman at Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She was a former member of the State Honours Committee which makes recommendations for awards to the Prime Minister and The Queen.

Ms Judith Webb MBE is a board member of the Cairngorms National Park Authority and a member of the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel. Her previous appointments include: Chair of Defra’s Rural Development Service during its transition into Natural England; Deputy Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; and Commissioner for Forestry Commission in Wales.

Mr Peter Wrench is an independent adjudicator of student finance appeals and complaints for DfE and Welsh Government. He is also: a member of the Code Adjudication Panel of the Phone-paid Services Authority; a member of Disciplinary Tribunal of the CILEx Regulation; a member of Fitness to Practise Committee at the Nursing and Midwifery Council. He was formerly a member of Audit and Risk Assurance Committee of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

Ms Wendy Yeadon is an Independent Chair at Social Work England. She is also Chair of Discipline, Appeals and Licensing Hearings at the ACCA. Wendy is: a Lay Adjudicator at the Solicitors Regulation Authority; a Chair of Fitness to Practice Panels at the Nursing and Midwifery Council and; a selection panel member at the Judicial Appointments Commission. Wendy was formerly a Lay Member of Professional Conduct Panels, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 31 August 2022.

The Ministry of Justice has today (31 August 2022) announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive for Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

Amy Rees – previously the Director General of Probation, Wales and Youth for HMPPS – will succeed Dr Jo Farrar who will focus on her wider role as Second Permanent Secretary at the MOJ, including digital transformation of justice services.

Under the restructure, following an operating model review led by the MOJ Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo, Phil Copple will become Director General of Operations for Prisons and Probation.

Both roles will begin on 1 September 2022 and are part of a wider, ongoing agency transformation placing greater focus on the delivery of frontline services – keeping the public safe, delivering modern prisons that rehabilitate offenders and reducing reoffending.

Having joined HMPPS in 2001, Amy worked in frontline positions at several prisons including HMP Lewes, High Down and Bristol before being appointed Governor at HMP Brixton in 2008.

She has since acted as Executive Director for HMPPS in Wales and was the lead official with the Welsh Government on behalf of the MOJ.

Amy also took on responsibility for the Youth Custody Service, including day-to-day operations and supporting its work to shape the future of children’s services in custody.

Phil has been in the Prison service for over 30 years, joining in 1990 as a prison officer. He has governed in a number of prisons including HMP Deerbolt and HMP Frankland and led prisons and probation in the North East region, as NE Director of Offender Management.

Phil took up post as Executive Director Prisons in 2017, before becoming Director General of Prisons in 2019.