JUSTICE has briefed on the Judicial Review and Courts Bill, ahead of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Commons. JUSTICE has several serious concerns with the impact of this wide-ranging Bill on access to justice and the rule of law, and has briefed on the judicial review, criminal procedure, online procedure rules and […]
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
May 14, 2021
From overcrowded prisons to endemic racial disproportionality, there are many pressing issues across the criminal justice system which need comprehensive, urgent redress. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill purports to empower “the police and courts to take more effective action against crime and lead [to] a fair justice system.” While some of the aspects […]
JUSTICE issues briefing on the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill to the House of Lords for Ping Pong
February 9, 2021
JUSTICE has prepared a briefing that addresses JUSTICE’s concerns; namely, that the Bill would provide no limit on the types of criminal offences that public bodies could authorise undercover operatives to engage in, including rape, murder and torture. While we welcome certain government proposals that have mitigated some of our concerns with the Bill, we […]
JUSTICE response to proposals to restrict appeals from the Upper Tribunal to the Court of Appeal
January 11, 2021
In January 2021, JUSTICE responded to the Ministry of Justice’s “Proposals for reforms to arrangements for obtaining permission to appeal from the Upper Tribunal to the Court of Appeal”. The proposals sought to limit access to the Court of Appeal and impose stricter tests, in order to improve efficiency. JUSTICE was unable to support any […]
Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities – Call for Evidence
November 30, 2020
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 […]
‘A Smarter Approach to 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 Committee’s Legal Aid Inquiry
November 3, 2020
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 Committee Court Capacity Inquiry
October 23, 2020
23 October 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 […]