Directive on the procedural safeguards for children

September 16, 2014

The EU Roadmap on procedural rights for suspects and accused people in criminal matters continues apace, with three Commission proposals for Directives being considered by the institutions: the right to legal aid; procedural safeguards for children; and strengthening certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at trial. The UK […]

Directive on the right to legal aid

The EU Roadmap on procedural rights for suspects and accused people in criminal matters continues apace, with three Commission proposals for Directives being considered by the institutions: the right to legal aid; procedural safeguards for children; and strengthening certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at trial. The UK […]

Modern Slavery Bill

August 1, 2014

The Modern Slavery Bill 2014 was introduced to the House of Commons on the 10th June 2014, read for the second time on the 8th July and is now being considered in Committee, which is scheduled to conclude on 14th October. While we welcome the Bill as a measure towards curbing the practice of slavery […]

Proposed restrictions on legal aid for judicial review

May 18, 2014

The Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2014 (“the Regulations”) will give effect to the Government’s decision to significantly restrict access to legal aid for judicial review applications. JUSTICE is concerned that – in light of the significant constitutional function of judicial review – these changes are unnecessary and ill-considered. They will, in […]

Care Bill

May 1, 2014

JUSTICE joins with a coalition of organisations to support amendment of the Care Bill to clarify that all publicly funded or arranged care services should be considered a public function for the purposes of Section 6 of the Human Rights Act. In May, the Government accepted the case and made their own amendments to the […]

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill

April 20, 2014

In general terms, we welcome the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill as a means of bringing forward reforms to the Scottish criminal justice system, particularly to amend changes brought about through the emergency legislation hastily enacted in response to the Cadder case, in which we intervened, that recognised the right of access to a lawyer during […]

Immigration Bill

February 10, 2014

JUSTICE is concerned that the Immigration Bill would create a more legally obscure system of immigration control, which places greater power in the hands of administrative authorities without effective means of independent oversight. We regret that the proposal to remove access to an independent determination on appeal from most applicants will – in practice – […]

Anti-social, Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill

January 16, 2014

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill was introduced in the House of Commons following the Queen’s speech on 9th May 2013 and had its second reading on the 10th June 2013. Parts 1-6 of the Bill represent the government’s attempt to overhaul the statutory powers available to tackle anti-social behaviour and disorderly conduct. The […]

Secret Courts Rules: Civil Procedures (Amendment No.5) Rules 2013

July 1, 2013

On 26 June 2013, the Government tabled the Civil Procedure (Amendment No 5) Rules 2013 (“the  Rules”) in both Houses of Parliament.  The Rules came into force the following day and will lapse unless approved by both Houses within 40 days.  Made pursuant to Schedule 3(3) of the Act the Rules will amend the Civil […]