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 […]
Draft Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2014
June 10, 2014
The Draft Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2014 (“the Order”) will give effect to the Government’s decision to restrict access to legal aid for persons with less than 12 months lawful residence. The Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee will consider the Order on 1 July 2014, with […]
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 […]
Directive on the Right of Access to a Lawyer and to Communicate Upon Arrest
April 2, 2013
For the past two years the EU Institutions have been considering the adoption of the third measure on a Roadmap to strengthen procedural safeguards for suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings. The proposed directive on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and on the right to communicate upon arrest (Measure […]
Crime and Courts Bill
January 30, 2013
The Crime and Courts Bill was introduced to the House of Lords immediately after the Queen’s Speech on 10th May 2012, and to the Commons on 19th December 2012. The Bill is wide ranging in scope and application. Part 1 of the Bill makes provision for a new body to fight organised crime, the National […]