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05 Dec 2023 Communities

The Laura Farris interview: ‘My politics were a little more left leaning when I was young’

Following her father as Conservative MP for Newbury, new minister Laura Farris tells Tali Fraser she won’t let tribal loyalty – or anything else – stop her from working to help victims of crime. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer

24 Oct 2023 Home affairs

"Unprecedented" Rates Of Prison Building Still Failing To Keep Up With Rising Demand

Prison capacity has been failing to meet rising demand and government policy has not been “joined up” despite an “unprecedented” level of prison building, according to the Minister for Prisons.

22 Sep 2023 Home affairs

The rule of law is under threat

The United Kingdom’s constitution relies heavily on the ability of Parliament to scrutinise and legislate effectively.

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08 Sep 2023 Home affairs

Fixed recoverable costs: Bar Council insists on pay for work done

The Bar Council has submitted a strong response to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) consultation on fixed recoverable costs calling for the system to be reformed to help reduce the backlog and ensure pay for work done.

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06 Sep 2023 Home affairs

Reforming the Arbitration Act 1996 - Bar Council comment

Responding to the Law Commission's recommendations to improve the Arbitration Act 1996, Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said:

16 Aug 2023 Home affairs

Do we really want to be the only democratic nation to ever leave the ECHR?

The small boats issue continues to dominate the summer headlines. The movement of large numbers across the Channel in dangerous and often overcrowded vessels is a genuine point of concern for the public when it comes to the effectiveness of our border controls.

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11 Aug 2023 Home affairs

Tackling court backlogs will need commitment to significant additional funding – Bar Council

The Ministry of Justice has announced plans to tackle the crown court backlogs, including a decision not to replace the cap on judicial sitting days and confirmation of £220 million investment in the courts and tribunals estate over the next two years.

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09 Aug 2023 Home affairs

Legal community gravely concerned: joint statement from the Bar Council and the Law Society

In today's Guardian, immigration solicitor Jacqueline McKenzie has written about her experience earlier this week when Conservative Central headquarters shared a dossier of information about her with the national media.

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13 Jul 2023 Home affairs

Bar Council responds to latest judicial diversity data

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30 Jun 2023 Home affairs

Culture shift needed to deliver court reform programme – Bar Council

The Public Accounts Committee has published its report into the Court Reform Programme expressing serious concerns that HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has underestimated the scale and complexity of reforms leading to stress amongst staff.

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13 Jun 2023 Home affairs

Bar Council reacts to Government's SLAPPs amendments

The Government has tabled new amendments to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill to seek to tackle Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

06 Jun 2023 Home affairs

Prisons are a festering wound in our public services – they need urgent reform

I became an MP in June 1983 after practising criminal law for 12 years. Much of the parliamentary ambition I had was focused on the criminal justice system. I was troubled by the rising prison population and the increasingly ineffective role of prisons in reforming and improving the lives of young men and women to prepare them for leaving jail.

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25 May 2023 Home affairs

Slow steps of progress on widening access to legal aid – Bar Council

The Bar Council has welcomed the expansion of legal aid eligibility but expressed concern at the slow pace of change in the face of high inflation, meaning many people are still unable to access justice.

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22 May 2023 Home affairs

Barbara Mills KC elected as Bar Council Vice Chair for 2024

Barbara Mills KC has been elected as the Vice Chair of the Bar Council for 2024, becoming the first specialist family practitioner in 35 years to take up the role and the first Black person and first person of colour to assume the office.

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10 May 2023 Home affairs

Bar Council calls on Peers to reject deeply flawed Illegal Migration Bill

The Bar Council is urging the House of Lords to reject the Illegal Migration Bill because it undermines access to justice, unjustifiably removes judicial scrutiny of executive action, and sets out a framework of operation that is incompatible with the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA).

24 Apr 2023 Home affairs

The long road to a trauma-informed criminal justice system

While both the Conservatives and Labour pursue a “tough on crime” rhetoric in their local election campaigns, in the background, Labour is working on a review on how to deliver the world’s first “trauma-informed criminal justice system” if it gets into government.

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21 Apr 2023 Home affairs

Bar Council congratulates Alex Chalk as new Lord Chancellor

Commenting on the appointment of Alex Chalk MP as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar said:

21 Apr 2023 Political parties

Dominic Raab Bullying Report Finds He Acted In An "Intimidating Manner" As Justice Secretary

The inquiry into whether Dominic Raab bullied civil service staff has found cases where he had acted in an "intimidating manner", although concludes he did “not intend” to upset or humiliate staff.

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21 Apr 2023 Home affairs

Raab resignation: This has to be a fresh start for the justice system – Bar Council

Commenting on the resignation of Dominic Raab as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC said:

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20 Apr 2023 Home affairs

Illegal Migration Bill amendment undermines rule of law – Bar Council

Commenting on reports that the Government is proposing to amend the Illegal Migration Bill to allow ministers to ignore interim injunctions – known as Rule 39 orders – from the European Court of Human Rights, Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar, said:

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17 Apr 2023 Home affairs

Prosecution fees increase confirmed for May

The Bar Council has welcomed confirmation from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that the fee increases for prosecution work will take apply to hearings in existing and new cases from 2 May 2023.

16 Apr 2023 Home affairs

I was a victim of revenge porn – the law must change to make it easier for victims to get justice

Would you be distressed if images or videos of you stripped naked or engaging in a sexual act were posted online? I’m sure for most the answer would be yes.

06 Apr 2023 Communities

Former Prisons Chief Says MPs Are Politicising "Tough On Crime" Rhetoric In Local Elections

The “tough on crime” rhetoric being pursued by the Conservatives and Labour in their local election campaigns is “political on both sides”, according to the former director of women at HM Prison and Probation Service.

31 Mar 2023 Communities

Labour Review Plans For World-First "Trauma-Informed" Criminal Justice System

Labour is carrying out a review into how to create the world’s first “trauma-informed” criminal justice system, as the party also promises to be tough on crime and antisocial behaviour.