What's New – 2005 archive
Government launches Consultation on Juries in Wales/ Y Llywodraeth yn lansio ymgynghoriad ar reithgorau yng nghymru
19 Dec 2005
Should it be possible for a jury in Wales to speak Welsh as well as English? That is the question posed following the publication of a consultation paper today titled: The use of bilingual (English and Welsh-speaking) juries in certain criminal trials in Wales.
Government Proposes New Compensation Arrangements and Better Support for Victims of Crime
07 Dec 2005
Victims Minister Fiona Mactaggart today announced proposals for wide-ranging reforms to improve services for victims of crime, including changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Falconer launches drug courts
05 Dec 2005
The next stage in the Government's drive against drug abuse was given a boost today with the launch of two courts aimed at hitting the scourge of drug induced crime.
Improving Standards for Witnesses
28 Nov 2005
Home Office Minister Fiona Mactaggart today set out the national standards for services to all prosecution and defence witnesses with the publication of the Witness Charter consultation.
New Sentencing Guidelines Launched on Manslaughter by Reason of Provocation and Robbery
28 Nov 2005
The Sentencing Guidlines Council publish final manslaughter guideline based on degree of provocation and draft Robbery guideline which recommends custodial sentences and takes victims' rights into account.
A Single Inspectorate for Justice, Community Safety and Custody
21 Nov 2005
The blueprint for a new single inspectorate for justice, community safety and custody has been published by the Home Office, Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Attorney General today.
Top Justice Professionals Honoured at the Justice Awards 2005
03 Nov 2005
Hardworking and innovative people working in the criminal justice system were rewarded today when Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland announced the winners of the Government's second annual Justice Awards.
Quarterly performance figures for Local Criminal Justice Boards published
27 Oct 2005
The latest quarterly regional performance figures for the Criminal Justice System are published today.
Recognising Bravery in Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour
26 Oct 2005
The third year of the Taking A Stand Awards which pay tribute to the courage and bravery of local people who have taken a stand against anti-social behaviour were launched by Home Office Minister Hazel Blears today.
Victims' needs must be a priority for prosecutors
21 Oct 2005
Victims of crime will today for the first time, be able to see the level of service they should expect from prosecutors as their case progresses through the Criminal Justice System.
Harriet Harman Opens First Community Justice Centre
20 Oct 2005
North Liverpool Community Justice Centre, the first of its kind in England and Wales, was officially opened today in its new home in the city, as part of Inside Justice Week 2005.
Publication of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime - Information, Protection and Support for all Victims
19 Oct 2005
A new code which will give victims statutory rights for the first time was laid before Parliament today by Home Office Minister Fiona Mactaggart as part of the Government's work to offer better support and advice to victims of crime and their families.
Report on Black and Minority Ethnic people's perceptions of fair treatment by the Criminal Justice System
18 Oct 2005
The Criminal Justice System (CJS) Race Unit today publishes a report detailing views from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people who attended focus groups run by the market research company MORI. The report was compiled from the views of these focus group attendees on questions around perceptions of fair treatment by the CJS. 16 groups across the country from London to Manchester were asked the same questions and these views were brought together by MORI.
More Specialist Courts to Beat Domestic Violence
18 Oct 2005
More courts are to be equipped to specialise in dealing with domestic violence cases, it was announced today. The Government has chosen 25 court areas (including seven existing schemes) to continue the new approach, which has already shown striking results.
Outstanding contributions to criminal justice honoured as Inside Justice Week kicks off
17 Oct 2005
Helping the victims of human trafficking, working with prisoners to record and edit stories for their children and keeping young people out of trouble through Medieval history – this is just some of the work being done by the finalists of the Justice Awards which are announced today to mark the beginning of Inside Justice Week.
Inside Justice Week brings more support for victims of crime
17 Oct 2005
New measures to help victims and witnesses of crime and greater involvement of local communities in the Criminal Justice System are two of the key themes for the second Inside Justice Week, running across England and Wales on 17-23 October.
No place to hide for bail bandits obstructing justice
06 Oct 2005
Defendants who skip bail are being tracked down more effectively and causing less disruption to criminal trials, according to figures published today in the Government's response to the Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) report Facing Justice: Tackling Defendants' Non-Attendance at court.
Consultation on assaults and other offences against the person
01 Sep 2005
Assaults and other offences against the person are dealt with by the courts every day and there is a large amount of case law but there are no comprehensive guideline judgments. The Sentencing Advisory Panel has today issued another in its series of consultation papers about sentencing in criminal cases.
Crackdown on violent pornography
30 Aug 2005
Home Office Minister Paul Goggins today announced that the Government intends to ban possession of extreme pornographic material, and published a consultation paper inviting views on the proposals.
Home Secretary responds to draft sentencing guideline on manslaughter by reason of provocation
05 Aug 2005
In May this year, the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) - an independent body comprising members of the judiciary, police, legal professions and those with substantial experience of promoting the interests of victims - published draft guidelines for judges dealing with cases where offenders are found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder, on the basis they were severely provoked.
Communities Receive Cash Boost to Tackle Gun Crime
05 Aug 2005
Communities working to tackle gun and knife crime are to receive a quarter of a million pounds, Home Office Minister Fiona Mactaggart announced today.
Community Justice arrives in Eccles
28 Jul 2005
The Government announced today that Eccles has been selected as the area that will initially benefit from the Salford Community Justice Initiative (CJI). The CJI, which will begin hearing cases in November 2005, will specifically target "quality of life" crimes and anti-social behaviour in the Eccles, Winton and Barton wards of Salford.
Quarterly performance figures for Local Criminal Justice Boards published
28 Jul 2005
The latest quarterly regional performance figures for the Criminal Justice System are published today, 28 July.
Police Numbers Reach Record High
26 Jul 2005
Police numbers have reached a record level of more than 141,000, Home Office Minister Paul Goggins announced today. For the first time ever, all groups across the police service - Police Officers, Special Constables, Community Support Officers (CSOs) and Police Staff - have seen an increase in staff numbers.
More efficient justice for victims and witnesses
21 Jul 2005
Victims and witnesses are set to benefit from a more efficient justice system following improvements to the management of criminal cases announced today.
Government Announce Fundamental Review of Murder Law
21 Jul 2005
Home Office Minister Fiona Mactaggart today unveiled the terms of reference for the first comprehensive review of murder law for more than fifty years.
Justice Awards 2005 Launched Today
04 Jul 2005
The 2005 Justice Awards have now been launched on the CJS online website, where you will be able to nominate an individual or team for this year's awards, which are to be held at the Institute of Directors in November.
Government limits risks to justice
21 Jun 2005
The Attorney General Lord Goldsmith announced today that the Government will take forward measures for non-jury trials in serious fraud cases later this year.
Criminals Stripped of £84 Million
14 Jun 2005
Criminal assets worth a record £84 million have been recovered during the last year, Home Office Minister Paul Goggins announced today. The record figure for the year 2004-2005, compared with £54.5 million recovered the previous year, is the result of new powers introduced by the Government in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Protecting Our Communities: Violent Crime Reduction Bill Published.
08 Jun 2005
Home Office Minister Hazel Blears announced a comprehensive package of measures today to combat violent crime. The Violent Crime Reduction Bill will ensure that police and local communities have the necessary powers to reduce violent crimes involving imitation guns, knives and alcohol in their neighbourhood.
Quarterly performance figures for Local Criminal Justice Boards published
26 May 2005
The latest quarterly regional performance figures for the Criminal Justice System are published today.
New draft Sentencing Guidelines on 'manslaughter by reason of provocation' published
09 May 2005
The Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) - an independent body comprising members of the judiciary, police, legal professions and those with substantial experience of promoting the interests of victims - has published draft guidelines for judges dealing with cases where offenders are found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder, on the basis they were severely provoked.
Her Majesty's Courts Service begins today
01 Apr 2005
More offenders will be brought to justice, victims and witnesses will have better facilities for giving evidence and enforcement of court orders will be even tougher under Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) which begins operating today.
Local Criminal Justice Boards celebrate two years of improved justice performance
01 Apr 2005
More offences brought to justice, better support for victims and witnesses and a more efficient justice process - Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) are today celebrating their achievements on their second birthday.
Bail bandits brought to book as Attorney General hails Operation Turn-up success
23 Mar 2005
Valentine's cards, Christmas cards, newspaper name and shame campaigns - these are just a few of the methods that have been used in a successful crackdown on bail bandits running since the New Year.
Inspection Reform - Establishing an Inspectorate for Justice and Community Safety
23 Mar 2005
The proposals outlined in this consultation document 'Inspection Reform: Establishing an Inspectorate for Justice and Community Safety' will achieve a stronger inspectorate for the criminal justice system that focuses on assuring the public, driving improvements in services, whilst reducing the burden on the front line by adopting a risk based approach.
Protecting children and vulnerable adults - a new offence of familial homicide
21 Mar 2005
A new offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult has come into force.
No place to hide from court penalties with National Enforcement Service
15 Mar 2005
Fine dodgers, bail bandits and those who think they can ignore the order of the court will be brought to book by a specialist team of enforcement officers, in a new National Enforcement Service Lord Falconer said today.
Prevention of Terrorism Bill Receives Royal Assent
14 Mar 2005
The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 received Royal Assent on Friday. The Act introduces a system of control orders designed to disrupt and prevent terrorist activity.
New Centre Will Speed Up Justice
10 Mar 2005
The country's first justice centre offering access to criminal and civil justice services under one roof was today officially opened in Nuneaton by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
Recommendations For Deportation Consultation
08 Mar 2005
The Sentencing Advisory Panel has today issued another in its series of consultation papers about sentencing in criminal cases.
Consultation on Victims Code of Practice launched
07 Mar 2005
The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) have published a consultation on the Victims' Code of Practice - a document which will give victims of crime statutory rights for the first time.
New Report on Young Black Men as Victims of Crime
23 Feb 2005
The Criminal Justice System Race Unit and Victims and Confidence Unit have published a report of research into the experiences of young Black Men as victims of crime. The report found scope for making services for victims of crime more accessible to young Black men and makes recommendations to organisations both inside and outside the CJS as to how to achieve this.
Crown Court Ineffective Trials fall by a third
26 Jan 2005
Ineffective trials in the Crown Court have fallen by a third, according to statistics published today by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. An ineffective trial is when a hearing or trial is postponed on the day it was due to go ahead.
National Blitz On Defendants Skipping Bail
17 Jan 2005
Defendants who skip bail are to face a crackdown. "Operation Turn-up" will take place as a series of local blitzes targeting those who fail to appear at court. Police officers will appear at defendants' homes, work places, or wherever they may be, and bring them back to court to face justice.
Police Crackdown On Class A Drug Dealers
12 Jan 2005
Local class A drug markets across the country are to be targeted in a three-month co-ordinated police campaign called 'Operation Crackdown'.