Lord Greville Janner will now be prosecuted

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has reversed her earlier decision not to prosecute Lord Greville Janner on 22 counts of sexual offences allegedly committed against children - see the announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).  My blogpost on the earlier decision may be read here. 

The various counts are set out in the announcement and are all under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.  The law as it stood at the time of the alleged offences is used.

The reversal of the decision follows a "Victims Right to Review" process instigated by six of the complainants and conducted by David Perry QC.

The CPS statement notes that:

It's been quite a week .... a Sunday roundup

It's been quite a week.  

Reaction to Gove:

The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Rt Hon Michael Gove MP) spoke to the Legatum Institute and, in carefully chosen words and flowing phrases, stuck the boot into the manifold inefficiencies (summed up here by The Brighton Brief) in the day-to-day operation of our system of justice brought about largely due to his own department's policies over the last five or so years.  Of course, Gove gave no indication that any of those policies would be changed and so the Two Nation justice system of which Gove spoke seems set to continue.

Numerous comments and articles have appeared about Gove's speech.  My own look at Gove's speech is here and here are some of the others:

The Independent 27th June 2015 - Sarah Forshaw QC - These false economies are costing us all dear

Law Society Gazette 23rd June - Can wealthy lawyers really plug the justice gap?

Lord Chief Justice speech on Judicial Leadership ~ Modernising the court system

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, gave a speech on 22nd June at University College London - Judicial Leadership  Lord Thomas looks at the role of the judiciary in leading and shaping reform to (or overhaul of) the justice system.  An interview with Lord Thomas is available at BBC Law in Action.  The interviewer is Joshua Rozenberg.

A great deal of work is going on behind the scenes to try to improve the justice system.  For example, there is a considerable reform programme underway within Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) aimed at developing future ways of delivering justice.  Much more about this work ought to be revealed to the media and general public and perhaps, following the speech on 23rd June by the Secretary of State for Justice / Lord Chancellor, that will happen.

It will be essential that any reforms

Speech by the Secretary of State for Justice ~ brief comment

Michael Gove - appointed after the general election as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor - has delivered his first major policy speech - What does a one nation justice policy look like.  It is a speech with many fine-sounding, flowing phrases and he promises to defend the rule of law but there is no commitment whatsoever to reverse any of the policies (e.g. legal aid cuts) imposed by his two predecessors.  Instead, his department is pressing ahead with policies such as further cuts to solicitor remuneration in criminal work.

Gove said that he wishes to address the "dangerous inequality" of the two-tier civil justice system but he certainly does not wish to lose the lucrative international legal services market offered in the UK - worth £20 billion per year to the economy.  He sees investment in more information technology (IT) as key to improving matters for the more usual litigator and he wishes to see more streamlined legal procedures including online dispute resolution.  Gove also referred to having fewer formal hearings in some cases, use of online solutions to disputes, telephone and video hearings and simpler processes for probate and divorce.  Successful law firms are to be asked to do more to assist people to obtain access to justice.  "When it comes to investing in access to justice then it is clear to me that it is fairer to ask our most successful legal professionals to contribute a little more ..." 

In the criminal justice system, he says that the reports by Sir Bill Jeffrey’s report on criminal advocacy and Sir Brian Leveson on Efficiency in Criminal Proceedings will be implemented.  Gove is right to complain here of matters such as late arrival of detainees (who are delivered to court by security firms), broken video links, late service of paper bundles, too many hearings in some cases and uncertain arrangements for attendance of witnesses.  All of these things are well known to court users but efficiency has improved only marginally in recent years.

It is clear that Gove has to work against a huge financial constraint imposed by the Treasury and there are bound to be further reductions in the court estate and, no doubt, staff reductions.

Summer Solstice ~ a few items

* No jury required today *

Remember the trial, in South Africa, of Oscar Pistorius?   Writing in Counsel Magazine, Ian Glen QC, offers an interesting and robust view of how the trial might have proceeded here in the Crown Court - A Rainbow's Light on our jury system

On the subject of juries in criminal cases, Joshua Rozenberg has expressed the view that defendants might be permitted to waive their right to jury trial - The Guardian 18th June.  This, it is argued, would save the State money and, for that, a sentencing discount might be permissible.  Rozenberg has picked up on the report by Sir Brian Leveson - Review of Efficiency in Criminal Proceedings.  I suspect that this suggestion, if adopted by Parliament, would eventually spell the end of jury trial - a centuries old right in serious cases.  Having said this, there is merit in extending the jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Courts to enable them to handle cases sufficiently serious to merit up to 12 months imprisonment though this issue inevitably gets tangled up with the question of whether there would be greater use of imprisonment - see Transform Justice 9th November 2014. 

The new government is pushing ahead with certain reforms to criminal legal aid.  These are set out in a written statement to the House of Commons by justice minister Shailesh Vara MP.   There is widespread anger in the legal profession about these proposals though what action lawyers may or may not take remains to be seen* - see Message from the Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association.  See also The Guardian 10th June. 
 
The Director of the Legal Aid Agency has seen his remuneration "package" reach around £225,000 pa - Salary of Director.   The 2014-15 report by the Director of Legal Aid Casework
is of considerable interest.

* Addendum 25th June:

Joint Statement by Liverpool Solicitors and Barristers - Over 100 barristers and solicitors met this morning to discuss the future of our profession. Every Chambers in the city, and the vast majority of solicitors were represented. The room was unanimous that the introduction of 8.75% cuts to Solicitor’s fees is untenable ......

Family Court ~ Ethan Williams case ~ judgments published

The Judiciary has published a number of judgments in connection with the Ethan Williams case - they may be read on the public Judiciary website and should be read by those interested in the facts of this matter.

Ethan's mother, Rebecca Minnock, went into hiding with her son Ethan, after the Family Court in Bristol ordered that Ethan should live with his father, Roger Williams.  The judgments, unlike most of the media coverage, give a balanced and nuanced view of this very difficult case, and show the family court’s skill in managing the unfortunate situation.

The case is in the Family Court before His Honour Judge Wildblood QC who is sitting as a judge of the High Court.  An excellent discussion of the case may be read at Cambridge Family Law Practice. 

Deprivation of Liberty ~ Coroner's Inquests and other matters

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards continue to raise problems.  The law is to be found in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Schedule A1 (Hospital and Care Home Residents: Deprivation of Liberty).  Age UK publish a useful factsheet. 

Increased number of applications:

In Bournemouth Borough Council v PS and DS [2015] EWCOP 39, Mostyn J called for the Supreme Court to review its decision in Cheshire West which was concerned with when an individual is deprived of liberty - P v Cheshire West and Chester Council [2014] UKSC 19 and press summary.  Having noted the considerable increase in the number of DOL applications since Cheshire West, the learned judge commented -

The Elephant Test ~ Deprivation of Liberty

In what has become known as the "Cheshire West" case, the Supreme Court of the UK set out the test to be applied in deciding whether the care and/or treatment of those lacking capacity to consent amounted to deprivation of liberty - P v Cheshire West and Chester Council [2014] UKSC 19 and press summary.   The Supreme Court's judgment has provoked considerable discussion - for example, Royal College of Psychiatrists and Justice Gap - A gilded Cage is still a Cage.   The key feature of deprivation of liberty is, according to the Supreme Court, whether the person is under continuous supervision and control and is not free to leave.  The court added that the person's compliance or lack of objection, the relative normality of the placement and the purpose behind it are all irrelevant to this objective question.

One major consequence of the Cheshire West decision was

Compensation for Miscarriage of Justice

UPDATE 12th April 2016: R (Hallam and Nealon) v Secretary of State for Justice [2016] EWCA Civ 355.  The appeal from the decision discussed below.

Original Post:

In some (currently very limited circumstances), the State is obliged to pay compensation for miscarriage of justice.  In enacting the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the government managed to persuade Parliament to limit the law so that compensation is only payable if a NEW fact (or some NEWLY discovered fact) demonstrates, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the individual did not commit the offence.  In essence, semantics apart, this requires proof of innocence with a heavy burden - (effectively, the criminal standard reversed) - placed on the individual claiming compensation.  

It might well be thought that the refusal of compensation

Strasbourg ~ a note on two more important UK cases to be heard in the Grand Chamber

Here is a note about two further cases from the United Kingdom which are now before the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber.


Hutchinson v. the United Kingdom (no. 57592/08) - Whole Life Term for Murder - Article 3 of the Convention

Decision of the European Court of Human Rights Fourth Section - 5th February 2015

The applicant, Arthur Hutchinson, is a British national who was born in 1941 and is detained in Her Majesty’s Prison Durham (the United Kingdom). In September 1984 Mr Hutchinson was convicted of aggravated burglary, rape and three counts of murder, the trial judge sentencing him to a term of life imprisonment with a recommended minimum tariff of 18 years. In December 1994 the Secretary of State informed Mr Hutchinson

Investigative Powers ~ an important report

Updated

The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation fulfills a vital role in the scrutiny of powers given to the executive and law enforcement agencies.

In 2014, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIP) was hurriedly enacted in just four days.  This added to the complex web of statutory provisions enabling some 600 public bodies to obtain information.

The Independent Reviewer (David Anderson QC) has issued a report containing  124 recommendations to seek to improve the law relating to Investigative Powers - A Question of Trust.  Primarily, Anderson calls for a comprehensive and comprehensible new law to be drafted from scratch.  A key recommendation is for greater judicial involvement in the issuing of interception warrants.  Last year, the Home Secretary issued over 2000 such warrants.  Whether Ministers will be willing to relinquish such a power remains to be seen.

Some comment

The Naked Rambler

Stephen Gough - also known as "The Naked Rambler" - has appeared (in the nude) via Video Link before the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) - BBC News .

The appeal was against his conviction (in October 2014) for Breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).  Mr Gough had requested to appear naked during the trial (held in Winchester) but the judge refused and the case was heard in his absence.   He was convicted of breaching the ASBO and a sentence of 30 months imprisonment was imposed.   Breach of an ASBO was an offence, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, under section 1 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.  The Court of Appeal dismissed Mr Gough's appeal.

There is a tendency

Car Parking ~ £85 overstay charge upheld

Parking Eye Ltd v Barry Beavis [2015] EWCA Civ 402 is an interesting case heard by the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) in April 2015.   In the County Court (before His Honour Judge Moloney QC), Mr Beavis had lost his claim to recover a charge of £85 for overstaying in a car park at Riverside Retail Park in Chelmsford.  Mr Beavis took the case to the Court of Appeal where the County Court decision was upheld.

There is a long standing rule of law that the courts will not enforce unconscionable charges but when will that rule be applied?  That is the principal interest in this case.  The Court of Appeal considered that whether a charge is justifiable is not simply a matter of

Jean Charles de Menezes case to be heard at Strasbourg

Addendum 1:  Webcast of the E Ct HR hearing

Addendum 2: Links added to various materials 

On Wednesday (10th June), the European Court of European Rights (E Ct HR) Grand Chamber will hear the case of Armani Da Silva v. the United Kingdom (no. 5878/08) which arises from the shooting in 2005 of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Station, London - The Guardian 3rd June 2015.

The following is as published by the E Ct HR:-

The E Ct HR press release:

The applicant, Patricia Armani Da Silva, is a Brazilian national who was born in 1974 and lives in Thornton Heath, London. The case concerns her complaint about the police’s fatal shooting of her cousin, Jean Charles de Menezes, aged 27, who was mistakenly identified as a terrorist suspect and shot dead on 22 July 2005 by two special firearms officers (SFOs) at Stockwell London Underground Station. The shooting

Withdrawal from the European Convention of Human Rights ~ a thorny and difficult question

Update 7th July - Withdrawal from the Convention does not seem to be part of government policy.  At least this was said in debates in Parliament discussed in this blogpost.

Since the General Election, Human Rights (and their protection in the United Kingdom) have received enormous coverage from legal commentators including several posts on this blog -


Why we need human rights (1) - 17 year olds and the law
Why we need human rights (2) - Right to Life
Why we need human rights (3) - Mental health
Why we need human rights (4) - Gender, Civil Partnerships and Same sex marriage
Why we need human rights (5) - Cases since 1975

and, in another post, a debate in the House of Lords on 1st June was considered.  Speaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister refused to rule out withdrawing the United Kingdom from the European Convention on Human Rights - The Guardian 3rd June - (the debate is here).  "Withdrawal" was not a Conservative Party manifesto commitment and it was not mentioned in the Queen's Speech though the possibility was referred to by the Conservative Party in the autumn of 2014.

Background:

It is necessary to remember

In Parliament ~ Bills ~ Human Rights (Japanese Knotweed)

"The Conservative Party has included in its manifestos since 2002 its desire to create a British Bill of Rights and to abolish the Human Rights Act. It has had a lot of time: it has set up committees and had the benefit of lawyers on the Conservative side advising it. Why is it that it cannot put together a coherent Bill?" - Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws QC

Bills before Parliament:

Parliament's website now has details of Bills currently under consideration  - Parliament Bills.   17 Bills are listed and 7 are government bills.  The latter have the greater chance of eventually becoming law.  The government bills are:

Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill [HL] 
Childcare Bill [HL] 
Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill [HL]
European Union Referendum Bill 
High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill 
Psychoactive Substances Bill [HL] 
Scotland Bill 

The House of Lords debate on the Queen's Speech