Category: Latest News

There are approximately 500,000 listed buildings in England alone, with some 92% being Grade II. A building is listed when it is of special architectural or historic interest in a national context. Listed buildings have extra legal protection within the planning system. Listing covers a whole building, including the interior, unless parts of it are… Continue reading Listed Building Consent – Avoiding Court

The Howard League for Penal Reform launched The Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling in 2019, and it is scheduled to end next year. The Commission seeks to answer three questions: What are the links between problem gambling and crime? What impact do these links have on communities and society? What should be done? A… Continue reading Problem Gambling and Crime

As fireworks are explosives, there are strict laws governing the sale, possession and use of them. The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper, providing a detailed overview of the current provisions.   In brief Since January 2005, the sale of fireworks to the public has been prohibited, except from licensed traders. There… Continue reading Regulation of Fireworks

Even before the pandemic, there was a backlog in the criminal courts, which has worsened. The National Audit Office (NAO) has now produced a report on reducing that backlog. The NAO is the independent public spending watchdog; they produce reports examining government expenditure to judge whether value for money has been achieved. They also make… Continue reading Backlog in Criminal Courts

George Floyd dying in the USA in 2020 resulted in mass protests worldwide and marked a watershed in the fight against racism. In the aftermath of his death, the United Nations has produced a report analysing racial justice. The report found that the police use of racial profiling and excessive force was systemic in much… Continue reading Racial Discrimination – UN Report

The Sentencing Academy has produced a report reviewing ethnicity and custodial sentencing trends from 2009 to 2019. Over the years, several official reports have addressed the role of race and ethnicity in sentencing decisions. The current report looked at sentencing patterns for different offender profiles with two key issues that emerged. The first was ethnic… Continue reading Sentencing And Ethnicity

Southern Water has been fined £90 million after pleading guilty to 6.971 unpermitted sewage discharges which polluted rivers and coastal waters in Kent, Hampshire and Sussex. The offences were held to be caused by deliberate failings; they were widespread and long term breaches causing major harm to protected areas, conservation sites and oyster beds.   The… Continue reading Record Environmental Agency Prosecution

The Sentencing Council produces guidelines on sentencing for the judiciary and criminal justice professionals. The aim is to promote greater consistency in sentencing whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The guidelines set sentencing ranges within the maximum for the offence and must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would not be… Continue reading Trade Mark Offences – New Sentencing Guidelines