Justice Committee ~ The Magistracy

On 22nd March the House of Commons Justice Committee took evidence on the role of the magistracy.  I am sure that many will find the session interesting - to say the least!  You may have to wait a few seconds for the video playback to appear.

R v Adam Johnson

Crown Court ~ Bradford

Updated - with link to sentencing remarks 

Former Sunderland professional footballer Adam Johnson will come before a judge at the Crown Court in Bradford today for sentencing on 3 counts:  Two of sexual activity with a child (Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 9) and one offence of Meeting a child following sexual grooming (Sexual Offences Act 2003 section 15).

Undercover Policing Inquiry

Pitchford LJ

Concerns about undercover policing have been rumbling on for some time - Guardian article by Helen Steel 23rd March 2016 "Under cover police spied on me.  Who else did they do it to?"

An Inquiry - being held under the Inquiries Act 2005 - is underway under the chairmanship of Lord Justice Pitchford - Inquiry website.  The Inquiry opened 28th July 2015 when the chairman made his Opening Remarks.  More details of the Inquiry are available HERE and see the Terms of Reference.

Operation Midland ends. The question of anonymity.

Operation Midland, an investigation by the Metropolitan Police into allegations of a VIP paedophile ring,  has been concluded without any charges being brought.  See the BBC News report 21st March ; Telegraph "Operation Midland: The story behind the Met's controversial VIP paedophile ring investigation" and the Statement by the Metropolitan Police.

Imprisonment for Public Protection ~ R v Roberts and others

As at 4 March 2016, there are over 4,000 still in custody under a sentence of IPP (about 5% of the total prison population) and a significant further number who are subject to the licence terms of their IPP and therefore still subject to recall to continue to serve their sentence of IPP  

Happy Valley ~ a look at some of the legal angles

The BBC's crime drama "Happy Valley" has just completed its second series.  It was full of legal interest.  Set in and around West Yorkshire's Calder Valley, this gritty and sometimes violent story line was centred on Police Sergeant Cawood played by Sarah Lancashire and the various people she encountered as part of her work including a young man - Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) - who is the father of Cawood's grandson.  Royce is a dangerous individual who copes with life by taking control of everything and everyone around him.

UK and the EU (6) - Will BREXIT be a simple process?

There will undoubtedly be many members of the public thinking that a BREXIT vote on 23rd June to leave the European Union (EU) will mean that the UK is out immediately.    Nothing could be further from the truth since the legal process for withdrawal will be via Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU50) which was briefly looked at in BREXIT - Referendum - a few points (20th February 2016).  This is, as yet, an untested process and the "smart money" is on things taking a long time given the very extensive impact that the EU has had on national law.