Law and the Justice System

Web giants are facing a major crackdown on the worst illegal activity taking place on their platforms.

The Online Safety Bill will now include people smuggling, hate crimes, fraud and revenge porn as ‘priority’ illegal content.

It means tech companies will be forced to protect users from being exposed to such content rather than waiting for it to be flagged.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10478581/Online-Safety-Bill-force-web-giants-protect-users-fraud-hate-crimes.html

Mark Zuckerberg could land in jail if Facebook does not comply with new online safety laws, the culture secretary has warned.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/online-safety-bill-three-criminal-025500125.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr

Social media and online giants should pay compensation to those who have been a victim of fraud when using their sites, the Treasury committee has said in its report on economic crime, alongside a swathe of recommendations for the government.

https://www.ftadviser.com/regulation/2022/02/02/mps-call-for-online-firms-to-compensate-fraud-victims/

The government is consulting on proposals for new laws to improve the cyber resilience of organisations which are important to the UK economy.

This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 10 April 2022

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-for-legislation-to-improve-the-uks-cyber-resilience

A former Bradford social worker who funded a lavish lifestyle using cash swindled from vulnerable victims has been ordered to pay back almost £530,000.

https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-01-19/550000-court-bill-for-ex-social-worker-who-swindled-vulnerable-victims

Victims of fraud have been warned to be on their guard after it was revealed they’re more likely to be targeted a second time.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2022/01/19/fraud-victims-warned-against-becoming-repeat-targets/

Under plans announced by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, the maximum 6-month prison sentence that can currently be handed out by Magistrates is to be doubled to a year – freeing up an estimated 2,000 extra days of Crown Court time annually.

https://westbridgfordwire.com/more-power-given-to-magistrates-courts-to-tackle-case-backlog/

HMCTS published "Evaluation of remote hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic" which assessed the characteristics, experiences and perceptions of court and tribunal users during the pandemic

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040183/Evaluation_of_remote_hearings_v23.pdf

A portfolio of luxury London properties can be sold off and £72 million seized from a Swiss bank account in the pursuit of £300 million stolen by the former head of an international paper company, the High Court has ruled.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/luxury-mayfair-kensington-properties-sold-164018239.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACE9NlAMXuaOZMHaGU7OST07RF5B_tnKUG7mj-KufNWWfZ9gTGQwC00jFq36BWa7EV7nUSlkzOzpy_7sT1H8BzpreWSYavqB4X065mZIT-hgOo3AaavxMDKqPH29Jw-rdxjImXWJMdJE-A1_TFTwdXZqe91LQy_XiFSWdJTxIGiE

The Sentencing Council is providing a new tool for judges sentencing in the Crown Court. SentencingACE allows judges to make a quick, ready-reckoner style check of the sentence they intend to impose and to confirm that all the elements of their sentence are correct in law.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/news/item/council-launches-sentencingace-tool-for-crown-court-judges/