Law and the Justice System

Police have warned they don’t have to prove people are criminals to take away their ‘proceeds of crime’ jewellery after officers used special court powers for the first time.

https://westbridgfordwire.com/warning-as-police-seize-6000-in-jewellery-in-case/

London based property developer Richard Leahy has agreed to hand over assets worth almost £2 million to settle a civil recovery claim based on alleged involvement in cannabis cultivation, money laundering and fraud.

https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/nca-recovers-2m-from-london-based-property-developer-and-landlord

The Bar Council and Circuit Leaders have been in close contact with HMCTS to feed in the Bar’s views and seek clarity on how courts will safely operate from 19 July, as the next step in lifting national Covid restrictions takes place. With social distancing no longer required in England from 19 July, HMCTS has reviewed its plans so that it can work within the new public health guidelines to safely increase capacity across courts and tribunals.

https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/court-covid-restrictions-update-from-chair-of-the-bar-and-circuit-leaders.html#.YPbymPByUfA.twitter

A globe-trotting tax consultant who stole £6.9m from construction workers’ pay packets has been ordered to repay £1.7m or face a further four years in jail.

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2021/06/16/payroll-tax-cheat-ordered-to-repay-1-7m/

Important court and tribunal judgments will be available via The National Archives for the first time, increasing transparency and securing free access for all.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-for-open-justice-as-court-judgments-get-new-home

People cheated by fraudsters are being let down by police despite the “staggering” levels of the crime and its damaging impact on lives, the Victims’ Commissioner warned today.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/fraud-victims-let-down-police-104947801.html

This quarter, civil justice actions remain below pre-Covid-19 levels. However, the marked recovery seen last quarter has continued for some actions following the impact of measures undertaken by the courts.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2021/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2021

On Tuesday 2 June, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) updated its guidance on prosecuting standalone ‘failure to disclose’ cases under section 330 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).

https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/anti-money-laundering/cps-issues-new-guidance-on-prosecuting-standalone-failure-to-disclose-offences

The Civil Liability Act reforms went live yesterday with the government promising an end to “greedy opportunism” while claimant representatives deemed it a “sad day for justice”.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/an-end-to-greedy-opportunism-whiplash-reforms-finally-go-live

The charity dedicated to supporting litigants in person has expressed serious concerns about the new Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal and called for more funding for legal support organisations.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/charity-outlines-worries-about-lips-navigating-new-claims-portal