*/
Lord Justice Leveson, the senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has expressed concerns about the high numbers of penalty notices and other out of court disposals of justice.
Speaking at the Liverpool John Moores University’s Roscoe Foundation for Citizenship, in November, Leveson LJ questioned whether the issue of 450,000 penalty notices for disorder and cautions in 2009 was “truly appropriate”.
When issuing these penalties, the police were acting as prosecutor and judge, he said, and while these disposals were not convictions, they “risk ‘criminalising’ people who on a one off occasion do something out of character and who feel that the quickest thing to do is to accept the penalty or caution ... even if further analysis might have revealed no offence.”
Acknowledging the disruption that shoplifters and noisy neighbours can create, he said, “it is obviously a matter of proportion and, in relation to out of court disposals, I make my view clear that we have got the proportion wrong.”
Speaking at the Liverpool John Moores University’s Roscoe Foundation for Citizenship, in November, Leveson LJ questioned whether the issue of 450,000 penalty notices for disorder and cautions in 2009 was “truly appropriate”.
When issuing these penalties, the police were acting as prosecutor and judge, he said, and while these disposals were not convictions, they “risk ‘criminalising’ people who on a one off occasion do something out of character and who feel that the quickest thing to do is to accept the penalty or caution ... even if further analysis might have revealed no offence.”
Acknowledging the disruption that shoplifters and noisy neighbours can create, he said, “it is obviously a matter of proportion and, in relation to out of court disposals, I make my view clear that we have got the proportion wrong.”
Lord Justice Leveson, the senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has expressed concerns about the high numbers of penalty notices and other out of court disposals of justice.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
