criminal justice system – World Justice News

Jury trials could be scrapped in England and Wales except in the most serious cases

November 25, 2025 World Justice News 0

Justice Secretary David Lammy is proposing to massively restrict the ancient right to a jury trial by only guaranteeing it for defendants facing rape, murder, manslaughter or other cases passing a public interest test. An […]

Jury-free trials recommended to save courts from ‘collapse’

July 9, 2025 World Justice News 0

Thousands of cases that would normally be heard in front of a jury should be decided by judges alone, according to recommendations made by a former senior judge. Sir Brian Leveson was asked by the […]

Prisoners could be released up to two months early to ease overcrowding

March 12, 2024 World Justice News 0

Some prisoners could be released up to two months early to relieve overcrowding in jails in England and Wales, the justice secretary has said. Alex Chalk said the policy would only apply to “certain low-level […]

Magistrates to get more powers to jail criminals for longer

January 18, 2022 World Justice News 0

Magistrates in England and Wales will be able to jail criminals for twice as long as they currently can, under plans to clear court backlogs. The government is planning to allow magistrates to hand out […]

England and Wales Courts backlog threatens to overwhelm the justice system

October 30, 2020 World Justice News 0

The number of criminal cases waiting to be dealt with by Crown Courts threatens to overwhelm the justice system in England and Wales, a study suggests. A backlog in the courts hearing the most serious […]

Teenagers convicted of terrorism could be jailed for life

September 13, 2020 World Justice News 0

Teenagers convicted of terrorism in England and Wales could receive whole-life terms under sentencing reforms described by the government as the most radical in almost 20 years. Currently, a life tariff can only be given […]

Kenya judge accused of coaching murder suspect

February 23, 2020 World Justice News 0

A Kenyan judge has been arrested and accused of coaching the main suspect in a murder trial – a widow whose husband was found in a septic tank. Appeal Court Judge Sankale ole Kantai did […]

Jailed Pennsylvania cancer patient sparks debate over justice

February 3, 2020 World Justice News 0

The case of a Pennsylvania cancer patient sentenced to up to seven years in prison for shoplifting has sparked a debate over the justice system. Ashley Menser, 36, who has ovarian and cervical cancer, was […]

Streatham attack: Emergency terror law to end early prisoner release

February 3, 2020 World Justice News 0

Emergency legislation will be introduced to end the automatic early release from prison of terror offenders, the government has said. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told MPs the change would apply to both current and future […]

TV cameras to be allowed in Crown Courts in England and Wales

January 15, 2020 World Justice News 0

TV cameras are to be allowed to film in Crown Courts in England and Wales for the first time. New legislation being laid before Parliament will allow judges’ sentencing remarks in serious high-profile criminal cases […]

Human Rights

Double murderer awarded £7,500 compensation over human rights breaches

January 2, 2026 0

A double murderer has been awarded £7,500 compensation by the High Court over breaches of his human rights. Fuad Awale, who is serving a life sentence for shooting two teenagers in the head in 2011, […]

Human Rights

US plans to start checking all tourists’ social media

December 10, 2025 0

All tourists – including those from Britain – will have to undergo a social media screening before being allowed entry into the US under new plans being considered by the country’s border force. At the […]

Australia

Children locked out of social media apps after Australia’s world-first ban

December 10, 2025 0

Australia’s world-first social media ban for children has taken effect, with throngs of teenagers waking up to find their accounts have gone dark. Others tell BBC they have already snuck past barriers and will continue […]