Ministry of Justice – 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 […]

Unclaimed estates list taken down after BBC probe finds evidence of fraud worth millions of pounds

July 9, 2025 World Justice News 0

An official list of people who died without leaving a will has been taken offline, after a BBC investigation found evidence a crime gang was using it to commit fraud worth millions of pounds. The […]

Private data including criminal records stolen in Legal Aid hacking

May 19, 2025 World Justice News 0

A “significant amount” of private data including details of domestic abuse victims has been hacked from Legal Aid’s online system. The Ministry of Justice said the agency’s services were hacked in April and data dating […]

More funding for judges to tackle record court delays

March 5, 2025 World Justice News 0

Ministers have pledged to increase the number of days funded for judges hearing criminal cases in an attempt to cut unprecedented backlogs and delays in Crown Courts in England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice’s […]

magistrates and crown and county courts sign

Scrapping jury trials for some offences may be only way to clear court backlog, says CPS watchdog chief

December 16, 2024 World Justice News 0

“Removing the right to trial by jury” and “intermediate courts” may be the only way to clear the crown court backlog in England and Wales, the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has […]

Daniel Khalife: Former soldier who escaped from Wandsworth Prison guilty of spying for Iran

November 28, 2024 World Justice News 0

A former British soldier who escaped from Wandsworth Prison has been found guilty of spying for Iran. Daniel Khalife, 23, who was a lance corporal in the Royal Signals, used a sling made from trousers […]

‘Immediate action’ taken after blueprints of prisons in England and Wales leaked on dark web

November 24, 2024 World Justice News 0

“Immediate action” is being taken after blueprints of jail layouts were shared online. The maps detailing the layouts of prisons in England and Wales were leaked on the dark web over the past fortnight, according […]

Troubled youth prison is now most violent jail in England

July 16, 2024 World Justice News 0

A troubled youth offenders institution is now the most violent prison in England after a “dramatic” increase in disorder, a watchdog has warned. It follows a report by Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor which […]

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 […]

Radioactive gas in HMP Dartmoor forces dozens of inmates to relocate as cells close down

March 10, 2024 World Justice News 0

HMP Dartmoor has been forced to close off dozens of cells and transfer nearly 200 inmates after radioactive gas was detected in the prison. An elevated presence of radon – an odourless and colourless gas […]

Human Rights

Japan’s same-sex marriage ban is constitutional, says Tokyo court

November 28, 2025 0

A Japanese court has ruled the country’s ban on same-sex marriage as constitutional – bucking a trend set by courts around the country that had raised hopes for marriage equality in Japan. The ruling was […]

Australia

Teenagers launch legal challenge over Australia’s ban on social media for children

November 26, 2025 0

Two teenagers have launched a legal challenge over Australia’s ban on social media for children younger than 16. The challenge comes two weeks before the law, a world first, is set to take effect. It is […]

Human Rights

Major changes to the UK’s asylum system announced

November 18, 2025 0

The home secretary has announced major changes to the UK’s asylum system. Modelled on the policies of Denmark, Shabana Mahmood hopes her proposals will make the country less attractive to illegal migrants and make it […]