CPACD

Good Friday 2018 .  Easter and Christmas are the greatest of Christian Festivals.  The story of Easter is well-known.  Pontius Pilate - faced with the baying mob - allowed Christ to be crucified.  Whatever the truth of those long-ago terrible events, we can think ourselves lucky that we live under the Rule of Law in the United Kingdom and that it is a law which places great emphasis on civil liberty and the rights of the individual against the State. Nonetheless, it would be immensely foolish to take such matters for granted.  We need to have good Policing to investigate offending and to bring those charged before the courts.  Once at court we need to have the prosecution conducted fairly but robustly and the fearless independence of the judges, juries and magistrates is to be defended at all times.  Historically, rights such as the right to a fair trial have been hard-fought and have not been readily granted by a benevolent State.  There are ser...

Update 20 November 2018 - The Guardian - John Worboys is to stay in prison: but why was his release ever recommended? On Wednesday 28th March, the High Court handed down judgment in the judicial review proceedings connected with John Radford - also known as John Worboys - R (on the application of DSD and NBV) v The Parole Board of England and Wales and others and John Radford   [2018] EWHC 694 (Admin). Background: On 13th March 2009, taxi driver John Worboys - now known as John Radford - was convicted of a number of offences, including one count of rape, a number of sexual assaults and 12 counts of administering a substance with intent.   He was sentenced by Mr Justice Penry-Davey to imprisonment for public protection (IPP) and ordered to serve a minimum term of 8 years before his release could be considered by the parole board.   In early January 2018 it came to light that the Parole Board   had decided that John Radford could be released on licence...

On 18th March 2018, following a road traffic accident, Anthony David "Ant" McPartlin was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol contrary to the Road Traffic Act 1988 section 5 . Media reports - e.g. Yorkshire Post 19th March - inform us that Mr McPartlin was subsequently " released under investigation ."  The investigation referred to presumably relates to the detail of the accident which involved 3 vehicles.  A number of individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and a child passenger from one of the cars was taken to hospital to be checked as a precaution. Regarding driving with excess alcohol, the Road Traffic Act 1988 sets down the process to be followed by the Police including section 7 dealing with the taking of samples of breath, blood or urine.   Under section 8 , the sample with the lower of proportion of alcohol in the breath is the one used in any prosecution. This process of " release under investigation " came ...

The European Council, meeting in an EU27 format, adopted the guidelines on the framework for a future relationship with the UK after Brexit. The Commission's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, updated the EU27 heads of state or government on the state of play of the Brexit negotiations. The EU wants to have the closest possible partnership with the UK, which would cover trade and economic cooperation, security and defence, among other areas. However, EU 27 leaders noted that UK's current positions "limit the depth of such a future partnership." See the Guidelines 23rd March 2018 The following continue to apply and “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”: European Council (Art 50) Guidelines - 29th April 2017 European Council (Art. 50) guidelines for Brexit negotiations, 15 December 2017 European Parliament Resolution 14 th March 2018 .  

A lady was arrested in Sheffield.  She was protesting about the felling of trees and was, seemingly to the annoyance of a "member of the public", blowing a "toy trumpet."  It would appear that the same member of the public was unperturbed by the chain saw noise!  It is not clear why the Police felt it necessary to prioritise the complaint over her seemingly mild protest. The story is briefly reported in the media - e.g. The Sun 23rd March - Police said the arrest on Rivelin Valley Road on the outskirts of the city had been made following a complaint about the horn-blowing from a member of the public.   A police spokeswoman said: "A 57-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of causing intentional harm or distress, under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986 . She has been reported on summons." The Guardian report 22nd March - offers a link to a VIDEO of the events in Sheffield.  The Guardian highlights some other arrests - "A 49-year-old man was ...