Inquiry needed into Labour involvement in Gaddafi’s big tent - Davey

"We will need a far wider-ranging inquiry to really get to the bottom of this," said Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary. Commenting on the news that Jack Straw will be questioned by the Justice Committee over the release of Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi, Edward Davey said:

“Jack Straw has many questions to answer on his involvement in this issue, so it is right that he comes before a Parliamentary committee.

“But with daily revelations about the role of Brown, Mandelson and Blair in murky dealings with Libya, we will need a far wider-ranging inquiry to really get to the bottom of this.

“Parliament must set up a far-reaching investigation into recent UK-Libya relations which will call all those ministers involved to account. We need to get the truth from all the Labour figures who have been drawn into Gadaffi’s big tent.”

Pickles backs campaign to save election night

Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles has given his support to an online campaign to save the traditional election night ballot count.

As news spread that a number of councils are considering postponing the counting of ballots until the day after the General Election, an online campaign was set up yesterday to lobby for the traditional election night.

Led by Jonathan Isaby of ConservativeHome.com, and backed by activists from other parties, the campaign group on Facebook has been gathering momentum today.

Pickles has given the campaign his full support. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, he has called for guidance to be issued to local authorities encouraging them to maintain the traditional practice of counting on election night:

"At a time when interest and trust in politics is at such a low ebb, it would be a retrograde step to suck all the interest out of the most important and vibrant part of our democratic process. One only has to look to June’s European Parliamentary Count to see how the whole process had all the impact of a soggy sparkler on Bonfire Night."

In an attempt to build a cross-party consensuse he has also written to his counterparts in the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, urging them to back the campaign.

Click here to join the "Save General Election Night" Facebook group

STRAW CONFIRMS BP OIL DEAL PART OF LIBYAN PTA

“MACASKILL RIGHT TO REJECT TAINTED PTA”

Commenting on an interview with Jack Straw in which he accepts that trade deals including a BP oil deal resulted in the UK Government switching position and including Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi in a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya, having previously agreed with the Scottish Government that he should be excluded from the PTA, SNP MP and Westminster Leader Angus Robertson said:

"The Prisoner Transfer Agreement was always tainted – Jack Straw is now admitting it – and Kenny MacAskill was absolutely right to reject the PTA application. Jack Straw's admission that trade was at the heart of the UK Government’s actions over al-Megrahi confirms the wisdom of the Scottish Government in opposing this Prisoner Transfer Agreement from the start, and of the Justice Secretary in rejecting the application.

"In contrast to the UK Government’s dodgy deal in the desert, Scotland’s Justice Secretary made his decision to grant compassionate release to send al-Megrahi back to Libya to die on judicial grounds alone, according to the due process of Scots Law. Kenny Macaskill made the right decision for the right reasons, which is why support has surged forward to 45%, while opposition has fallen to the same level.”

Davey: Blair must come clean on torture or quit as MidEast envoy

Reacting to the allegations that Tony Blair knew about secret interrogation guidance for British intelligence officers who became aware of the torture of suspects, Edward Davey said; "Surely Tony Blair cannot hold the position of Middle East Envoy when he stands accused of breaking the UN Convention against torture".

Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary said; "He needs to either make clear what he knew about the torture policy or stand down as envoy. He cannot have it both ways."

"There are also serious questions to answer for both Jack Straw and David Blunkett. They had oversight of MI6 and MI5 at the time, and should have known about any guidance their agents had been given."

Edward Davey called for a debate over the guidance regarding the abuse of suspects under interrogation provided to the security services at Business Questions in Parliament today.

Ed concluded that "Parliament must be allowed a debate on the issue of oversight of guidance on interrogation and the current Justice Secretary, given his long-term involvement in this issue, should respond for the Government."

SNP BACKS CRIMINAL SANCTIONS AGAINST WAYWARD MPS

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is backing legal moves which would introduce new criminal penalties against MPs that break the rules.

Westminster SNP Leader Angus Robertson MP spoke up for the changes at a meeting of all parties chaired by Justice Secretary Jack Straw this morning (Thursday). He said that the House of Commons must at least introduce the legal sanctions which are already operating in the Scottish Parliament.

Higher standards at Holyrood have already been emulated with Westminster today publishing all MPs expense claims. At a recent meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other party leaders Mr Robertson suggested that the House of Commons must match the higher transparency standards of the Scottish Parliament with quarterly updates of expenses on the internet.

Speaking about the proposals for legal sanctions against wayward MPs Westminster SNP Leader Angus Robertson said:

“ Westminster must introduce new legal sanctions against MPs that break the rules. The public are quite right when they say that MPs should not be exempt from serious consequences if they break the rules.

“The Scottish Parliament has shown the way with legal sanctions that can be applied against wayward parliamentarians.

“The SNP strongly supports the early introduction of Westminster legislation including sanctions and I have spoken in favour of this option to Justice Secretary Jack Straw and all other parties involved in reform talks.

“Hopefully firm proposals will be published in the days ahead.”

Probation budget cuts are to Blame for Sonnex. The service is falling apart

An anonymous News Rage reader writes:

"I am a Welsh Trainee Probation Officer who will qualify in September 2009 without a job. Before this horrific tragedy took place, I contacted my MP, MEP, AM and MP's from the Ministry of Justice with my concerns that although the Government state that since 1997 they have increased probation budgets, however the last two years and for the foreseeable future Probation Budgets have substantially decreased.

This has resulted in voluntary redundancies, and a re-design of the service. For the last two years newly Qualified Probation Officers have found themselves without jobs upon completion of a 2 year training programme, and natural attrition of staff through retirement and sickness are not being replaced.

The Probation service in my opinion and from practice experience is operating at dangerous levels. The Sonnex case only highlights this.

Mr Straw responded to the Sonnex case by stating that it was not a result of a lack of resources. However - in contradiction, it was recommended that the London Probation Area as a result of the Sonnex case should seek to employ 100 Probation Officers?! My question is where do they propose to get these 100 Probation Officers from during a time where newly qualified PO's are being told they have no job?

I again want to express my concerns over current probation practice. From my experience operational staff cannot manage their case loads effectively. Case loads are too high. In South Wales Probation Trust unqualified Case Administrators are now responsible for managing low risk or first time offenders. Yes I agree they are low risk, however appropriate intervention for first time offenders is vital to prevent them from further offending and prevent them from becoming another re-offending statistic. Case Administrators are not qualified to manage this.

As for the National Offender Management Service, is it completely necessary to spend billions of the tax payers money in order to simply create a process whereby prison and probation 'work better together' and sell out probation resources as a matter of financial contestability?

To sum up, the Probation service is falling apart, and failing to meet its aims in protecting the public and reducing re-offending due to a lack of resources and an ever decreasing budget. Prison levels are at an all time high which in turn means more and more offenders will be released into the community without adequate probation resources to manage them. The Government response - BUILD MORE PRISONS! Was it not considered that this will also increase the number of offenders being supervised by Probation? So More Probation Officers will be required to manage the ever increasing prison population upon their release. No probation will manage! I agree with Mr Llwyd - Lets hope that the Sonnex Case is not the first of many to come in the foreseeable future."


This comment was posted anonymously in relation to the following article:
http://daggnabbitnews.blogspot.com/2009/06/plaid-mp-highlights-lack-of-resource.html

Keep the articles coming!!!

Life's too short. Get angry about something today!

Plaid MP highlights lack of resource behind French murders case

Vice Chair of the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group, Plaid Cymru’s Elfyn Llwyd MP, has once again highlighted the worrying effects of cuts back in funding for the Probation service following the French student murders case.

Responding to Jack Straw’s Ministerial Statement today, and following the reviews into the handling of the case of Daniel Sonnex, who was supervised on parole by Probation in Lewisham, Plaid’s Elfyn Llwyd MP, commented:

“Sadly this instance shows how too little resources and too much work is being divided up amongst too few, fully qualified police Probation Officers.

“The Probation Officer in charge of supervising Sonex was in charge of over 120 clients - an impossible work load. There can be no blame attached to that person when faced with such overwhelming odds.

“Only a couple of weeks ago I raised the issues surrounding cuts in funding for trainee probation officers in England and Wales . Despite a substantial investment into training new recruits, a large shortage of jobs for trainee probation officers now exists that will significantly stretch public services. Across England and Wales – over £20million of taxpayers money will have been wasted.

“Across Wales alone, 44 TPOs are due to qualify in 0ctober 2009, and of these, 41 will not have jobs that they will have been trained and sponsored to do. I have stressed the severity of this with the Justice Secretary Jack Straw, and I only hope that the case of Daniel Sonnex will not be the first of many.”

(Home Office) Public given greater say as new crime strategy is published

Local people will be able to choose how money from a £4 million criminal assets fund is spent in their area, alongside further targeted work to tackle property-related crime and a tougher approach to dealing with prolific offenders announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Justice Secretary Jack Straw today.

Speaking today at the first conference for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), the Prime Minister unveiled the Government's updated crime strategy - Cutting Crime: Two Years On - and set out the Government's commitment to tackling the new crime challenges the country faces. The action the Government is taking will build on existing policies to prevent crime and deliver responsive, visible justice which has resulted in a fall in crime of almost 40 per cent since 1997.

The Prime Minister announced:

* A new programme tackling serious property-related crimes such as burglary, robbery and car theft. This programme will target interventions in areas where emerging problems are identified to prevent them from becoming entrenched. Operation Vigilance will include a £3 million scheme piloted in these priority areas will intensify the targeting and management of known offenders, helping police, probation and local authorities learn from what works and how to use more proactive methods to target and catch offenders.

* Stronger powers to seize criminal assets and a greater public say in how these are spent. The public will be able to have a say on how a £4 million fund of cash seized from criminals is spent in their local area. The fund will be available for local projects and will be decided by local communities using websites, neighbourhood policing meetings or citizens' panels. Powers will also be introduced to ensure criminals must prove their assets like boats and cars came from legitimate source. This comes as the first performance tables showing the value of assets seized by individual police forces are published today, showing in the value of criminals' assets seized by the police has risen from £100 million 2006/7 to more than £150 million by 2008/9.

* The first Virtual Courts pilot to ensure a speedier and more efficient justice system for all. Cases could be heard at a magistrates' court via secure video link from the police station within four hours of a defendant being charged. If successful, this could cut costs by £10 million a year, free up police and magistrates' court's time and improve the service given to victims and witnesses.

* Intensive Community Payback to be rolled out over the coming year to even more unemployed offenders where they will have to carry out demanding work for at least 18 hours a week. This will ensure a significant loss of liberty and free time for more offenders across England and Wales who must now wear branded orange jackets so that the public can see that justice is being done.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"Since 1997 overall crime has dropped by nearly 40 per cent and we continue to deliver on our vision of communities where people feel confident to live their lives, free from fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Britain is far from broken and we have acted decisively against new and difficult challenges to save lives from knife-crime and gang-related violence. We are now facing tougher economic times and I am determined, when people are feeling less secure financially, we will do everything in our power to protect their safety and security.

"That is why we're publishing an updated Crime Strategy to address those new challenges and to show the army of police and partners across the country that we keep listening and taking action. Together we will continue to build safer communities."

Operation Vigilance will initially run for one year before being reviewed and will build on partnership working between local agencies to develop new methods of tackling property crimes like burglary and theft with a view to sharing best practice on a national scale.

The virtual courts scheme enables defendants charged in a participating police station to appear in a magistrates' court via a secure video link, speeding up first hearings and so freeing up police and court resources and improving the service given to victims and witnesses. It follows a prototype study in July 2007 at Camberwell which found that the time between charge and first hearing could be cut from an average of 10 days to around four hours.

This builds on proposals in the recent Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice Green Paper to give communities more say in the way justice is delivered in their neighbourhoods. The green paper included pioneering a package of measures in 30 areas across England and Wales to test a range of initiatives that will deliver justice for all and put people back at the heart of the justice system.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:

"I want people to have full confidence in the justice system, and an important part of this is ensuring that justice is done and seen to be done. People's chances of being a victim of crime are the lowest since records began in 1981 and we are determined to build on this to ensure our neighbourhoods are as safe as they can be.

"The new crime strategy published today will do just that by setting out a range of measures to help the police, probation and local authorities better tackle acquisitive crime like burglary and give people a say in how funds seized from criminals can be used to pay back local communities. We are also ensuring that even more offenders are carrying out intensive community payback as a demanding punishment to repay the wrongs they have committed as well as providing the prison capacity needed to lock up the most serious, dangerous and persistent offenders.

"As well as this, I have today launched the first Virtual Courts pilot to ensure a speedier and more efficient justice system. Defendants could appear before court via a secure video link from a police station just hours after being charged and, if they plead guilty, be sentenced on the same day. This will transform the way the justice system deals with crimes, free up police time and improve the service given to victims and witnesses."
Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey said:

"The public want to know that criminals face tough consequences for their crimes. The further roll out of intensive Community Payback as recommended in my review last year is giving the public what they want. Community Payback schemes are not only demanding, hard work but also give the public a say in what criminals must actually do to serve their punishment and pay back to local communities."

(Ministry of Justice) New measures to give communities more say in justice - 10 London Boroughs identified for new pilot

A range of new measures that gives communities more say in the way justice is delivered in their neighbourhoods, as well as making local criminal justice agencies more accountable to the people they represent, has been announced today by ministers.

This will include pioneering a new package of measures in 30 areas in England and Wales, to test a range of initiatives that will deliver justice for all and put people back at the heart of the justice system.

A third of the areas identified to form part of the Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice Green Paper are in London - Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Haringey, Islington, Barking & Dagenham, Lambeth, Waltham Forest, Greenwich and Brent.

A London project, from one of the pilot areas, that shows how local communities are having a say in how justice is delivered is Youth House in Canning Town, Newham, which Justice Secretary Jack Straw visited today. Youth House, which works with marginalised and disengaged young people in the area, was nominated by the local community for Community Payback, a scheme that provides the opportunity for local people to have their say on how offenders should make amends. The project was the largest single initiative undertaken by the Community Payback team in Newham, and between December 2007 and November 2008, an average of 5,830 hours of work was completed each weekend by 50 offenders, with a value of £35,155 to Youth House.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw has also launched a prototype of the first justice website to give local sentencing information in one place to ensure people have the chance to see how justice is being effected in their communities.

The Green Paper builds on the Government's commitment to ensure that justice is not only done, but seen to be done, and follows the recent launch of a campaign to give people more say in how offenders pay back in their communities - including the chance to vote on which local projects they would like Community Payback teams to complete as part of their community sentence. This comes alongside the recent appointment of Victims Champion Sara Payne and the launch of crime maps.

The 30 pioneer areas will pilot a package of measures, including:

* The introduction of Community Prosecutors with a specific role to engage with communities alongside the police, courts and others and ensure that local priorities inform casework decision making and local CPS priorities;

* Community Impact Statements which will give communities the chance to feed in their views on crimes in their area and the impact they have on local people. The statements, which are normally collated by the police, will be used by all facets of the criminal justice system such prosecution, probation and courts

* Extending the use of Citizens' Panels to give local people more say in how offenders on Community Payback schemes repay the community for their crimes through tough projects

* Establishing "Virtual Community Justice Teams" to apply a more intensive problem-solving approach to anti-social and criminal behaviour. This will tackle re-offending by identifying and offering tailored rehabilitation, such as drug assistance programmes.

Over and above this, the Government will be consulting on a number of other key initiatives. These include:

* Establishing a new Adult Restorative Justice Strategy. Restorative Justice has been used effectively by police to confront young offenders with the consequences of their actions, ensure they are able to make amends to their victims and help them to develop a sense of personal responsibility. The initiative has delivered excellent time and costs savings to the police and court system.

* Adopting Commuinity Justice problem-solving techniques in all magistrates' courts. This seeks to address issues at the root of certain types of offending - such as drug abuse - and so tackle the cycle of re-offending by giving magistrates the tools and techniques needed to put in place a specialist approach to rehabilitating such offenders;

* Involving communities more fully in the selection and deployment of District Judges (Magistrates Courts) by working with the Judicial Appointments Commission to lift the veil on how judges are selected and provide more transparency to the public. We also plan to increase the representation of magistrates from a wider range of backgrounds by working with employers and looking at the ways to make it easier for people in full time employment to be magistrates;

* Creating a system of "hallmarks" for magistrates' courts entitled "Justice in the Community" - Re-positioning magistrates' courts to reinforce their purpose in delivering justice for and within local communities.

* Increasing volunteering in Criminal Justice Services through increased promotion of opportunities through the Local Criminal Justice Boards.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:

"I want people to have full confidence in the justice system. An important part of this is ensuring that justice is done and seen to be done.

"The chance of becoming a victim of crime is the lowest in 25 years; the challenge now is to increase public confidence.

"The package we are announcing today represents a fundamental shift towards giving communities more of a say in the justice system.

"We have already made major improvements in this area. Today's announcement is the next stage. People must have more influence in how justice is delivered in their villages, towns and cities - and that is exactly what today's Green Paper sets out to achieve."

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"The public are our best weapon in fighting crime. That is why we want to make sure people have their views heard and that they are kept updated on what has and is being done by the criminal justice system. The recent Policing Green Paper, the Casey Review and the Policing Pledge are all about giving the police the freedom to do their job and giving the public more say on crime in their neighbourhoods.

"If people understand and trust the criminal justice system and see it as a public service, they will be able to get on with their lives without fear of crime, secure in the knowledge that there are tough consequences for those who break the rules. This document provides an opportunity for the people to have a say on a crucial system which has their needs at its heart."

The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, superintends the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is responsible for deciding the charge and taking to court the majority of criminal cases in England and Wales.

Baroness Scotland said:

"Prosecutors are increasingly engaged with the people they serve, routinely engaging with victims and witnesses in person, and explaining decisions to communities and the wider public.

"The community prosecutor approach will enable the CPS to be more visible to, and better understood by, their local communities. Community prosecutors will enhance our ability to respond to local needs and circumstances, with local prosecution teams informed about matters of local concern, understanding the communities they serve and building strong links with people from surrounding neighbourhoods."

Jack Straw added:

"This is a real opportunity for people to have a say - to make their voice heard on such a vital issue for them and for their community. I urge them to take this opportunity."

Responses can be made online, via email or by post. Details of how to respond as well as a summary of the Green Paper, and a link to the full Green Paper document can be found online. The consultation will run until Friday 31 July 2009.

Online consultation tool is available at: http://consultations.cjsonline.gov.uk/?conid=1

email: EngagingCommunities@cjs.gsi.gov.uk

Postal responses to:
Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice Consultation Responses
Race, Confidence & Justice Unit
Office for Criminal Justice Reform
Ground Floor (NW) Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

(Ministry of Justice) Straw: New laws to aid global fight against bribery

New laws to help the UK fight bribery have today been proposed by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

The draft Bribery Bill intends to transform the criminal law on bribery, modernising and simplifying existing legislation to allow prosecutors and the courts to deal with bribery more effectively.

It will also promote and support ethical practice by encouraging businesses to put in place anti-bribery safeguards that ensure all employees are aware of the risks surrounding bribery and that adequate systems exist to manage these.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:

"Bribery blights free and fair competition and adds to the cost of doing business. It has no place in British business.

"Modernisation of the law is a priority to deal with those who offer or accept bribes, and to reinforce transparency and accountability in international business. That is why we are committed to the foundation of a new and consolidated criminal law of bribery. This Bill will better help the police, prosecutors and courts to tackle bribery wherever it occurs."

The proposed Bill will:

* Make it a criminal offence to give, promise or offer a bribe and to request, agree to receive or accept a bribe either at home or abroad. The measures cover bribery of a foreign public official.

* Increase the maximum penalty for bribery from seven to 10 years' imprisonment, with an unlimited fine.

* Introduce a corporate offence of negligent failure to prevent bribery by persons working on behalf of a business. A business can avoid conviction if it can show that it generally has good systems in place to prevent bribery.

* Ensure evidence from proceedings in Parliament can be considered by the Courts in bribery cases by removing Parliamentary Privilege in the prosecution of an MP or Peer.

The draft Bill distinguishes between bribery and legitimate business exchanges by setting out the circumstances in which a criminal offence has been committed.

Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said:

"There is no excuse for bribery - it cheats consumers and honest businesses alike. These proposals will make sure that anyone who resorts to it faces the full force of the law.

"British businesses must meet the highest ethical standards in all their activities, both in the UK and around the world."

Serious Fraud Office Director Richard Alderman said:

"This is an excellent step forward in providing a modern legislative framework to tackle alleged bribery offending."

Detective Chief Superintendent in the Economic Crime Department at the City of London Police, Steve Head, said:

"Whilst successfully employing existing legislation against UK and overseas individuals, we welcome the introduction of the Draft Bribery Bill to further assist us in our fight against corporately corrupt companies operating in the UK and abroad.

"Had we been able to employ this proposed bribery legislation earlier, our effectiveness in seeking out the full extent of corporate criminal liability might well have proved greater."

On his role as the Government's Anti-Corruption Champion, Jack Straw, commented:

"The Government has undertaken a concerted programme of action over the last two years to co-ordinate and to improve our anti-corruption systems through annual anti-corruption action plans. I will drive forward work to develop a comprehensive UK strategy for tackling foreign bribery, which includes the draft Bribery Bill. This will strengthen our work with international partners, establishing a clear legal, regulatory and policy framework."