Boyce & Co Criminal and Motoring Solicitors Taunton

Fantastic performances by Somerset CCC at T20 finals day. Well done.

From The Law Society

The dispute over criminal legal aid funding is far from over, the Law Society of England and Wales has warned, as barristers accept a pay deal after another government U-turn.

Striking barristers have accepted a deal from government of an extra £30 million in sweeteners on top of the 15% increase in criminal legal aid fees recommended in the Lord Bellamy-led independent review.

Meanwhile, solicitors’ fees will increase by just 9% despite the same review stating solicitors are in a worse situation and that a bare minimum 15% increase is required to make their businesses viable.

“The justice minister may think he has got one problem off his table but there are bigger problems coming his way as this dispute continues. This is another example of a government U-turn making a bad situation worse,” said Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce.

“Solicitors are the backbone of the crisis-hit criminal justice system. They will see that the government has found a magic money tree to stop the disruptive action of barristers – money that was not available to pay solicitors fairly.

“Our members will see that disruptive action achieves results that hard evidence and constructive engagement do not.”

“You cannot fix the problems plaguing the criminal justice system unless you fund all parts of it effectively. The money must be found to give solicitors parity on the 15% fee increase.

“Duty solicitor schemes in Barnstaple, Skegness and Ceredigion, among others, have already collapsed, and more will surely follow without immediate support for firms.

“If this money can be found to bring a strike to an end, surely it can be found to give a fair deal to solicitors, who have kept the wheels of justice turning despite 25 years without a pay rise.

“If the gap isn’t bridged by the time the government publishes their full response to the independent review in November, we have made it clear we will advise our members that there is no viable future in criminal legal aid work.

“This mounting permanent exodus of solicitors from the criminal defence profession won’t cause temporary problems for the criminal justice system, it will bring it to its knees altogether.

“Unless the government sees sense on its short-sighted approach to criminal justice, victims and defendants will continue to suffer, the backlog will continue to build and trust in the system will erode further.”

Absurd suggestion by Legal Aid Agency. That’s a no from us!

Solicitors face three-hour round trip to stop Devon duty scheme collapsing Legal Aid Agency seeks to bolster numbers covering Barnstaple but acknowledges travel will be an issue.

Why are the barristers going on strike - read here

The Criminal Bar on strike – 9 things you need to know Today, hundreds of criminal barristers across the country will not be going into court. Images of us dressed in our traditional absurd courtroom dress and standing outside the country’s most …

PM must stop attacking lawyers for upholding the rule of law “The Bar Council and Law Society of England and Wales together call on the Prime Minister to stop attacks on legal professionals who are simply doing their jobs.”

COLSTON

Here are the legal directions given to the Jury by the Judge.

Ed's views on the issue are these: -

1. The police failed to identify the statue was a likely target - as a non Bristolian but someone who has watched BBC Points West over the years - it was obvious.
2. The police were right not to instigate disorder (or more disorder) to stop the crowd once they had set about the statue.
3. The council should have identified that a jury might acquit and carefully considered whether to support a prosecution with the risk that an acquittal might (wrongly) be seen by some to set a precedent and grant a licence to damage other statues.
4. The jury were entitled to acquit.
5. I predicted the outcome!

Colston summing up: those legal directions in full - BarristerBlogger Below is the full text of the legal directions given to the Colston 4 jury by the Recorder of Bristol, HHJ Peter Blair QC. Unfortunately some of the formatting has been unavoidably altered, but not the text itself. R v MILO PONSFORD, SAGE WILLOUGHBY, RHIAN GRAHAM & JAKE SKUSE LEGAL DIRECTIONS – JU...

The former resident Judge at Taunton Crown Court in The Times today

Change again at Boyce & Co - Jack is off to pastures new with our best wishes.

Happy new year to all.

Try to celebrate without getting nicked but if you fail in that please ask for us - here 24/7/365!

Happy Christmas 🎄

Interesting ....

www.gov.uk/government/news/over-10-000-attempts-to-smuggle-contraband-thwarted-by-x-ray-body-scanners

Over 10,000 attempts to smuggle contraband thwarted by X-ray body scanners X-ray body scanners have stopped 10,000 attempts to smuggle contraband including drugs, weapons and phones into prisons in just over a year.

Perhaps this week the party which been running the country for 11 years will actually commit to more investment in the police, courts, prosecution, legal aid and prisons? Don’t hold your breath. Expect more of the usual platitudes. Tough on crime blah blah

Pro Am day at Enmore Park

A former Conservative Attorney General

I've seen how the UK justice system is crumbling. Why doesn't the government take action? | Dominic Grieve From decrepit court buildings to legal aid cuts, the service has been brought to its knees, says former attorney general for England and Wales Dominic Grieve

We are doing our bit by working from home where we can.

If you need us please call 01283 210670 or ask for us to be contacted if you are arrested.

Business as usual is the word during lockdown 3 for the criminal courts. It MAY be possible for some hearings to be dealt with remotely- if you have a Court hearing and wish to discuss that option please call us.

Merry Christmas and a 👮‍♀️ free new year!🎄

To say the Criminal Justice System is on its knees is being very optimistic....

Criminal justice system is 'on its knees', says top English lawyer Criminal Bar Association chair says funding cuts punishing victims more than criminals

National Lockdown 2 in England

From Thursday we will not be able to see clients at our office. We are continuing to work and can be contacted by phone or e mail. We can arrange Zoom or Teams meetings where needed.

The Courts continue to sit. If you have a Court date you will still be expected to attend.

Calm sense

When it attacks 'lefty lawyers', this government takes aim at the rule of law | David Gauke The scorn shown by Boris Johnson and Priti Patel marks a departure from centuries of Conservative tradition, says former lord chancellor David Gauke

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England's criminal justice system was on its knees long before coronavirus | Mike McConville and Luke Marsh Court closures and cuts to support services and legal aid since 2010 are coming home to roost, say authors Mike McConville and Luke Marsh

Inside the criminal justice system with the Secret Barrister In the first in our series, the Secret Barrister examines the story of a victim of assault, who has been left with life-long injuries. Yet the accused were never tried.

Super Saturday is here. The pubs are opening 🍺🍾🍷🥃 The police are treating this evening like New Years Eve. We hope everyone is sensible and safe. If, however, you wake up in Bridgwater police station please ask for us for free, independent, expert advice 24/7/365.

At the start of lock-down there was a backlog of 39000 Crown Court cases - now that has gone up to 40000. This Government is using the pandemic as an excuse to erode fundamental rights and cover up for systematic under funding in the criminal justice system for decades.

Legislation to abolish some jury trials could be passed within weeks Lord chancellor says option is 'last resort' but would provide 40% extra capacity.

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The UK government responded to Black Lives Matter – by protecting statues | The Secret Barrister What may be the first piece of bipartisan legislation to pass is one protecting the feelings of concrete, says the Secret Barrister

Talk of the Courts getting back to work but it will be very slow and there was already an horrendous backlog and delays. Evening and Saturday Courts are inevitable now. That brings with it the need for more investment all round - police, prosecution, Courts and legal aid. Not hard to guess which of those won't get it!

We predict that Courts will impose very stiff sentences on this type of offence - and on those who try to cheat the furlough scheme- like they do on looters and rioters.

Scammers use coronavirus 'hook' to target victims Fraudsters are targeting vulnerable and self-isolating people, the National Crime Agency warns.

We represent clients in Custody 24/7/365 and provide free, independent and confidential advice. If you get arrested or the police want to interview you ask for us!

Here is the information on the release on temporary licence

Measures announced to protect NHS from coronavirus risk in prisons Risk-assessed prisoners who are within two months of their release date will be temporarily released from jail, as part of the national plan to protect the NHS and save lives.