The Ministry of Justice has now published the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill:

The purpose of this bill is to put on a statutory footing a power for the courts to grant witnesses anonymity orders in criminal proceedings where this is consistent with the right of a defendant to a fair trial.

In particular, the bill: makes provision for any party to criminal proceedings to apply for a witness anonymity order, so either the prosecution ....

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has published an invitation to comment document proposing amendments and consolidation of the current Magistrates Courts and Youth Court trial rules contained in Part 37 of the Criminal Procedure Rules:

9. The proposal is that a new Part 37 (trial in a magistrates’ court) should replace the current Parts 37 and 38, leaving Part 38 to be discarded. Though the sentencing powers, in particular, of a youth ....

The Ministry of Justice has published a consultation paper the considering the rules governing the enforcement of bail conditions and the grant of bail to suspects charged with murder should be revised in the light of recent cases of murder and manslaughter committed by persons on bail. It examines the issues surrounding the grant of bail and the possible options available for recalibrating the law or procedures to provide a greater ....

The Legal Services Commission has published a strategic plan to cover the period 2008 to 2011:

Chief Executive Carolyn Regan announces the publication of the Strategic Plan 2008-11

I am pleased to announce that we have published our Strategic Plan – Transforming Legal Aid – and you can now read the plan on this website.

Transforming Legal Aid sets out our direction as we move from being an organisation that administers ....