In Brief

EASIER EASEMENTS

Wide-ranging reform of the law governing easements, covenants and profits à prendre have been proposed by the Law Commission in a newly published consultation paper. The aim of the project is to modernise and simplify the law, removing anomalies, inconsistencies and unnecessary complications Stuart Bridge, the commissioner leading the project, says recent Land Registry figures suggest at least 65% of freehold titles are subject to one or more easements and 79% are subject to one or more restrictive covenants.

CPS SPOTLIGHTED

An inquiry into the work of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been launched by the Justice Committee. The inquiry will look at how the CPS contributes to, and fits into the criminal justice system, how it relates to and shares information with the police, courts etc and how it works with other prosecution agencies. Its role as regards anti-social behaviour orders will be examined and the duties of the attorney general as superintendent of the prosecution authorities will be an important aspect of the inquiry.

TARGET TROUBLES

More children and young people are being brought into the criminal justice system to satisfy police targets, according to a new report by Nacro. The report suggests that offences which would previously have been considered minor and dealt with informally by the police, school or young person’s family, are now being dealt with through formal sanctions. Analysis of crime statistics (comparing 2003 to 2006) reveals disproportionate rises in the number of recorded offences committed by younger children and girls, and a disproportionate rise in less serious offending. Nacro chief executive, Paul Cavadino, says: “For some time we have suspected that the police have been targeting younger children and less serious crimes to reach their targets of ‘offences brought to justice’. Our analysis now shows this is the case.”