header-logo header-logo

26 February 2009 / Dr Jon Robins
Categories: Opinion , Local government , Public , Employment
printer mail-detail

The justice gap

The government should act to resolve iniquities at the heart of the inquest system, says Jon Robins

Only 7% of the families of service personnel killed in Afghanistan or Iraq have received legal aid to pay for representation at their inquests into their deaths

Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done—whether or not it raises awkward questions about, say, the Met’s response to the terrorist threat in our capital. Over the last week there has rightly been alarm in the press around the potential iniquity of inquests being run behind closed doors, away from families, jurors and members of the media. One hopes that the prospect of an inquest such as the one into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes is self-evidently appalling.
Following a question by the Tory MP Roger Gale, the Ministry of Justice provided a startling statistic last week revealing an iniquity that is already exists at the heart of the inquest system. It is an issue that the Coroners and Justice Bill

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers

From childhood dreams of the Bar to some of the country's most challenging cases, Maryam Syed KC explains why she has never stopped standing up for others

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft—Richard Breavington, Rachel Ford & Daniel Guilfoyle

DAC Beachcroft significantly expands Cyber team, hiring three Cyber partners

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson—Professor Clive Kay

Browne Jacobson appoints senior healthcare leader Professor Clive Kay as strategic adviser

NEWS
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
Can a meticulously maintained spreadsheet turn a couple’s informal financial arrangements into legally enforceable obligations? 
back-to-top-scroll