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26 July 2023
Issue: 8035 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal , Child law
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Opinions sought on expanding criminal injuries scheme to include IICSA recommendations

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 could be extended to include more forms of child sexual abuse, with the time limit for applications increased from the current two years to seven years, as recommended last October by the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation seeking views on amending the definition of ‘crime of violence’ to include online-facilitated sexual abuse, non-contact offences and certain other forms of child sexual abuse.

Announcing the ‘additional consultation’ last week, justice minister Edward Argar said: ‘We recognise the incredible courage of the 7,300 individual victims and survivors who came forward to share their stories and testimonies with the Inquiry and the public.’

The MoJ has said it will consider all views and representations from the two previous consultations in 2020 and 2022 in making its decision to reform the scheme.  Respond to the consultation by 15 September 2023.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Commercial firm strengthens real estate disputes team with associate hire

Switalskis—three appointments

Switalskis—three appointments

Firm appoints three directors to board

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Six promoted to partner and one to legal director across UK and Ireland offices

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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