Seventy-five years ago Nazi propagandist William Joyce (“Lord Haw-Haw”) was convicted for high treason. This article summarises the events leading up to his conviction and execution. It then considers the current law on treason and recent calls for reform.
Documents to download
-
Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill 2015–16: Briefing for Lords Stages (131 KB, PDF)
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill is a House of Commons private member’s bill introduced by William Wragg (Conservative MP for Hazel Grove). It is supported in the House of Lords by Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench). The Bill has passed its stages in the House of Commons without amendment and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 26 February 2016. It is supported by the Government.
Under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has the power to require public bodies to disclose and provide documents and other materials which may help the CCRC in exercising its duties. The Bill would extend this power to allow the CCRC—following the granting of an order by the Crown Court—to request such documents from someone who is not employed by or serving in a public body. The explanatory notes to the Bill explain that “unlike their counterpart in Scotland” the CCRC currently has no power to require such individuals to supply this information.
Documents to download
-
Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill 2015–16: Briefing for Lords Stages (131 KB, PDF)
Related posts
-
-
The sentencing of offenders whose crimes lead to the death of an emergency service worker can vary depending upon the conviction received. The Harper’s Law campaign has called for life sentences to be imposed in instances where an emergency service worker is killed as a direct result of a crime. This article discusses life sentences, minimum terms, and recent calls for change to sentencing in England and Wales. This is due to be the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 1 October 2020.
-
The bill would provide for changes in the sentencing, release and monitoring of terrorism offenders. This briefing explains what the bill would do and what happened to it in the House of Commons.
