Ex-PM's wife and justice secretary blame each other's professions for weaknesses in criminal justice system

The Lisbon Treaty gives the EU power in civil and criminal law, justice and policing, anyone thinking that this will have little effect should be warned that the EU is already preparing the ground for harmonisation of civil and criminal law procedures throughout the 27 member states. The EU tells us ...

Yesterday in the Commons the Home Secretary told us she wished to opt into part of the EU plans for criminal justice, as the Uk is entitled to do under Lisbon. She presented the European Investigatory Orders Directive as a necessary tidying up

Dr Aisha Gill (Letters, 12 March) creates the impression that the criminal justice system is the only way to reduce domestic violence and protect women. As Trevor Phillips has pointed out, there is huge variation in the provision of independent advice and support to domestic violence victims, and poor provision of refuges. In many cases the civil justice system can provide greater protection throu...

The government must take a fresh look at policy if over-representation of people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in the criminal justice system is to be addressed, according to a new study published today. Less Equal Than Others: Ethnic Minorities and the Criminal Justice System, carried out by Race for Justice, a new coalition of voluntary organisations working with BME offenders...

Jack Straw today says that the government needs to "get tough" with criminals. Find me a Home Secretary who hasn't talked tough on crime over the past twenty years. But it's always precisely that. Just talk. The criminal justice system...

Justice secretary tells MPs he is amending coroners bill in response to civil-liberties concerns Jack Straw today announced plans to amend the coroners and justice bill to limit the extent to which it could be used to allow inquests to be held in private. The justice secretary told MPs that he was "fundamentally" recasting his plans in response to complaints from civil liberty campaigners opposed ...

The BBC drama Criminal Justice completed its run last night after having me and around 4.8m other viewers on tenterhooks for most of this week. If this doesn't win Baftas galore next year, I'll be amazed.Basically the premise behind the programme appeared to be that everyone in the criminal justice system is bent except the defendant, Ben Coulter, and his gorgeous, idealistic 26-year-old barrister...

Fundamental changes to policing and criminal justice are needed because Britain has become a nation of "passive bystanders", a think-tank has said.

DOUBLE jeopardy in England and Wales was abolished in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 but the new powers to retry cases have only been used a handful of times since they were in