January 2021 - Page 3 of 5 - Armoured & Luxury

Pandemic Leading To Four Year Waits For England And Wales Court Trials

January 19, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Four criminal justice watchdogs for England and Wales have warned they have “grave concerns” about the impact of court backlogs caused by the pandemic.

The inspectorates for policing, prisons, probation and prosecutions say issues it has caused could damage the criminal justice system for years. It comes after figures revealed the backlog in the crown courts has reached 54,000 unheard cases. That means some crimes from last year will not go before a jury before 2022.

The inspectorates say the unprecedented situation in the courts is having a ripple effect across all of criminal justice.

Court work slowed and, in the case of jury trials, stopped during the first part of the pandemic, when the lockdown advised people to stay at home, except for certain circumstances.

World Leaders Blast Russia Over Navalny Arrest

January 18, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Russia’s most prominent opposition figure has been arrested and detained for 30 days, after returning to Moscow for the first time since he was poisoned last year.

Mr Navalny, 44, said a court ruling from a police station was a mockery, urging people to stage street protests. He was held soon after his flight from Germany landed in Moscow on Sunday.

Russian prosecutors say he violated the parole terms of a suspended sentence for embezzlement. Mr Navalny has described the embezzlement charges as politically motivated.

Security Threat Locks Down Capitol Building

January 18, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The Capitol building in Washington DC is on lockdown owing to a security threat, two days before Joe Biden is inaugurated as US president.

The Capitol, which is home to the US Congress, was attacked by a pro-Trump mob on 6 January, leaving five dead.

Reporters at the scene say an emergency announcement is playing and a rehearsal for Mr Biden’s inauguration has been suspended. Security is tight, with thousands of National Guard members deployed.

North Korea Unveils ‘World’s Most Powerful Weapon’

January 15, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Several of the missiles were displayed at a parade overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, reported state media.

The show of military strength comes days before the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president. It also follows a rare political meeting where Mr Kim decried the US as his country’s “biggest enemy”.

Drill Music Increasingly Used In Court Cases

January 14, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Drill music has captured headlines since it started to emerge in the UK in 2012. With its often provocative lyrics, it’s been blamed by police for fuelling violence.

It is also increasingly being used as evidence in trials with courts hearing allegations it incites gang rivalries. But some defence lawyers and academics say it stops defendants – often young black men – getting a fair trial.

Wood Green on 2 February 2019 was “more reminiscent of a Hollywood film than a winter’s night in north London”, the Old Bailey was told.

CCTV images showed mums with buggies fleeing as masked men ran amok with long knives. One man was shot and stabbed eight times but miraculously survived. Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck, 19, was less fortunate. He was chased into a hair salon where terrified customers, staff and children watched helplessly as he was stabbed to death.