Insights
The Coronavirus Act 2020: remote extradition courts, far from problem free
Coronavirus: Access to Legal Advice Whilst Under Arrest
The Lockdown and The Police – Common Sense and Discretion
Magnitsky Laws and Corruption: The Wrong Tool for the Job?
Dangerous Ambiguities in the Coronavirus Act: Detention of the ‘Potentially Infectious’
Access to Justice under Coronavirus Lockdown: Update on Emergency Measures
Emergency measures in relation to the UK Justice System are developing every day in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. New trials are currently paused so that safety measures can be put in place in courts, but the Government has made it clear that, where possible, proceedings should take place using live audio link and live video link (together ‘live link’). Accordingly, the Coronavirus Bill (‘the Bill’) which is currently progressing through the House of Lords aims to widen the scope for delivering ‘digital justice’.
What powers will the police have during Coronavirus lockdown?
Coronavirus pandemic spikes epidemic of financial scams
Coronavirus: New Legal Powers to Detain ‘Potentially Infectious’ People
The New Powers in Context
The proposed new powers to detain people suspected of having Covid-19 in the UK’s Coronavirus Bill have been called unprecedented, but in fact that is not quite true. Since long before the current crisis there have been statutory powers[1] to protect public health, including for ministers to make various regulations[2], and for magistrates to make various orders on the application of local authorities, including to keep people in quarantine in some circumstances[3].