HMCPSI have today (12 March 2020) published a report into the work of the CPS in relation to the effective use of agents in the magistrates’ court.

Misconduct in public office is an offence at common law triable only on indictment. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. It is an offence confined to those who are public office holders and is committed when the office holder acts (or fails to act) in a way that constitutes a breach of the duties of that office.

The Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) programme has been running since 2005 and there are now 127 courts across the country. Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) will have responsibility for the governance and perfomance management aspects of SDVCs from 1 April 2010. This list dated 23rd October 2009 shows at a glance what courts fall within each LCJB area and will help identify, which courts have received official accreditation.

From today, prosecutors will have new powers to charge violent abusers with specific offences of non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation, as key measures in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 come into force.