Day: March 20, 2025

UK News: Academics say UK defendants should be able to explain reasons for their actions and not have to express remorse

Protesters charged with non-violent offences should not be forced to disavow their motives when defending themselves at trial or seeking mitigation on their sentences, academics have said.

In a challenge to the current approach to protest trials, a study argues courts should allow defendants to explain the reasons for their actions as a defence, and respect their integrity as a mitigating factor. Continue reading…
http://dlvr.it/TJddCy

UK News: South-west sees biggest jump, up 17% between 2020 and 2024, while rate in southern England increases by 10%

Smoking rates in parts of England have increased for the first time in nearly two decades, according to research.

Academics at University College London examined smoking data for more than 350,000 adults in England over an 18-year period. They found that while the proportion of adults who smoke cigarettes, pipes, cigars or other forms of tobacco fell from 25.3% of the population in 2006 to 16.5% in 2024, progress since 2020 has flatlined and in some areas smoking rates are increasing again. Continue reading…
http://dlvr.it/TJddCh

University of Birmingham – School of English, Drama and Creative Studies
Salary: £46,735 to £55,755. Grade 8
http://dlvr.it/TJdd3c

More than 12,800 stores shut in 2024, down on 2023, but extra costs expected to take toll this year, study suggests

The UK’s high streets are expected to empty out at a faster pace this year as extra costs imposed on businesses by Rachel Reeves are blamed for shops closing and a slowdown in chain store openings.

The rate of store closures is forecast to rise again as a result of the chancellor’s tax-raising budget last October, after a slowdown to 10 a day last year from 13 a day in 2023, according to research. Continue reading…
http://dlvr.it/TJdd3X