A new “early warning system” has been promised by Home Secretary Jack Straw to avoid unintended restrictions on press reporting and freedom of expression in all new legislation. The pledge follows a letter sent by Newspaper Society director David Newell
Jack Straw
What we have written about Jack Straw
Hope for end to 'criminal injustice'
A newspaper is scenting victory in its fight to reverse the “double jeopardy” rule, which prevents someone being tried trice for the same crime. The Northern Echo has been campaigning with relatives of Julie Hogg – murdered in 1989 –
Telegraph in fight to protect children at risk of sex crime
Investigation leads to six-pronged campaign to ‘Keep Them Safe’
Evening News in bid to free man from Brazilian jail
Press backs family of man who says he was imprisoned without fair trial
Press campaign secures prisoner's freedom
A campaign to free a charity worker imprisoned in India has scored a success for the York Evening Press. The paper fought for the release of Ian Stillman and generated huge public pressure, including a 5,400-name petition signed by readers
Echo scuttles booze cruise loophole
The Exeter Express & Echo has won a five-year campaign to close a legal loophole which allows alcohol to be served to children on boat trips. The Government will force so-called booze cruise vessels to get drinks licences in the
Press delivers Westminster petition
A petition from the York Evening Press asking the Government to call for the release of a jailed aid worker in India has been presented at Westminster. The Evening Press has collected almost 5,500 signatures, including that of editor Liz
Call for Govt help unanswered
Tony Blair has turned down a newspaper request to discuss the future of a deaf charity worker, jailed on drugs charges in India. The York Evening Press asked the PM if he would meet political reporter Adam Nichols to receive
War fears scupper India trip
The threat of war between India and Pakistan has scuppered the York Evening Press’s efforts to take its latest campaign to the Delhi parliament. The newspaper has collected nearly 5,000 signatures demanding that deaf and one-legged charity worker Ian Stillman
High Court result at last for campaigning journalist Hale
Stephen Downing, who spent more than 27 years in prison for a murder he always claimed he did not commit, has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal. His case was heard largely as a result of campaigning
Top three quizzed by Mercury
The plight of crime victims is being highlighted by the Leicester Mercury as an issue that could swing voters in the forthcoming General Election. It is running a campaign – Let’s think about the Victims in conjunction with Victim Support
Double jeopardy move
A campaign launched last year by The Northern Echo to scrap the “double jeopardy” rule in exceptional cases has taken a significant step forward. A long-awaited report by the powerful Law Commission has backed the calls for a fundamental change
Criminal Injustice campaignis stepped up
The Home Office is due to reveal a radical move this month with the introduction of an independent watchdog for the victims of serious crime. The proposal grew from the Criminal Injustice campaign in The Northern Echo, which aims to
Media audit could pave the way
The Government is working with the Newspaper Society and the Society of Editors to help make sure new legislation does not have an impact on press freedom. Newspaper Society director David Newell agreed a framework with the then Home Secretary