header-logo header-logo

Computers not flawless, says Law Society

16 April 2025
Issue: 8113 / Categories: Legal News , Technology , Disclosure , Procedure & practice
printer mail-detail
The Law Society has called for clear definitions, regular reviews and disclosure to ensure the use of computer evidence does not lead to miscarriages of justice. 

Responding this week to the Ministry of Justice’s ‘Use of evidence generated by software in criminal proceedings: call for evidence’, following the Post Office Horizon scandal, Law Society president Richard Atkinson said the government has ‘sought to define computer evidence, not as evidence captured or recorded, but as evidence generated by software or a device’.

He said ‘computer evidence’ must be clearly defined or legal uncertainties could arise, particularly in a judicial context.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
back-to-top-scroll