27/05/2008 – Current Awareness

Focus on Forensics – BBC Law in Action

Posted May 27th, 2008 in evidence, forensic science, special report by sally

“High-profile prosecutions have relied on DNA to convict the guilty. Steve Wright who murdered five women in Suffolk, and Mark Dixie the killer of Sally Anne Bowman, would probably not have been convicted without DNA evidence.

But the use of forensic evidence is not always so straight-forward in proving guilt, as Clive Coleman finds out when he debates the use of forensic techniques with a panel of experts.”

Full story

BBC Law in Action, 27th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Privacy watchdog opposes giant telecoms database – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 27th, 2008 in data protection, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has criticised proposals to build one Government-owned database to hold a log of phone calls, email and internet use in the UK. The ICO has said that the move would be unjustified.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 27th May 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Church of England Marriage Measure 2008

Posted May 27th, 2008 in legislation, marriage by sally

Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 published

Full text (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Act 2008

Posted May 27th, 2008 in legislation, railways by sally

Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Act 2008 published

Full text of Act (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Court rejects HIV asylum seeker – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2008 in asylum, HIV, medical treatment, news by sally

“An HIV-positive Ugandan woman’s claim to stay in the UK has been rejected by the European Court of Human Rights.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consultation sentencing guideline and Advice on Breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted May 27th, 2008 in ASBOs, consultations, sentencing by sally

“The Sentencing Guidelines Council published a consultation guideline for breaches of anti-social behaviour orders on 23 May 2008. The Sentencing Advisory Panel also published its Advice on the same day.”

Consultation guideline – Breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (PDF)

Letter to consultees (PDF)

Advice: Breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (PDF)

Press Notice (PDF)

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 23rd May 2008

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

House of Lords Judgments: What’s new?

Posted May 27th, 2008 in law reports by sally

R V Asfaw (On Appeal From The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)) [2008] UKHL 31 (21 May 2008)

Bowden (Ap) V Poor Sisters of Nazareth and Others (Scotland) Whitton (Ap) V Poor Sisters of Naza [2008] UKHL 32 (21 May 2008)

Source: www.parliament.uk

Satyam Computer Services Ltd v Upaid Systems Ltd – Times Law Reports

Posted May 27th, 2008 in agreements, intellectual property, interpretation, law reports by sally

Satyam Computer Services Ltd v Upaid Systems Ltd

Court of Appeal

“It would only be through the use of the clearest possible specific language that parties to a settlement would be taken to have excluded fraud-based claims.”

The Times, 27th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Ramblers’ Association v Coventry City Council – Times Law Reports

Posted May 27th, 2008 in footpaths, law reports by sally

Ramblers’ Association v Coventry City Council

Queen’s Bench Division

“A council could order the closure of a footpath under section 129A to G of the Highways Act 1980, as inserted by section 2 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, only if satisfied that the footpath had facilitated prolonged criminal or antisocial behaviour at the date of the order.”

The Times, 27th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

SK (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Times Law Reports

Posted May 27th, 2008 in immigration, judgments, law reports, oral hearings, tribunals by sally

SK (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Court of Appeal

“While the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal had power to pronounce an oral decision at the conclusion of a hearing, it was the written determination which constituted the decision. If an oral pronouncement was inconsistent with a subsequent written determination, there should be another hearing.”

The Times, 27th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Regina v Asfaw – Times Law Reports

Posted May 27th, 2008 in asylum, law reports by sally

Regina v Asfaw

House of Lords

“The humanitarian aims of the UN Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (1951) (Cmd 9171) and (1967) (Cmnd 3906) were to be achieved by construing its words purposively.”

The Times, 26th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

‘Draconian’ Home Office fast-tracks Algerian’s deportation – The Independent

Posted May 27th, 2008 in deportation, news, terrorism by sally

“The Home Office was accused last night of rushing to deport a university administrator to conceal official blunders after he was arrested on terrorism charges only to be released without charge. A Labour MP criticised the decision, claiming there was no reason for it ‘other than to cover the embarrassment of the police and intelligence services’.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisons unable to cope with rising levels of mentally ill inmates – The Independent

Posted May 27th, 2008 in mental health, news, prisons by sally

“Prison mental health services are struggling to cope as overstretched staff try to deal with rising levels of mental illness among prisoners, a major report will warn next week. Thousands of seriously mentally ill prisoners are being released untreated back into the community, it says.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Banker rapist quoted Othello – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 27th, 2008 in news, rape, sentencing by sally

“An Oxford-educated investment banker who quoted Shakespeare as he sexually assaulted a woman has been jailed indefinitely.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Artists seek royalties for 70 years from grave – The Times

“Britain’s artistic community is battling against leading auction houses and dealers to bring in a law forcing the payment of a royalty on artists’ works for 70 years after their deaths — in line with writers and musicians.”

Full story

The Times, 27th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Solicitor accuses regulator of racial bias in £10m claim – The Guardian

Posted May 27th, 2008 in news, race discrimination, religious discrimination, solicitors by sally

“An Iranian-born solicitor has launched an unprecedented £10m claim against the Law Society and the solicitors’ regulatory body for racial and religious discrimination, harassment and victimisation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Knife crime powers ‘may antagonise youth’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 27th, 2008 in children, news, offensive weapons, police by sally

“New police powers to combat knife crime could cause increased antagonism amongst young people, the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fine threatened over posters of missing moggy – The Guardian

Posted May 27th, 2008 in advertising, news, planning by sally

“A woman was threatened with a fine by her local council for putting posters on lampposts to find the owners of a lost cat. Public-spirited Joy Tracey wanted to reunite Copper the ginger tom with his owners after he was found whimpering in a garden.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law shake-up in crackdown on rogue traders – The Times

Posted May 27th, 2008 in consumer protection, news by sally

“A new legal weapon came into force over the weekend in a government crackdown on unscrupulous companies that mislead customers or use aggressive sales tactics.”

Full story

The Times, 27th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sex change Paratrooper wins £250,000 for ‘hurt feelings’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 27th, 2008 in armed forces, news, sex discrimination by sally

“A former paratrooper who had a sex change operation has won a payout of £250,000 for hurt feelings after she was ordered to wear a man’s uniform to a medical examination.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk