Here comes the judge – the maverick aiming to tame Britain’s raucous press – The Guardian

Posted May 16th, 2014 in complaints, freedom of expression, judges, media, news by sally

‘Lawyers and fellow judges have queued up to sing the praises of Sir Alan Moses, inaugural chair of the new press regulator.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Killing of Blair Peach – London Review of Books

Posted May 16th, 2014 in coroners, demonstrations, inquests, news, police, reports by sally

‘‘As a campaign meeting, it must have been one of the biggest yet, a hundred National Front supporters, three and a half thousand police and thousands of Asian demonstrators.’ This was the way News at Ten began its report of the clashes in Southall on 23 April 1979, midway through the general election campaign that would end with the victory of Margaret Thatcher. The report contained footage of police officers arresting middle-aged men in turbans, women sitting down in the road and demonstrators with their heads swaddled in bandages. The final images showed around twenty NF supporters, all men, giving Nazi salutes as they went into Southall Town Hall.’

Full story

London Review of Books, 22nd May 2014

Source: www.lrb.co.uk

High Court issues proportionality ruling – Litigation Futures

Posted May 16th, 2014 in civil procedure rules, costs, news, personal injuries, proportionality by sally

‘A costs judge is entitled to consider if individual items of costs claimed are proportionate and necessary even if the costs of the litigation overall appear proportionate, the High Court has decided in the first ruling on the issue.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 16th May 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Eastenders in Supreme Court: A1P1 filling in the gaps – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Not Albert Square, but it could be. The Crown Prosecution Service suspect two individuals of a massive duty/VAT fraud in their cash and carry businesses. The CPS go to the Crown Court (in the absence of the individuals) and get an order to appoint a receiver (i.e. a paid manager) to run the affairs of companies (Eastenders) in which the individuals are involved, as well as a restraint order against the individuals. Both receivership and restraint orders are set aside some months later by the Court of Appeal, on the basis that the HMRC investigator’s statements were largely “broad and unsupported assertions”. Problem: by then the receiver had run up £772,547 in fees.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 15th May 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Are international students deterred by the UK’s immigration policy? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted May 16th, 2014 in education, immigration, news, select committees, statistics, universities by sally

‘The Government has been called upon to rethink immigration policy and remove non-EU students from net migration figures in a report published by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. The Committee looked specifically at the number of international students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and whether the UK’s immigration policy has any impact on these numbers. It concludes the Government is simultaneously committed to reducing net migration and attracting increasing numbers of international students, a contradiction which could be removed by excluding students from net migration figures.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 15th May 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Burglars face tougher punishments if children are in raided house – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 16th, 2014 in burglary, children, news, sentencing, victims by sally

‘Damian Green, the justice minister, says courts should take account of new statements by children and young people setting out how burglary affects them.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Marlon King jailed for 18 months for dangerous driving – BBC News

Posted May 16th, 2014 in dangerous driving, news, sentencing by sally

‘An ex-Premier League footballer who caused a pile-up while eating ice cream at the wheel has been jailed for 18 months for dangerous driving.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

General Medical Council calls for law change after two surgeons escape ban following pregnant woman’s death – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 16th, 2014 in disciplinary procedures, doctors, news, tribunals by sally

‘The seriousness of the incident and subsequent “tragic death” of the mother-of-three warranted the suspension of both doctors’ licence to practise, says head of GMC.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hertfordshire placenta smoothies firm ban over ‘health risk’ – BBC News

Posted May 16th, 2014 in food, health, human tissue, news by sally

‘A company cannot process raw placentas for new mothers to eat, after a judge ruled it posed a “health risk”.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Alarm as sexual conviction rate falls six points despite drive for improvements – The Guardian

Posted May 16th, 2014 in news, police, prosecutions, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘The conviction rate for sex offences has fallen sharply in England and Wales despite drives by the police and prosecutors to put more rape and other sexual assault cases before the courts.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk