New Equalities Legislation Comes into Force Today – Communities and Local Government

“New legislation comes into force today which provides protection from sexual orientation discrimination and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief that is on a par with protection already provided on grounds of race and gender.”

Full story

Communities and Local Government press release, 30th April 2007

Source: www.communities.gov.uk

Global legal community joins forces in fight to defend Pakistan judge – The Lawyer

Posted April 30th, 2007 in judges, news, Pakistan by sally

“The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has launched a mission to investigate the arrest of Pakistan’s top judge.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 30th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Privacy watchdog slams EU-wide sharing of police data – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 30th, 2007 in data protection, EC law, news, police by sally

“Europe’s privacy watchdog has expressed ‘grave concern’ about a proposal to share personal information between police forces across Europe, calling it a ‘lowest common denominator approach that would hinder the fundamental rights of EU citizens’.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 30th April 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Freedom of information: Open democracy under threat from Parliament – The Independent

Posted April 30th, 2007 in freedom of information, parliament by sally

“Proposals to remove MPs from the ambit of the Freedom of Information Act are to be debated today. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, considers what is at stake.” 

Full story

The Independent, 30th April 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New laws could give BNP members employment rights – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, religious discrimination by sally

“New employment laws that came into force today could pave the way for political activists – including members of the British Nationalist [sic] Party (BNP) – to bring religious discrimination claims in the workplace, experts have warned.”

Full story

The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Government response on fees for court of protection and public guardian published – Government News Network

“Government response to the public’s views on proposed fees for the new Court of Protection and the Office of the Public Guardian was published today.”

Full story

Department for Constitutional Affairs press release, 30th April 2007

Source: www.gnn.gov.uk

Lords to probe surveillance society – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 30th, 2007 in data protection, news, privacy by sally

“The House of Lords will investigate whether the UK’s ‘surveillance society’ is unconstitutional. The Lords’ Constitution Committee has asked for evidence in an investigation it has launched into surveillance in the UK.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 30th April 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Five guilty over fertiliser bomb plot – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, terrorism by sally

“Five British men with close links to the July 7 bombers were today found guilty of a plot to set off a wave of fertiliser-based terrorist explosions around the country.”

Full story

The Guardian

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Campbell diaries to beat ‘gagging’ rules – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in confidentiality, news by sally

“New rules to prevent the publication of politically damaging memoirs by former politicians and civil servants will not be in force until after Alastair Campbell’s diaries are released, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Private van guards to assess whether young are tough enough for adult jails – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, young offenders by sally

“Private security staff who operate prison vans will decide from today whether young adults awaiting trial in London are mentally strong enough to survive in the toughest prisons.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Third update to Guideline Judgments Case Compendium – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted April 30th, 2007 in sentencing by sally

“A new update has been published for the Council’s compendium of guideline judgments first issued in March 2005.  It includes summaries of recent decisions dealing with the sentencing of dangerous offenders and the approach to sentencing for breach of an anti-social behaviour order.  It also summarises judgments relating to specific offences including causing death by dangerous driving/causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and health and safety offences.”

Compendium – Third Edition (PDF)

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

Internet sperm agencies plan to sidestep new rules – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in artificial insemination, news by sally

“As the government’s regulatory body prepares to stamp out the thriving business in online fresh sperm donation, the Guardian has learned that both of the UK’s main agencies are planning to circumvent new laws and continue to operate without a licence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tribunals Today, Issue 2 – The Tribunals Service

Posted April 30th, 2007 in tribunals by sally

“The second issue of Tribunals Today is now available to view online, articles include: Tribunals Transfer Project, The changing face of the Tribunals Service – one year on, Face to Face with Lord Justice Carnwath, and much more….”

Tribunals Today, Spring 2007 (PDF)

Source: www.tribunals.gov.uk

Cohabiting couples warned to protect their property rights – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in cohabitation, news by sally

“Lawyers are warning cohabiting couples to spell out in writing what share of their home each should get if they split up, to avoid expensive legal battles consuming a large chunk of their wealth. The advice comes after a landmark judgment last week by five law lords, setting out how the courts should resolve such cases.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords to rule on care home eviction – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in care homes, elderly, human rights, news by sally

“A company trying to evict an 83-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer from a private care home it runs is facing a legal battle in a historic case that could affect hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judges to rule on justice ministry – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in government departments, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The Lord Chancellor’s officials are locked in talks with senior judges in a desperate effort to secure their backing for the new ministry of justice, which is due to come into effect on May 9.”

Full story

The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Corporate manslaughter bill risks being buried over let-out clauses – the Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in corporate manslaughter, news by sally

“Home office ministers are struggling to find a compromise to save legislation that would hold company executives accountable for the negligent deaths of their employees.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Top fertility doctor in £1m BBC libel fight – The Sunday Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in defamation, news by sally

“PANORAMA, the BBC’s flagship current affairs show, faces being sued for more than £1m by Britain’s richest doctor after a “biased and irresponsible” undercover investigation into his fertility clinics.”

Full story

The Sunday Times, 29th April 2007

www.timesonline.co.uk