Brown lifts ban that prevented ministers from taking seat on company boards – The Times

Posted September 24th, 2007 in company directors, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

“Gordon Brown was under pressure last night to explain why he has lifted a ban on ministers holding directorships as it emerged that his trade minister was listed on the board of a cleaning company, The Times can disclose.”

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The Times, 22nd September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Failure to save dying boy prompts call to scrap “community” police – The Times

Posted September 24th, 2007 in community support officers, news by sally

“As police chiefs publicly defended the actions of two community support officers who stood by while a ten-year-old boy drowned, calls grew from inside the force for the posts to be scrapped.”

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The Times, 22nd September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted September 21st, 2007 in legislation by sally

The Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No.3) Regulations 2007

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving and Transitional Provisions) (England) Order 2007

The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2007

The Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2007

The Commons Registration (General) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2007

Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2007

The Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-And-Mouth Disease) (Wales) Regulations 2007

The Education (Recognised Bodies) (England) Order 2007

The Education (Listed Bodies) (England) Order 2007

The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Worcestershire) (District of Wyre Forest) Order 2007

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

No-win, no-fee lawyers say rising claims are just start of the deluge

Posted September 21st, 2007 in equal pay, fees, news, tribunals by sally

“Stefan Cross, the solicitor behind the rise of no-win no-fee equal-pay claims clogging the tribunal system, said yesterday that the cases against local authorities were the beginning of a deluge. The former care home worker estimates that there are 50,000 claims currently waiting to be heard at tribunal with just 25 independent experts working on them.”

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The Times, 21st September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cautions and spot fines lead to big fall in cases reaching court – The Times

Posted September 21st, 2007 in cautions, crime, fines, news, police by sally

“Only one in eight crimes recorded by police in England and Wales ended with a suspect being charged or appearing in court, according to official figures released yesterday.”

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The Times, 21st September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Alarm at rising tide of sex-bias litigation – The Times

Posted September 21st, 2007 in equal pay, news, women by sally

“The number of women taking employers to court claiming unfair pay is rising so quickly that it has left the system unfit for purpose, according to the head of Britain’s equality watchdog.”

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The Times, 21st September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Taxman to question families over gifts that beat death tax – The Times

Posted September 21st, 2007 in gifts, inheritance tax, news, tax avoidance by sally

“The taxman has begun a crackdown on people who try to avoid the burden of inheritance tax by making gifts to friends or relatives before they die.”

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The Times, 21st September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Baroness Scotland QC: Evolving for the 21st century – Legal Week

Posted September 21st, 2007 in attorney general, special report by sally

“As legal practitioners you will be familiar to some extent with the historic role of the Attorney General, its position at the heart of our civil and criminal justice system and the absolute integrity of the rule of law.”

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Legal Week, 20th September 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Court to rule on tied election – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2007 in elections, news by sally

“The result of a local election in Burnley which ended with the winner being drawn by lots is to be decided by the High Court in London later.”

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BBC News, 21st September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office denies obstructing BAE inquiry – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 21st, 2007 in corruption, fraud, news, Saudi Arabia by sally

“The Home Office has denied obstructing an investigation into allegations of corruption at arms manufacturer BAE.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st September 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

600 died in custody last year, report says – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 21st, 2007 in news, prisons, statistics by sally

“As many as 600 people died in custody last year in England and Wales, a new report is expected to say.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st September 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New anti-terror jail to replace Paddington Green station – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2007 in news, prisons, terrorism by sally

“A new maximum security police station to hold up to 30 terrorism suspects ‘for protracted periods’ is being planned to replace the 1960s Paddington Green police station in London.”

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The Guardian, 21st September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers may force through act to curb jury fraud trials – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2007 in fraud, news, trial without jury by sally

“The government is poised to use the Parliament Act 1949 to force through a law allowing the most complex fraud cases to be tried without a jury.”

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The Guardian, 21st September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

City lawyers united on benefits of non-legal staff becoming partners – Legal Week

Posted September 20th, 2007 in law firms, news, partnerships by sally

“Ninety-three percent of lawyers agree on the potential management benefits of non-law professionals joining firm partnerships — but they remain wary of introducing multi-disciplinary models. James Illman reports on the findings of the latest Big Question survey.”

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Legal Week, 20th September 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

MoJ names three for the bench – The Lawyer

Posted September 20th, 2007 in judges, news by sally

“The Ministry of Justice has bolstered the Queen’s Bench Division with two new judges at the same time as confirming the appointment of 11 South Square head of chambers Christopher Floyd QC to the bench.”

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The Lawyer, 19th September 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Lawyers attack Nominet plan for domain name disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 20th, 2007 in domain names, internet, news by sally

“The registry for .uk domain names has proposed a change in the way that name disputes are handled, but the proposed fast-track system faces criticism for not being radical enough.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th September 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Companies must take obligation for Braille bills seriously, say campaigners – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 20th, 2007 in disability discrimination, news, utilities by sally

“A company’s legal obligation to communicate with customers in a way that they can use extends beyond just web accessibility. A recent Braille bill mix up has highlighted the pitfalls for firms.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th September 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Paedophile sentence under review – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2007 in child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“The case of a paedophile who sexually assaulted children is to be reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).”

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BBC News, 19th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘No sex’ benefits fine is quashed – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2007 in benefits, fraud, news by sally

“A woman who falsely claimed nearly £40,000 in benefits because she said she was not having sex with her live-in partner has had her £60,000 fine overturned.”

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BBC News, 19th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British intelligence accused of complicity in torture – The Guardian

Posted September 20th, 2007 in intelligence services, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“British intelligence and security officials were facing fresh questions about allegations of complicity in torture yesterday after a terrorism suspect appeared in court accused of plotting an al-Qaida attack.”

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The Guardian, 20th September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk