UK banks defend ‘rip-off’ overdraft charges – The Times

Posted January 18th, 2008 in banking, fees, news by sally

“A High Court test case that could shape the future of the UK retail banking industry finally got under way today when lawyers for eight of Britain’s leading banks began defending allegations of charging ‘rip-off’ fees.”

Full story

The Times, 17th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Diana’s inquest: is it money well spent? – The Times

Posted January 18th, 2008 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“Despite all the flak the coroner chairing the inquest of the late Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed is making the best of a difficult job.”

Full story

The Times, 17th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Human-animal embryos get the go-ahead – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2008 in embryology, news by sally

“British scientists will try to create human-animal embryos for the first time after receiving the go-ahead from the government’s fertility regulator yesterday. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said it had offered year-long licences to two teams of scientists that hope to use the embryos to study stem cells, the body’s master cells that have the potential to form any tissue or organ.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Released paedophile is arrested – BBC News

Posted January 18th, 2008 in child abuse, news, sexual offences by sally

“A wanted paedophile who was mistakenly released by a police force has been arrested in Sussex.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government stands by its 42-day limit for locking up terror suspects – The Independent

Posted January 18th, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“Gordon Brown has brushed aside a chorus of protest to press ahead with plans to allow terror suspects to be locked up without charge for up to 42 days, leaked documents obtained by The Independent show. The Prime Minister’s refusal to compromise leaves the Home Secretary facing a desperate struggle to avert Mr Brown’s first Commons defeat. Up to 40 Labour MPs have vowed to oppose any extension of the current 28-day limit, already the longest in the Western world.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Straw supports the courts after bail row over Newlove murderer – The Times

Posted January 18th, 2008 in bail, murder, news, young offenders by sally

“Jack Straw came to the defence of judges and magistrates faced with controversial bail decisions last night, as it emerged that a teenager who killed Garry Newlove had been bailed ten hours earlier.”

Full story

The Times, 18th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Corrupt MoD official can keep £1.5m – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2008 in civil servants, confiscation, fraud, news by sally

“A corrupt civil servant behind one of the biggest frauds in Whitehall history has managed to avoid paying anything towards a £1.5m confiscation order because the Crown Prosecution Service delayed enforcing it for 11 years, the Guardian has learned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Firm bills council over high website traffic – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 18th, 2008 in internet, news by sally

“A software firm has unsuccessfully billed a local authority £10,000 after its website received lots of traffic from the council. The bill was based on a claim that Derby Council staff were using a free web tool for work purposes.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th January 2008
Source: www.out-law.com

Welsh smacking ban is ruled out – BBC News

Posted January 18th, 2008 in corporal punishment, news, Wales by sally

“Wales will not have the power to introduce its own smacking ban, the assembly government has been told.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Carphone Warehouse broke Data Protection Act, says ICO – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 17th, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“The Carphone Warehouse allowed customers to view other people’s account details, passed inaccurate information on to debt collectors and opened accounts in the wrong name, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th January 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

MoD offers nerve gas veterans £3m and an apology – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2008 in armed forces, chemical weapons, compensation, experiments, news by sally

“The Ministry of Defence is to offer compensation and an apology to the Porton Down victims of secret chemical testing, it was reported today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 17th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Homepace Ltd v Sita South East Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 1 (15 January 2008)

JFM v Neath Port Talbot Borough Council & Ors [2008] EWCA Civ 3 (15 January 2008)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Bogdal (Aka Marjan Tadeusz) v R [2008] EWCA Crim 1 (16 January 2008)

High Court (Administrative Court)

West Midlands Probation Board v Sutton Coldfield Magistrates’ Court & Ors [2008] EWHC 15 (Admin) (11 January 2008)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Midill (97pl) Ltd v Park Lane Estates Ltd & Anor [2008] EWHC 18 (Ch) (16 January 2008)

HM Revenue & Customs v Weald Leasing Ltd [2008] EWHC 30 (Ch) (16 January 2008)

Turner & Anor v Pryce & Ors [2008] EWHC B1 (Ch) (09 January 2008)

Jackson v J H Watson Property Investment Ltd [2008] EWHC 14 (Ch) (7 January 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted January 17th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Education Act 2002 (Commencement No. 11 and Transitional and Savings Provisions) (Wales) Order 2007

The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (Wales) Regulations 2007

The Criminal Defence Service (Very High Cost Cases) Regulations 2008

The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Textile Products (Determination of Composition) Regulations 2008

The Textile Products (Indications of Fibre Content) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2008

The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Ministers ditch the phrase ‘war on terror’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 17th, 2008 in news, terrorism by sally

“Ministers have dropped the term ‘war on terror’ and will refer to jihadis as ‘criminals’ in an attempt to stop glorifying acts of terrorism.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Smith targets internet extremism – BBC News

Posted January 17th, 2008 in internet, news, terrorism by sally

“The home secretary is to outline plans to target websites promoting extremism, as part of efforts to stop people being drawn towards radical groups.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Organ supply ‘can be boosted without new law’ – The Times

Posted January 17th, 2008 in human tissue, news by sally

“Greater effort and more money could increase organ transplants by 50 per cent without a change in the law, a task force set up by the Government says.”

Full story

The Times, 17th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lesbian soldier Kerry Fletcher wins case – Daily Telegraph

“A lesbian soldier who endured lewd sexual innuendo from a senior staff sergeant who claimed he could ‘turn her straight’ could win compensation of more than £400,000, after winning her case against the Ministry of Defence.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Baby scalding death council sued – BBC News

Posted January 17th, 2008 in health & safety, local government, news by sally

“The family of a 10-month-old baby who died when a water tank burst above her head in a council house is to take legal action against the authority.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th January 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Foreign Office sued for sex and race discrimination – The Independent

Posted January 17th, 2008 in civil servants, news, race discrimination, sex discrimination by sally

“The careers of women and ethnic minority civil servants working at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are held back by a glass ceiling that is supported by an inherited culture of discrimination, it was alleged yesterday.”

Full story

The Independent, 17th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police release wanted paedophile – BBC News

Posted January 17th, 2008 in news, police, sexual offences by sally

“A paedophile named on a list of the UK’s “most wanted” was arrested but later released after police failed to recognise him.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk