Mastermind behind ‘Fagin-style’ watch gang jailed for 12 years – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 4th, 2008 in conspiracy, news, sentencing, theft by sally

“The mastermind behind a ‘Fagin-style’ gang who stole £1million of watches from London jewellers has been jailed for 12 years.”

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Daily Telegraph, 4th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Courts face closure as judges are told of £90m shortfall in collection of fees – The Times

Posted September 4th, 2008 in courts, fees, news by sally

“The criminal courts are facing their biggest cash crisis in decades after a warning to judges and magistrates of a £90 million shortfall in the budget for the justice system. Judges and magistrates in England and Wales have been told of the emergency, which is likely to result in trial delays, cancelled court sittings and redundancies.”

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The Times, 4th September 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Richards, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 1841 (23 July 2008)

Cooper, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 1856 (31 July 2008)

Norman, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 1810 (31 July 2008)

B & Ors, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 1997 (15 August 2008)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Dragonfly Consultancy Ltd v HM Revenue & Customs [2008] EWHC 2113 (Ch) (03 September 2008)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Aspinall’s Club Ltd v Al-Zayat [2008] EWHC 2101 (Comm) (03 September 2008)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Gungor, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWHC 2098 (Admin) (15 August 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Finance Act 1998, Schedule 2 (Assessments in Respect of Drawback) (Appointed Day) Order 2008

The Care Quality Commission (Membership) Regulations 2008

The National Health Service Pension Scheme and Injury Benefits (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Fees) (England) Regulations 2008

The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2008

The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules 2008

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Commencement No.4 and Consequential, Transitional and Savings Provisions) (Wales) (Amendment No.2) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

‘Fat Man’ wins legal battle over £2m gambling debt – The Times

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in debts, gambling, news by sally

“A billionaire gambler today won a legal bid to avoid paying a £2 million debt to a London casino.”

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The Times, 3rd September 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Couple in court over Olympics tax – BBC News

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in council tax, news by sally

“An elderly couple from north London are being taken to court for refusing to pay the levy on their council tax bill which will fund the 2012 Olympics.”

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BBC News, 3rd September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge slaps Fasthosts for rubbish kit and support – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in contracts, damages, internet, news by sally

“A county court judge has awarded a disgruntled Fasthosts customer almost £1,500 in damages and costs, after the Gloucester firm failed to meet its uptime and customer service guarantees.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd September 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Re-grading staff could beat discrimination claims, says Acas – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in dispute resolution, equal pay, news, remuneration by sally

“Employers should undertake job evaluation programmes to avoid being caught up in the escalating number of discrimination claims reaching Employment Tribunals, the Government’s dispute resolution service has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd September 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

London crime maps are launched – BBC News

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in crime, internet, London, news, statistics by sally

“Maps showing the numbers of muggings, burglaries and vehicle break-ins across London have been made available online.”

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BBC News, 3rd September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Privacy regulator criticises misuse of Data Protection Act – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in data protection, freedom of information, news by sally

“Organisations must not use the Data Protection Act as a smokescreen for not giving out information, privacy regulator the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has warned.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

EU approves proposal to try Britons in their absence in foreign courts – The Times

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in EC law, extradition, news by sally

“British citizens could be convicted in their absence by foreign courts for traffic, credit card or other criminal offences under plans approved in principle by the European Parliament.”

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The Times, 3rd September 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Muslim wrongly accused of being a terrorist wins £14,000 compensation – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 3rd, 2008 in damages, news, police, religious discrimination by sally

“A Muslim police worker who was ‘maliciously’ reported to the anti-terrorist squad by colleagues after the July 7 bombings has been awarded almost £14,000 compensation.”

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Vehicle Excise Duty (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The A1(M) Motorway and the M62 Motorway (Holmfield Interchange Link Roads) (Speed Limit) Regulations 2008

The Pensions Act 2007 (Actuarial Guidance) (Consequential Provisions) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Legal aid wrangle risks miscarriage of justice – The Times

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in legal representation, murder, news, young offenders by sally

“A teenager accused of the murder of Rhys Jones has been left without a QC with only a month to go before trial.”

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The Times, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Youth Justice: The Scaled Approach launched – Youth Justice Board

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in criminal justice, news, young offenders, youth courts by sally

“The YJB today publishes Youth Justice: The Scaled Approach to support youth offending teams (YOTs) in their preparation for the biggest improvements to youth justice in almost a decade.”

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Youth Justice Board, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.yjb.gov.uk

Related link: Youth Justice: the Scaled Approach

Is sex on the beach legal? – BBC News Magazine

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in outraging public decency, sexual offences, special report by sally

“Two Britons have appeared in court in Dubai after allegedly having sex on a beach in the Muslim emirate. What would happen if a couple got frisky on a beach in the UK?”

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BBC News Magazine, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Action over ‘indecent’ Jesus art – BBC News

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in artistic works, news, outraging public decency by sally

“A Christian group is taking an art centre to court, claiming it displayed an indecent statue of Jesus Christ.”

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BBC News, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

House of Lords has south-east bias, says report – The Guardian

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in news, parliament by sally

“The House of Lords, whose members once formed a roll-call of the shires of Britain, is now ‘unacceptably dominated’ by peers who live in London and the south-east of England, according to a new report.”

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The Guardian, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Civil Procedure Rules – 47th Update – The Bar Council

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in civil procedure rules, news by sally

“The latest Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) are due to come into force fully on 1 October 2008. There are changes in a large number of areas.”

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The Bar Council, 2nd September 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

New Criminal Bar Chairman calls for fresh focus on training – The Bar Council

Posted September 2nd, 2008 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“Peter Lodder QC, who starts work as Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association today (1st September), has called for improvements to the way in which potential barristers are trained.”

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The Bar Council, 1st September 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk