Google Street View cleared of breaking Data Protection Act – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in data protection, internet, news, privacy by sally

“Google Street View, the controversial website that shows 360-degree street views of many of Britain’s cities does not breach the Data Protection Act, the information commissioner ruled today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Juror ‘committed sex crime during break for lunch’ – The Independent

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in insanity, juries, news, sexual offences by sally

“A juror sitting on a sexual assault case went out during his lunch break and committed a sex crime himself, a court heard.”

Full story

The Independent, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hicks v R [2009] EWCA Crim 733 (21 April 2009)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Cobbetts LLP & Anor v Hodge [2009] EWHC 786 (Ch) (22 April 2009)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Colney Heath Parish Council v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government & Ors [2009] EWHC 787 (Admin) (22 April 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Colour Quest Ltd & Ors v Total Downstream UK Plc & Ors (Rev 1) [2009] EWHC 823 (Comm) (22 April 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Regina (Coleman) v Governor of Wayland Prison and Another – Times Law Reports

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in judicial review, law reports, prisons by sally

Regina (Coleman) v Governor of Wayland Prison and Another

Queen’s Bench Division

“A prison governor had no power, whether under the Prison Rules (SI 1999 No 728) or the common law, to destroy a mobile telephone confiscated from a prisoner.”

The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Regina v Khan Regina v Lockett; Regina v Carrington – Times Law Reports

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in confiscation, customs and excise, law reports by sally

Regina v Khan Regina v Lockett; Regina v Carrington

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“Confiscation orders made under old regulations in tobacco-smuggling cases had to be quashed because the prosecuting authority had overlooked the fact that new regulations had narrowed the categories of persons liable to pay excise duty.”

The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

British troops ‘breached human rights laws’ during Iraqi interrogations – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in armed forces, human rights, Iraq, news by sally

“British troops were accused at the High Court yesterday of using interrogation techniques on Iraqi civilian detainees that breached human rights laws.”

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The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Consultation paper on sentencing for drug offences – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in drug offences, news, sentencing by sally

“On Wednesday 22 April the Sentencing Advisory Panel published a consultation paper relating to the sentencing of the most commonly committed drug offences.”

Consultation paper on sentencing of drug offences (PDF)

Press Notice (PDF)

Drugs consultation paper – Annex B (xls)

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 22nd April 2009

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

The media in divorce courts – a blackmailers’ charter – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in divorce, family courts, media, news by sally

“Two family lawyers assess the impact of new rules allowing the media the right to attend all divorce court hearings.”

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The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

John Worboys’ jail term condemned by government adviser – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A senior adviser on rape to the government criticised the sentence given to the serial sex attacker John Worboys as ‘absolutely bizarre’ yesterday, warning it could undermine work to improve the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Family courts: now we can judge parents’ stories for ourselves – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in family courts, media, news by sally

“The opening up of family courts to the media is a step in the right direction, argues a senior family lawyer.”

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The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

It is time to scrap lawyers’ success fees? – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in costs, fees, legal profession, news by sally

“Next week Lord Justice Jackson, the Court of Appeal judge, will outline provisional proposals of his review on the costs of litigation. Among other things he is likely to urge a look at a new way to fund civil cases that could substantially replace no-win, no-fee cases for a large range of civil actions.”

Full story

The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in legislation by sally

The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (References to Financial Investigators) Order 2009

The Value Added Tax (Increase of Registration Limits) Order 2009

The Value Added Tax (Consideration for Fuel Provided for Private Use) Order 2009

The Substantial Donor Transactions (Variation of Threshold Limits) Regulations 2009

The Excise Goods (Drawback) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

The Finance Act 1998, Schedule 2 (Assessments in Respect of Drawback) (Appointed Day) Order 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

David Miliband claims of US threat over torture case ‘slippery’, court told – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in disclosure, intelligence services, news, torture by sally

“David Miliband, the foreign secretary, was accused yesterday of seriously misleading high court judges by claiming that the United States would stop sharing crucial intelligence with Britain if they agreed to disclose CIA documents showing how a UK resident was tortured.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

How can ethnic minorities reach the top of the profession? – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in legal profession, minorities, news by sally

“Baroness Scotland of Asthal could be forgiven if she saw no problem. Britain’s first black, first woman holder of the post of Attorney-General is a living example of diversity in the legal profession. But, as with women political leaders, is she a one-off?”

Full story

The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lord Carlile calls inquiry into terror bomb plot raids – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, police, terrorism by sally

“The operation that led to 12 men being arrested on suspicion of plotting a large al-Qaida atrocity is to be investigated by Lord Carlile, the country’s terror watchdog.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Drugs barons ‘should face shorter sentences’, report says – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in drug offences, news, sentencing by sally

“Drugs barons should be given shorter prison sentences, according to official proposals published today (22 April).”

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The Times, 22nd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

UK legal sector becoming more ‘socially exclusive’ – Legal Week

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in legal profession, news by sally

“The UK legal sector has been highlighted by the Government as one of a number of professions becoming increasingly socially exclusive.”

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Legal Week, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.legalweek.com

A Whiter Shade of Pale enters legal history books – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in copyright, news by sally

“First it wins the ultimate accolade as the most-played song in British public places; now A Whiter Shade of Pale enters the legal history books.”

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The Times, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Smurf’ jailed for running over man and knocking out two others – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in assault, news, sentencing by sally

“A party-goer dressed as a smurf ran over a man and knocked out two others with a baseball bat has been jailed for three years.”

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd April 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Binyam Mohamed challenges secret evidence ruling – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in disclosure, evidence, intelligence services, news, torture by sally

“This week lawyers for Binyam Mohamed, the former Guantánamo detainee, return to court to challenge the ruling that he cannot see secret evidence that, he maintains, is central to his claim to have been subject to torture with the consent of the UK intelligence authorities.”

Full story

The Times, 22nd April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk