Eric Pickles curbs councils’ empty home seizure powers – BBC News
“Councils will have to wait two years before seizing empty homes under plans by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.”
BBC News, 7th January 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Month: January 2011
CPS publishes guidance on Non-Accidental Head Injury cases involving children – Crown Prosecution Service
“Updated guidance for prosecutors on dealing with Non-Accidental Head Injury (NAHI) cases involving children, formerly known as ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’ cases, has been published today by the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Crown Prosecution Service, 6th January 2011
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
Murder convictions for child head injuries to require extra evidence – CPS – The Guardian
“Evidence of head injuries is unlikely to be sufficient on its own to charge someone with homicide, attempted murder or assault of young children, the Crown Prosecution Service said today.”
The Guardian, 6th January 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Strict surveillance to replace current system – The Independent
“The house arrest of terror suspects will be scrapped and replaced with more rigorous surveillance in an overhaul of the control order system, starting next week. Home curfews, restraints on travel within Britain and limitations on contact with other people would be abandoned. Curbs on access to mobile phones and computers would be eased.”
The Independent, 7th January 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Reform of libel laws set to open up the right of free speech – The Independent
“Sweeping changes to England’s much-criticised libel laws will be introduced, Nick Clegg will announce today.”
The Independent, 7th January 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Conman who stole £120,000 ordered to repay £1 – Daily Telegraph
“A conman who stole more than £120,000 from customers who thought they were renting holiday villas has been ordered to repay just £1.”
Daily Telegraph, 5th January 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Incentives to sue to be banned as UK tackles compensation culture – OUT-LAW.com
“Claims management companies will be prevented from offering clients cash incentives to bring damages claims if a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) proposal to tighten up the rules comes into effect.”
OUT-LAW.com, 6th January 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
Control orders: what are they and why do they matter? – Legal Week
“The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is to make an announcement today on the future of control orders, a controversial anti-terrorism measure which have been repeatedly found by the court to infringe human rights. But what are they? And why have they caused such trouble since they were introduced?”
Legal Week, 6th January 2011
Source: www.legalweek.com
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Favell, R. v [2010] EWCA Crim 2948 (26 November 2010)
Hill, R. v [2010] EWCA Crim 2999 (26 November 2010)
Pinnell & Anor, R. v [2010] EWCA Crim 2848 (07 December 2010)
Source: www.bailii.org
‘Bully claim’ Essex dinner lady was unfairly sacked – BBC News
“An Essex dinner lady sacked after telling a couple their child had been bullied was dismissed unfairly, a tribunal has ruled.”
BBC News, 6th January 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Prominent legal figures give their predictions for 2011 – Law Society’s Gazette
“No one from whom the Gazette sought a prediction sees the year ahead as dull – 2011, according to lawyers, people who provide services to the legal profession, a government minister, and the profession’s leaders, will be a year in which the economic context will remain extremely challenging. Firms’ finances will come under close scrutiny, serious new competitors will emerge, and lawyers will be moving firms in ever greater numbers. And there is, of course, huge concern about the future provision of legal aid.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 6th January 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
28,000 prisoners will have right to vote – The Guardian
“More than 28,000 prisoners are to win the right to vote, new figures showed yesterday, as David Cameron faces a growing revolt from the Tory right against the lifting of the 140-year-old ban on inmates voting in British elections.”
The Guardian, 5th January 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ratcliffe coal protesters spared jail sentences – The Guardian
“Environmental activists who planned to shut down a coal-fired power station near Nottingham were spared jail today after a judge declared they acted with ‘the highest possible motives’.”
The Guardian, 5th January 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ex-KGB agent sues MI5 over ‘privacy breach’ – The Independent
“A former senior KGB agent is suing MI5 over invasion of his privacy, alleging his family members were victims of a campaign of harassment and unlawful surveillance.”
The Independent, 6th January 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Chancery Lane warns against publication of complaints – Law Society’s Gazette
“Reporting the names of lawyers and law firms who have been the subject of complaints by the public will disproportionately affect sole practitioners and black and minority ethnic (BME) lawyers, according to the Law Society.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 5th January 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Human embryos ‘at risk of losing legal protection’ in research – The Guardian
“The human embryo may be in danger of losing the special status that guards it against use in anything other than important and necessary research, under proposals due out next week.”
The Guardian, 5th January 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Freedom of Information could cover hundreds more bodies – BBC News
“Hundreds more organisations could be made subject to Freedom of Information laws, Deputy PM Nick Clegg is to say.”
BBC News, 6th January 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Prosecution of driver who warned others of speed trap defended by CPS – Daily Telegraph
“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has defended its decision to prosecute a driver who flashed his lights at other motorists to warn them of a mobile police speed trap.”
Daily Telegraph, 5th January 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Family mediation – an alternative to courts – Ministry of Justice
“The first working day of the year is when lawyers, marriage counsellors and family mediators report the most enquiries from people intending to separate — which has sometimes led to it being coined ‘Divorce Day’ by the media.”
Ministry of Justice, 4th January 2011
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Most child offenders should not face court, says report – BBC News
“The government is being urged to end Crown Court trials for children in England and Wales.”
BBC News, 5th January 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
