Man faces jail for OAP sex assault – The Independent

Posted September 9th, 2011 in assault, news, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

“A TV aerial fitter who sexually assaulted an 85-year-old woman in her own home after doping her with designer drugs has been told he faces a ‘lengthy custodial sentence’.”

Full story

The Independent, 9th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Slough firm Duco International fined over worker death – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fines, health & safety, news by tracey

“A firm which admitted safety failures over the death of a worker at its Slough factory has been fined £200,000.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Shooting company fined over damage to Farndale – BBC News

“A field sports company has been fined £40,000 after damaging part of the North York Moors National Park.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pensioner jailed for recording court proceedings is released – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in contempt of court, news, sentencing by tracey

“An 85-year-old man who was jailed for six months for recording court proceedings was freed by the court of appeal on Friday. Three judges in London quashed the sentence imposed on Norman Scarth in July for contempt of court and substituted one of 12 weeks, resulting in his immediate release from Armley prison in Leeds.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Munir Farooqi given four life sentences for terror charges – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in news, sentencing, soliciting to murder, terrorism by tracey

“A former Taliban fighter has been given four life sentences after being found guilty of trying to recruit undercover officers to fight in Afghanistan.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Courtroom drama – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 9th, 2011 in barristers, courts, media, news by tracey

“So, David Cameron and Ken Clark want televised court cases to give greater transparency and enable the public to understand the process. The suggestion has received some support from the Bar Council. Whilst bowing to the inevitable, I have only three words in response: Mock the Week. I can see that my whole world is about to change and it is hard to see that it will be for the better. Will TV in court teach the brilliance of our advocates? Will it expose shortcomings in a prosecution or reveal unmeritorious defendants? Will it bore everyone to death and leave us to the mercy of commentators anyway, handing them along the way a great deal more material at our expense? Rumpole was really only a star because he was fictional. If Hilda had been a barrister she would have gone shopping.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 8th September 2011

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Bill of Rights Commission publishes advice (and squabbles) on European Court of Human Rights reform – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 9th, 2011 in constitutional law, constitutional reform, human rights, news by tracey

“The Commission on a Bill of Rights has published its interim advice to Government on reform of the European Court of Human Rights. It has also published a letter to ministers on reform of the Court.”

Full story

Interim advice

UK Human Rights Blog, 9th September 2011

Source: http://ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government to ban referral fees in personal injury cases – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fees, news, personal injuries by tracey

“The government has today announced that it will ban the payment of referral fees in personal injury cases. The Ministry of Justice said the current arrangements have led to high costs, encouraged a ‘compensation culture’ and led to the growth of an industry which pursues claimants for profit.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 9th, 2011 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Hughes v The Corps of Commissionaires Management Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 1061 (08 September 2011)

Camertown Timber Merchants Ltd & Anor v Sidhu & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 1041 (08 September 2011)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Castle & Ors v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [2011] EWHC 2317 (Admin) (08 September 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted September 9th, 2011 in parliamentary papers by tracey

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital gains, with protocol: London, 21 June 2010, Cm 8175

Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the French Republic for defence and security co-operation: London, 02 November 2010, Cm 8174

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital gains, with protocol: London, 8 NOvember 2006, Cm 8173

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas for the exchange of information relating to taxes: Nassau, Bahamas 29 October 2009, Cm 8172

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of San Marino for the exchange of information relating to taxes: San Marino, 16 February 2011, Cm 8171

Responding to human rights judgments: report to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Government response to human rights judgments 2010-11, Cm 8162

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

 

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 9th, 2011 in legislation by tracey

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Licences) Regulations 2007 (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 26) Order 2011

The Legal Services Act 2007 (Commencement No. 11, Transitory and Transitional Provisions and Related Amendments) Order 2011

The Capital Allowances (Environmentally Beneficial Plant and Machinery) (Amendment) Order 2011

The Inheritance Tax (Delivery of Accounts) (Excepted Estates) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011

The Excise Goods (Holding, Movement and Duty Point) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Statement on the Government’s response to our Cohabitation report – Law Commission

Posted September 9th, 2011 in cohabitation, press releases, reports by tracey

“Statement on the Government’s response to our Cohabitation report.”

Full press release

Law Commission, 6th September 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Bar Council Welcomes Move to Ban Referral Fees but Calls for Further Action – The Bar Council

Posted September 9th, 2011 in barristers, fees, personal injuries, press releases by tracey

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed Government moves to ban all referral fees in personal injury cases and has called on the Government to go further.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 9th September 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

 

Compensation claimants say changes to court costs law will add insult to injury – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in bills, costs, legal aid, news by tracey

“Victims and their families voice alarm over the ‘ill-considered’ legal aid bill now before parliament.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Streamlined use of forensic evidence eases burden on courts – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in forensic science, news by tracey

“The demise of the Forensic Science Service comes as police forces shift towards a more streamlined approach to the use of forensics in criminal cases. Instead of courts being presented with extensive forensic reports that cover all the evidence recovered in police investigations, only short reports with the initial and key findings will be submitted. Prior to the trial, prosecutors will present the defence with evidence incrementally and order additional forensic tests only when the case requires them.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Foreign criminals still released without being considered for removal – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in deportation, news, prisons by tracey

“Almost 100 foreign prisoners have been released in the last two years when they should have first being assessed for removal, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, revealed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cambridge footballer Jordan Patrick fined for racist abuse – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fines, news, racism, threatening behaviour by tracey

“Cambridge United player Jordan Patrick has been fined £750 for racially abusing a taxi driver and threatening a policeman in a drunken outburst.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man who threatened to kill gay rights campaigner gets suspended sentence – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in homosexuality, news, sentencing, threatening behaviour by tracey

“A man who threatened to ‘put a bullet in the head’ of the gay rights campaigner Ben Summerskill and a gay couple illegally barred from a hotel has been given a suspended prison sentence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Baby P effect puts record number of ‘at risk’ children in care – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in care orders, child abuse, news, social services by tracey

“Record numbers of ‘at risk’ children are being taken from their families and placed into care, official figures show, as social workers respond to what they regard as increasing neglect and emotional abuse of vulnerable youngsters.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teacher banned from classroom after ‘biting a police officer’ conviction emerges – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in criminal records, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, teachers by tracey

“A teacher has been banned from the classroom after hiding a string of convictions – including biting a police officer.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk