Ofcom lays down the law on raunchy videos before the 9pm watershed – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2011 in complaints, media, news, obscenity by tracey

“Ofcom has ordered UK broadcasters to be more careful about showing sexually explicit music videos before the 9pm watershed. The regulator issued new guidance on Friday, focusing on the visual as well as the verbal content of some music videos in a bid to tighten the enforcement of existing watershed rules.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Woman jailed for looting trainers during riots – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 30th, 2011 in news, sentencing, theft by tracey

“A woman pictured trying on trainers outside a looted sports shop during the London riots, wept in the dock today as she was jailed for eight months.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pensioner faked death in Central America for life insurance payout – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 30th, 2011 in fraud, insurance, news, possession of false identity documents, theft by tracey

“A pensioner was jailed for six years today after he admitted faking his own death in Central America to try to pocket a £520,000 life insurance payout.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph. 30th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Default retirement age end hailed – The Independent

Posted September 30th, 2011 in age discrimination, news, retirement by tracey

“Age equality campaigners today hailed the end of employment rules forcing people on to the ‘scrap heap’ at the age of 65. Bosses from tomorrow will no longer be able to set a mandatory retirement age, as the Government brings in changes to reflect people living longer and healthier lives.”

Full story

The Independent, 30th September 2011

Source: www.indpendent.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted September 30th, 2011 in parliamentary papers by tracey

Post-legislative scrutiny of the Terrorism Act 2006, Cm 8186 (PDF)

Firearms control: the Government response to the third report of the Home Affairs Committee session 2010-11 HC 447, Cm 8155 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 30th, 2011 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Farquharson v R [2011] EWHC Crim 2168 (30 September 2011)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Balevents Ltd v Sartori [2011] EWHC 2437 (Ch) (29 September 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

PT BUANA SAMUDRA PRATAMA v Marine Mutual Insurance Association (NZ) Ltd [2011] EWHC 2413 (Comm) (29 September 2011)

British Arab Commercial Bank Plc & Ors v Algosaibi & Ors [2011] EWHC 2444 (Comm) (29 September 2011)

African Fertilizers and Chemicals Nig Ltd (Nigeria) v BD Shipsnavo GmbH & Co Reederei Kg [2011] EWHC 2452 (Comm) (29 September 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Ferdinand v MGN Ltd [2011] EWHC 2454 (QB) (29 September 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

W v M and others – WLR Daily

Posted September 30th, 2011 in euthanasia, law reports, medical treatment by tracey

W v M and others [2011] EWHC 2443 (Fam);  [2011] WLR (D)  283

“Pursuant to section 4 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 it was not in the best interests of a patient diagnosed as being in a minimally conscious state to authorise the withdrawal of all life sustaining treatment including nutrition and hydration by artifical means (‘ANH’).”

WLR Daily, 28th September 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 30th, 2011 in legislation by tracey

The Libya (Asset-Freezing) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Vulnerable witnesses in the administration of criminal justice – Speech by The Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

Posted September 30th, 2011 in children, criminal justice, learning difficulties, speeches, witnesses by tracey

“Vulnerable witnesses in the administration of criminal justice – speech by The Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, 29/09/2011.”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 29th September 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Government to consider options for equal civil marriage for same-sex couples – Home Office

Posted September 30th, 2011 in consultations, homosexuality, marriage, press releases by tracey

“A public consultation to consider how to make civil marriage available to same-sex couples will begin in March 2012, the government announced today.”

Full press release

Home Office, 26th September 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Professional Conduct Department: Diversity Report 2009/10 – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 30th, 2011 in barristers, complaints, diversity, news, professional conduct by tracey

“We have analysed the gender, ethnicity and disability profiles of barristers who were the subject of complaints in 2009 and 2010; and, in relation to external complaints, the complainants who submitted the complaints. We monitor diversity in our complaints handling and disciplinary system to ensure that we conduct our regulatory activities fairly and in accordance with our duty to promote equality and eliminate discrimination.”

Full report

Bar Standards Board, 30th September 2011

Source: www.barstandsboard.org.uk

Newham landlords face first mandatory licensing scheme – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2011 in housing, landlord & tenant, licensing, news by tracey

“Landlords who rent out properties privately in a borough in east London could be the first in the country to face mandatory licensing under new proposals. Newham Council has started a 10-week consultation on proposals to introduce a licensing scheme for all private landlords that would see them and their properties subjected to legal checks. If the scheme is approved by councillors, it will be the first borough in England to license all private landlords.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Linda Bakewell murder: Philip Martins jailed for life – BBC News

Posted September 30th, 2011 in murder, news, sentencing by tracey

“A man has been jailed for life for murdering a Liverpool solicitor before hiding her body in the boot of his car.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

OFT uncovers ‘unfair’ mobility aid sales practices – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2011 in disabled persons, elderly, news, unfair commercial practices, unfair dismissal by tracey

“Evidence of unfair sales practices targeted at elderly and vulnerable consumers buying mobility aids has been uncovered by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), leading to an investigation into two nationwide traders.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Maternity unit deaths apology by Queen’s Hospital – BBC News

Posted September 30th, 2011 in birth, hospitals, news by tracey

“A hospital trust boss has apologised for failings in the care given to two maternity patients who died. An external review into Violet Stephens’ death at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, east London, in April revealed a succession of failures in her care.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rio Ferdinand loses ‘kiss and tell’ privacy case against Sunday Mirror – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2011 in freedom of expression, media, news, privacy by tracey

“Footballer Rio Ferdinand on Thursday lost his privacy action over a ‘kiss and tell’ story published by the Sunday Mirror.The England and Manchester United star was not at the high court in London to hear Mr Justice Nicol dismiss his claim against Sunday Mirror publisher Mirror Group Newspapers. Ferdinand will pay MGN’s legal costs.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘M’ and the law: a difficult case heard in the right court – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2011 in Court of Protection, euthanasia, medical ethics, medical treatment, news by tracey

“A brain-damaged woman’s family didn’t get the judgment it wanted, but in the past it was more painful for such cases even to be brought.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers slam ‘chaotic’ asylum unit – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 30th, 2011 in asylum, complaints, news by tracey

“”The UK’s system for registering asylum claims is chaotic and unworkable and urgently needs a root-and-branch overhaul, lawyers’ groups allege. Problems at the ‘Kafkaesque’ asylum screening unit in Croydon, the only such unit remaining after a similar unit in Liverpool closed in 2009, have prompted angry letters to the UK Border Agency from the Law Society and Immigration Lawyers Practitioners Association (ILPA).”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 29th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Family sentenced in plot to kill grandfather for early inheritance – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2011 in conspiracy, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

“Daughter aged 49 and three teenagers face jail or youth detention after ‘despicable and inhuman’ attack.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison for hospital Nazi salute at Jewish teenager – BBC News

Posted September 30th, 2011 in news, public order, religiously aggravated offences, sentencing by tracey

“A man has been described as a ‘bully with hatred in his heart’ and jailed for nine months after making Nazi salutes at a Jewish teenager.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk