Squatters could be good for us all, says judge in empty homes ruling – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 6th, 2011 in freedom of information, housing, local government, news, squatting, tribunals by sally

“Squatters are not criminals and could be good for society, a judge has ruled in ordering a London council to make public a list of empty homes in its area.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

David Cameron to announce court verdicts will be televised – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2011 in courts, judgments, media, news, sentencing, verdicts by sally

“Judges’ sentencing of offenders is to be televised under plans to be unveiled by the prime minister shortly, the Guardian has learned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police and MI5 ‘ready for new terror powers’ – BBC News

“The government has insisted that MI5 and the police will be ready to monitor terror suspects under a revamped system as soon as new laws are passed.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Leveson inquiry: terms of reference – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2011 in inquiries, media, news by sally

“Terms of reference for the judge-led inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Driver whose car was damaged by potholes wins £2,000 payout – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 6th, 2011 in compensation, local government, news, road traffic by sally

“A driver whose car was damaged by potholes in Coventry has won a payout of £2,000 after taking the city council to court.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Peers concern at ‘tsunami’ of new legislation – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2011 in legislation, legislative drafting, news, parliament by sally

“A ‘tsunami’ of legislation means laws are being passed without proper scrutiny, peers have told the BBC.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kenneth Clarke blames English riots on a ‘broken penal system’ – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2011 in crime, news, recidivists, violent disorder by sally

“The justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, has blamed the riots that swept across England last month on a ‘broken penal system’ that has failed to rehabilitate a group of hardcore offenders he describes as the ‘criminal classes’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Punish the feral rioters, but address our social deficit too

Forced repatriation staff ‘racist and unprofessional’ – The Guardian

“Private security officers employed to remove detainees from the UK showed ‘a shamefully unprofessional and derogatory attitude’, using unnecessary force and racist language, according to the chief inspector of prisons.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Riot jail sentences in crown courts up to three times longer than average – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2011 in Crown Court, news, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“Rioters sentenced in crown courts have received jail terms that are much more severe than usual, replicating the punitive response by magistrates, the Guardian can reveal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK police may be given domain name-suspension powers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 5th, 2011 in computer crime, crime prevention, domain names, news, police by sally

“UK police could be able to order the suspension of website domain names without first having to obtain a court order under new plans being considered by a domain name registry.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 5th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Call for Evidence to assist investigation into will-writing, estate administration and probate activities – Legal Services Board

Posted September 5th, 2011 in consumer protection, legal services, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today issued a call for evidence concerning how best to protect consumers of will-writing, probate and estate administration markets. The Board welcomes evidence from members of the public, legal businesses, other businesses active in these markets and all other interested parties. The deadline for evidence is 5pm, Friday 4 November 2011.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 5th September 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Torture inquiry to investigate UK-Libya rendition claims – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2011 in inquiries, Libya, news, rendition, torture by sally

“David Cameron has asked the Gibson inquiry into alleged UK complicity in torture to be widened to examine the extent of intelligence-sharing by British secret services with the Libyan Gaddafi regime, including rendition and torture.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted September 5th, 2011 in parliamentary papers by sally

Legislative Scrutiny: Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill, Cm 8167 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Women jailed over abuse of girl, 16, in south London – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2011 in false imprisonment, indecent photographs of children, news, sentencing by sally

“Three women have been jailed for subjecting a girl to hours of ‘abuse and humiliation’ in south London.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 5th, 2011 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Landon, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 1755 (05 July 2011)

Grocott, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 1962 (08 July 2011)

Barkshire & Ors, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 1885 (20 July 2011)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Mobile Telesystems Finance SA v Nomihold Securities Inc [2011] EWCA Civ 1040 (01 September 2011)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Smith v Butler & Anor [2011] EWHC 2301 (Ch) (01 September 2011)

Attwood v Maidment & Ors [2011] EWHC 2186 (Ch) (29 July 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Ofcom asked not to include general right to appeal under Digital Economy Act code – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 5th, 2011 in appeals, copyright, internet, news by sally

“The Government has asked Ofcom to avoid giving alleged copyright infringers a general right of appeal against warning letters they may receive about their online activity in new regulations due out shortly, the telecoms regulator has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 5th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 5th, 2011 in legislation by sally

The Postal Services Act 2011 (Consequential Modifications and Amendments) Order 2011

The Education (Information About Individual Pupils) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Patents Act 1977 (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No. 4) Order 2011

The Inter-American Development Bank (Contribution to the Fund for Special Operations) Order 2011

The Inter-American Development Bank (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2011

The Caribbean Development Bank (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2011

The Inter-American Development Bank (Contribution to the Fund for Special Operations) Order 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Anti-terrorism powers for a rainy day – UK Human Rights Blog

“Next week will mark the 10th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Despite the intervening decade, the states threatened by terrorism are still puzzling out the right balance between the powers of security services and the rights of suspected terrorists to due process.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 4th September 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Solicitors from Hell owner launches £1m defamation claim against Law Soc CEO – The Lawyer

Posted September 5th, 2011 in defamation, internet, news, solicitors by sally

“The fight between the Law Society and Solicitors from Hell website owner Rick Kordowski has taken a further twist with Kordowski launching a defamation claim against Law Society chief executive Des Hudson.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 2nd September 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Police face damages over arrest of nurse accused of poisoning patients – Daily Telegraph

“A hospital poisoner who attacked patients may have had more than 40 victims, police fear.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk