Liam Fox sues over Adam Werritty claims – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2012 in defamation, fraud, news by tracey

“Conservative MP Liam Fox is suing the Dubai businessman who helped reveal the former defence secretary’s unusual working relationship with Adam Werritty.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Boots baby shampoo ad banned as less than 5% is organic – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2012 in advertising, complaints, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen by tracey

“A Boots ad for an ‘organic’ baby shampoo has been banned after a watchdog found that fewer than 5% of the ingredients in the product were natural.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Draft Communications Bill: Powers may uncover ‘wrong targets’ – BBC News

“Plans to monitor all Britons’ online activity risk uncovering ‘incompetent criminals and accidental anarchists’ rather than serious offenders, the information commissioner has warned.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Live animal export suspension at Ramsgate overturned – BBC News

Posted October 17th, 2012 in animal cruelty, appeals, export controls, local government, news by tracey

“A temporary suspension of live animal exports from the Port of Ramsgate has been overturned by the High Court.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BBC’s Jimmy Savile probe to be led by Harold Shipman inquiry judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 17th, 2012 in child abuse, inquiries, judges, media, news, sexual offences by tracey

“The judge who led the inquiry into serial killer Harold Shipman will chair an investigation into Sir Jimmy Savile’s alleged abuse of children at the BBC.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

 

Benefit fraud convictions rise after officials get new powers – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 17th, 2012 in benefits, fraud, news, penalties, prosecutions, repayment by tracey

“New figures show the level of fraud convictions have risen by more than 40 per cent amid a new crackdown on benefit cheats.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gary McKinnon extradition to US blocked by Theresa May – BBC News

Posted October 16th, 2012 in computer crime, extradition, human rights, mental health, news by tracey

“British computer hacker Gary McKinnon will not be extradited to the US, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Attorney General vetoes release of Prince of Wales correspondence – Attorney General’s Office

“The Attorney General today issued a certificate under the Freedom of Information Act, both as it applies for the purposes of the Act and as it applies to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, vetoing the disclosure of correspondence between HRH the Prince of Wales and ministers in seven government departments.”

Full statement

Attorney General’s Office, 16th October 2012

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

New inquest to be held into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans killed in the Hillsborough disaster – The Independent

Posted October 16th, 2012 in health & safety, inquests, news, sport by tracey

“Attorney General announced that he would apply to the High Court to have the original verdicts overturned in order that new inquests can be held.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police force fined £120,000 after theft of unencrypted memory stick – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2012 in data protection, fines, news, police by tracey

“A police force has been fined £120,000 following the theft of a memory stick containing names of members of the public who gave statements in drug investigations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stepping Hill Hospital pays £10m over brain damaged man – BBC News

Posted October 16th, 2012 in compensation, hospitals, medical treatment, news by tracey

“A hospital has agreed to fund lifetime care costing around £10m for a man who was brain damaged after being treated for croup as a baby.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar says no to plea-only advocates – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 16th, 2012 in barristers, guilty pleas, news, solicitor advocates by tracey

“The Bar Council has strongly opposed the creation of a category of ‘non-trial’ advocates in the planned advocacy accreditation scheme. The ‘plea-only’ category – originally proposed by solicitor advocates – would put the public at risk and undermine public confidence in the profession and criminal justice system, the council says in its response to the fourth and final consultation on the controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA).”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette. 13th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

 

Survey tells tale of bullying, harassment and discrimination – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 16th, 2012 in bullying, harassment, news, solicitors by tracey

“One in six solicitors has been bullied in the workplace, according to research by the Law Society. Preliminary findings of the Society’s 2012 omnibus survey of the profession reveal that 17% of solicitors say they have been bullied at work.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 16th, 2012 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Cubells, R (on the application of) v Independent Police Complaints Commission [2012] EWCA Civ 1292 (15 October 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Metropolitan Police Service, R (on the application of) v The Chairman of the Inquiry into the Death of Azelle Rodney & Ors [2012] EWHA 2783 (Admin) (15 October 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

BUQ v HRE [2012] EWHC 2827 (QB) (15 October 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Price v Cheshire East Borough Council – WLR daily

Posted October 16th, 2012 in jurisdiction, law reports, sentencing, trials by tracey

Price v Cheshire East Borough Council: [2012] WLR (D)  275

“It was wrong in law, when determining mode of trial, for justices to directly apply Sentencing Council guidelines for a different offence to that faced by the defendant unless the sentencing guidelines were directly analogous or if there was a similar level of seriousness.”

WLR Daily, 11th October 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 16th, 2012 in legislation by tracey

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2012

The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Members of the Forces) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted October 16th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by tracey

HM Government response to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution 4th Report of Session 2010-2012: Justice and Security Bill (HL): Norwich Pharmacal jurisdiction, Cm 8460 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Home Secretary Oral Statement on European Justice and Home Affairs powers – Home Office

Posted October 16th, 2012 in criminal justice, EC law, police, speeches, treaties by tracey

“Oral statement delivered on Monday 15 October 2012.”

Full statement

Home Office, 15th October 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Repeal of property sales law will pose risks for housebuilders, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

“The Government’s decision to repeal a law designed for regulating property sales and rely on general consumer protection legislation instead will expose housebuilders to new risks and increase their costs at a time when they can scarcely afford it.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

LASPO and the domestic violence gateway – LegalVoice

Posted October 16th, 2012 in domestic violence, families, law firms, legal aid, news by tracey

“As a solicitor, who set up a firm with two other family lawyers in 2005 primarily to deal with family legal aid cases for the mixed housing area of Shirley in Southampton where we practice, I was very concerned when I heard of the proposed new reforms for family legal aid work, writes Wendy Hewstone. I am a member of the Legal Aid Practitioner Group committee and have the Law Society council seat for the group so was probably more aware of the proposed changes than many and have seen and responded to numerous consultation papers.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 15th October 2012

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk