Facebook and Twitter could be asked to increase moderation of networks – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in freedom of expression, internet, malicious communications, news, prosecutions by sally

“The director of public prosecutions is exploring whether Facebook and Twitter should take more responsibility for policing their networks for abuse and harassment in an attempt to reduce the number of cases coming to court.”

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The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Britain could become Belarus if it abandons human rights legislation, warns Attorney General – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 10th, 2012 in attorney general, human rights, lord chancellor, news by sally

“Britain would be left comparable to ‘Belarus’ if it abandoned the European Court on Human Rights, Dominic Grieve has warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Chris Grayling’s self-defence plans greeted with dismay by lawyers – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in burglary, news, self-defence by sally

“The new justice secretary’s announcement that he will let householders deploy ‘disproportionate’ force defending homes and families has been greeted by criminal lawyers with dismay.”

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The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Self-defence – the law now and how it might change

Serious sexual offenders to get ‘two strikes and you’re out’ life sentences – The Guardian

“A hardline ‘two strikes and you’re out’ automatic life sentence for serious sexual or violent offences will be brought into force shortly, the self-proclaimed ‘tough’ justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has told the Conservative party conference.”

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The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Standard bar contracts put back by three months – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 10th, 2012 in barristers, contracts, legal services, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“The introduction of standard contractual terms between barristers and solicitors has been delayed by three months to make sure all firms and chambers are prepared, the Bar Standards Board announced today.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Abu Qatada extradition fight moves to immigration commission – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in deportation, detention, human rights, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“The Palestinian-born cleric Abu Qatada will resist a fresh attempt to deport him at a hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in central London on Wednesday.”

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The Guardian, 10th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Boy who stabbed student in row over conkers has sentence increased – The Guardian

Posted October 9th, 2012 in appeals, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A teenager who stabbed a student to death in a row over conkers has had his sentence increased by the court of appeal.”

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The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jury rules that falling masonry death at restaurant was accidental – The Independent

Posted October 9th, 2012 in accidents, health & safety, inquests, news by sally

“The death of a man killed by a piece of falling masonry as he sat at a restaurant was an accident, an inquest jury has ruled.”

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The Independent, 9th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justin Lee Collins found guilty of harassing former partner – The Guardian

Posted October 9th, 2012 in community service, domestic violence, harassment, news, sentencing by sally

“The television presenter and comedian Justin Lee Collins has been found guilty of harassing his former partner, Anna Larke, by a jury at St Albans crown court.”

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The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man gets community sentence for Facebook post about dead soldiers – The Guardian

“A man who posted a Facebook message following the deaths of six British soldiers which said: ‘All soldiers should die and go to hell’ has been sentenced to a community order and told to pay costs of £300 by magistrates.”

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The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Twelve weeks in prison for sick jokes on Facebook? Really? – UK Human Rights Blog

“A 20-year-old has been sent to prison for twelve weeks for posting offensive and derogatory comments about missing five-year-old April Jones on his Facebook page. His attempts at humour were undoubtedly stupid, offensive and exhibited incredibly poor taste and timing. But is a long spell in prison really the way we should be dealing with offensive idiots? Is a law which was passed before social media existed now placing a significant chill on our freedom of expression rights?”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

April Jones Facebook comments: should Matthew Woods be in prison? – The Guardian

“Director of public prosecutions to draft guidelines about prosecution for offensive, indecent, or obscene comments online.”

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The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Spending cuts on legal services will deny ‘effective access’ to justice, says leading barrister – The Independent

Posted October 9th, 2012 in civil justice, criminal justice, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Many people will be denied ‘effective access’ to justice as a result of Government spending cuts on legal services, according to a leading barrister.”

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The Independent, 9th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Back in the spotlight: the detention of mentally ill asylum seekers – UK Human Rights Blog

“The High Court has ruled that the failure to consider the continued detention of a mentally ill failed asylum seeker in accordance with immigration policy rendered his detention unlawful in part.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

When is a Land Contract not a Land Contract? s2 LPMPA 1989 in Practice – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted October 9th, 2012 in contracts, news, sale of land by sally

“It is a more or less universal rule that all reforms which are intended to simplify the law have unintended consequences. Section 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 came into force on 27th September 1989 – 23 years later, lawyers are still arguing about what contracts it does and does not affect, most recently in Keay v Morris Homes (West Midlands) Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 900.”

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Hardwicke Chambers, 2nd October 2012

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Beginner’s Guide to the Ban on Age Discrimination in Goods and Services – Cloisters

Posted October 9th, 2012 in age discrimination, defences, EC law, legislation, news by sally

“From 1 October, the government will bring into force the provisions within the Equality Act 2010 (EA 2010) which prohibit age discrimination in the field of goods and services by virtue of the Equality Act 2010 (Commencement No 9) Order 2012. This means that commercial, charitable and public sector organisations will be required to eliminate unequal treatment on the grounds of age in respect of the provision of goods and services.”

Full story (PDF)

Cloisters, 11th September 2012

Source: www.cloisters.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 9th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Child Support (Northern Ireland Reciprocal Arrangements) Amendment Regulations 2012

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 9th, 2012 in law reports by sally

High Court (Chancery Division)

Angel Group Ltd v British Gas Trading Ltd [2012] EWHC 2702 (Ch) (08 October 2012)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Alstom Power Ltd v Somi Impianti SRL [2012] EWHC 2644 (TCC) (08 October 2012)

High Court (Commercial Court)

JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov & Ors [2012] EWHC 2698 (Comm) (08 October 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Competition law and the National Health Service – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted October 9th, 2012 in competition, health, news, price fixing by sally

“On 16 August 2012 the Office of Fair Trading revealed that eight NHS trusts had been engaged in the exchange of commercially sensitive information. The information related to the price each would charge self-paying patients, or patients’ insurers, for treatment in a hospital operated by an NHS trust when that treatment was privately funded. The file was closed when the OFT received assurances that the information exchange had ceased and that the parties would provide their staff with training on competition law compliance.”

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 8th October 2012

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Victims to pick offenders’ punishment, Home Secretary says – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 9th, 2012 in crime, news, penalties, restorative justice, victims by sally

“Victims of crime will be able to decide how offenders are punished, under new proposals outlined by Home Secretary Theresa May today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk