Cliff Richard case: BBC and police face parliamentary inquiry into coverage – The Guardian

Posted August 19th, 2014 in BBC, inquiries, media, news, police, select committees by tracey

‘The BBC director general, Tony Hall, and South Yorkshire police are facing a parliamentary inquiry over the leaking of highly sensitive information about the investigation of Sir Cliff Richard as an independent inquiry into the affair was announced.’

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The Guardian, 19th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Julian Assange: do recent changes to extradition law make any difference? – Head of Legal

Posted August 19th, 2014 in extradition, news, warrants by tracey

‘In a word – no. In a press conference this morning, Julian Assange told reporters a WikiLeaks spokesman could confirm that “I am leaving the embassy soon” and the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, according to the Guardian “referred to recent changes to the extradition laws in the UK which he believed would mean Mr Assange would not be facing extradition if the case started today.” Notice he did not claim these changes make any actual difference now; merely that they would have made a difference had the case started today. It started (and ended) some time ago, so they make no difference at all.’

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Head of Legal, 18th August 2014

Source: www.headoflegal.com

UK taxpayer faces £220m bill over e-borders contract termination – The Guardian

Posted August 19th, 2014 in contracts, damages, government departments, news, tribunals by tracey

‘The taxpayer has been left to foot a £220m bill after a tribunal ruled that a government contract awarded to a US defence firm to deliver the e-borders programme was unlawfully terminated.’

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The Guardian, 19th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Men guilty of attempt to kill Luton accountant Atif Ali – BBC News

Posted August 19th, 2014 in attempted murder, attempts, conspiracy, firearms, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Two men have been jailed for life over a plot to murder an accountant.’

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BBC News, 18th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rule committee backs part 36 reforms – Litigation Futures

Posted August 19th, 2014 in civil procedure rules, news, part 36 offers by tracey

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) is to consider how part 36 can be reformed – to simplify it, allow offers by counterclaiming defendants and discourage “cynical” claimant offers.’

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Litigation Futures, 19th August 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Barrister cleared of misconduct because of ombudsman’s “failure to co-operate” – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Disciplinary Tribunal has told the Legal Ombudsman that “co-operation is a two-way process”, in a case involving a failure to share information with the lawyer who was the subject of a complaint.’

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Legal Futures, 19th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cooke and another v MGN Ltd and another – WLR Daily

Posted August 19th, 2014 in defamation, law reports by tracey

Cooke and another v MGN Ltd and another: [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB); [2014] WLR (D) 379

‘By not defining the term “serious harm” in section 1(1) of the Defamation Act 2013, Parliament had left it to the courts to decide whether the serious harm test had been satisfied on the individual facts of contested claims. In cases where the statements complained of were so obviously likely to cause serious harm to a person’s reputation, that likelihood could be inferred from the words used without the need for further evidence.’

WLR Daily, 13th August 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 19th, 2014 in law reports by tracey

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

The Ritz Hotel Casino Ltd v Al Daher [2014] EWHC 2847 (QB) (15 August 2014)

Source: www.bailii.org

Youth advocacy review established – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 19th, 2014 in advocacy, children, legal representation, news, young persons, youth courts by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board and ILEX Professional Standards have issued a call for research organisations to help carry out an independent review of advocacy in the youth court.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th August 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ofcom to investigate Monty Python shows over lack of swearing – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 19th, 2014 in complaints, media, news, obscenity by tracey

‘The communications watchdog Ofcom is to investigate the Monty Python reunion shows after fans complained about a lack of swearing.
Dozens of viewers objected to “cuts” and “censorship” after some bad language was cut out of the programme, broadcast before the watershed on Gold on July 20. However others complained that the show was too rude after the censors missed some of the more controversial jokes.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police officers investigated for social media breaches – BBC News

Posted August 19th, 2014 in codes of practice, internet, news, police, professional conduct by tracey

‘Hundreds of police officers have been investigated for breaching social media guidelines, research has revealed.
Freedom of Information requests by the Press Association found officers made racist comments online and asked crime victims to become Facebook friends.’

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BBC News, 19th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison ‘crisis’ denied by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling – BBC News

Posted August 19th, 2014 in news, prisons, reports, statistics, violence, young offenders by tracey

‘Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has admitted to the BBC that prisons in England and Wales face problems with violence, suicides and staff shortages.’

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BBC News, 19th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk