Gary Glitter jailed for 16 years – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2015 in attempts, child abuse, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

‘Former pop star Gary Glitter has been jailed for a total of 16 years for sexually abusing three young girls between 1975 and 1980.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Big Fat Gypsy Judicial Review – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 27th, 2015 in codes of practice, complaints, human rights, media, news, privacy, racism, travellers by tracey

‘Traveller Movement v Ofcom and Channel 4, [2015] EWHC 406 (Admin), 20 February 2015. One of the nation’s great televisual fascinations last week became the unlikely subject of an Administrative Court judgment that demonstrates the limits of common law standards of fairness, as well as the lightness of touch applied by the courts when reviewing the decision-making of the media regulator.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 26th February 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Supreme Court – the right to be on the beach – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 27th, 2015 in commons, harbours, land registration, news by tracey

‘The Queen (on the application of Newhaven Port and Properties Limited) v East Sussex County Council and Newhaven Town Council [2015] SC 7 25 February 2015.
Late February is not necessarily the best time of year for a bit of UK sea swimming. But the Supreme Court has just come out with interesting judgments about whether there is a right to go to the beach and swim from it. For reasons I shall explain, they were anxious not to decide the point, but there are some strong hints, particularly in the judgment of Lord Carnwath as to what the right answer is, though some hesitation as to how to arrive at that answer.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th February 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Digital ‘Make A Plea’ system means people can choose where and when they plead – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 27th, 2015 in electronic filing, pleadings, press releases by tracey

‘A new digital service will allow people charged with minor motoring offences to make a plea online at a time and place of their choosing.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 26th February 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Home Secretary announces investigation into collapsed police trial – Home Office

Posted February 27th, 2015 in disclosure, miscarriage of justice, murder, police, press releases, prosecutions by tracey

‘A QC-led investigation into the collapse of a police trial following the wrongful conviction of three people for the murder of Lynette White.’

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Home Office, 26th February 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Bar Council backs MoJ U-turn on funding for DNA parentage testing – The Bar Council

Posted February 27th, 2015 in DNA, family courts, legal aid, paternity, press releases by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice’s decision to reinstate funding for DNA tests that determine parentage in family court cases was the right thing to do, says the Bar Council after Justice Minister Simon Hughes announced funds for between £500,000 and £1m a year to pay for tests.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 23rd February 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

New rules to crackdown on violent prisoners come into force – Attorney General’s Office

Posted February 27th, 2015 in assault, press releases, prisons, prosecutions, sentencing, violence by tracey

‘A significant step forward in the fight against violence in prisons has been taken, with the publication of a joint national protocol.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 27th February 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

International Children Law Update: February 2015 – Family Law Week

Posted February 27th, 2015 in child abduction, costs, enforcement, foreign jurisdictions, news, wardship by tracey

‘Jacqueline Renton, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, reviews the latest key decisions in international children law.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 23rd February 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Surrogacy Law Update (February 2015) – Family Law Week

Posted February 27th, 2015 in consent, limitations, news, surrogacy by tracey

‘Andrew Powell, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, reviews recent important judgments concerning surrogacy including the President’s landmark decision in Re X.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 26th February 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Jimmy Savile and the complex question of victim compensation – The Guardian

‘It is now known that 60 people from Stoke Mandeville hospital were abused by Jimmy Savile. But will they and his other victims receive compensation? And where will the money come from?’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Airlines told to stop delaying flight compensation claims – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 27th, 2015 in airlines, compensation, delay, news by tracey

‘Airlines have been told by a judge in a test case that they cannot keep passengers waiting for compensation for delayed flights. The decision will affect tens of thousands of people demanding compensation for flight delays, according to solicitors representing Kim Allen, the passenger in today’s case.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bank of England to boost watchdog role after failing to spot forex rigging – The Guardian

Posted February 27th, 2015 in banking, financial regulation, news by tracey

‘The Bank of England plans to beef up its watchdog role after it failed to spot one of the biggest scandals in the City’s recent history. The central bank said a “root-and-branch” review of its market intelligence operations had found that some staff were unfamiliar with the way City firms operated.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jimmy Savile scandal: Anger as no one is blamed for allowing abuse in hospitals – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 27th, 2015 in child abuse, disabled persons, hospitals, news, reports, sexual offences by tracey

‘Jimmy Savile’s victims have reacted with anger after a series of reports into his decades of abuse failed to apportion blame to any senior NHS managers. More than 40 hospitals, including Stoke Mandeville – where Savile abused at least 60 victims during a 24-year reign of terror – have investigated how the entertainer was allowed to get away with his crimes for so long. But victims branded the findings a “whitewash”, after NHS bosses claimed they had no idea what was going on.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

David Cameron orders new inquiry into treatment of Lee Rigby murderer – The Guardian

Posted February 27th, 2015 in armed forces, inquiries, intelligence services, murder, news, terrorism by tracey

‘The prime minister has ordered a new inquiry into claims the security services may have been complicit in the ill treatment of Michael Adebolajo, who went on to butcher a British soldier in a London street, it has emerged. The inquiry will be conducted by the intelligence services commissioner, Sir Mark Waller, an independent watchdog over the security services.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jimmy Savile NHS investigations: lessons learned – Department of Health

Posted February 27th, 2015 in child abuse, disabled persons, hospitals, reports, sexual offences by tracey

‘The Secretary of State for Health asked former barrister Kate Lampard to produce a ‘lessons learned’ report, drawing on the findings from all published investigations and emerging themes.’

Full report

Department of Health, 26th February 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/government/publications

Cameron and Clegg’s powers and funding pledge for Wales – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2015 in devolution, ministers' powers and duties, news, Wales by tracey

‘David Cameron and Nick Clegg will set out plans to transfer more powers from Westminster to Wales on Friday, after months of cross-party talks. They include guaranteed minimum funding for the Welsh government and allowing ministers in Wales to raise cash from the money markets for major projects.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 26th, 2015 in legislation by sally

SI 2015/329 – The Election Judges Rota Rules 2015

SI 2015/326 – The Criminal Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

SI 2015/325 – The Civil and Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

SI 2015/316 – The Town and Country Planning (Hearings and Inquiries Procedure) (England) (Amendment and Revocation) Rules 2015
Continue reading…

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 26th, 2015 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

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Benkharbouche v Embassy of the Republic of Sudan (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others intervening); Janah v Libya (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others intervening) – WLR Daily

Benkharbouche v Embassy of the Republic of Sudan (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others intervening); Janah v Libya (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others intervening) [2015] EWCA Civ 33; [2015] WLR (D) 83

‘Domestic workers employed as members of the service staff of foreign diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom were entitled to bring proceedings asserting their employment rights against the employer state, in claims including unfair dismissal and breach of working time provisions, and such claims were not barred by the doctrine of state immunity pursuant to provisions in the State Immunity Act 1978.’

WLR Daily, 5th February 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina v McDowell; Regina v Singh – WLR Daily

Posted February 26th, 2015 in appeals, confiscation, law reports, licensing, proceeds of crime, sentencing, waste by sally

Regina v McDowell; Regina v Singh [2015] EWCA Crim 173; [2015] WLR (D) 84

‘Where trading receipts were obtained as a result of lawful trading activity rather than a failure to register particulars with the local authority under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 before carrying on business as a scrap metal dealer, the trading activity was not criminal conduct from which benefit accrued, and the trading receipts were excluded from the criminal lifestyle provisions under section 75(2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.’

WLR Daily, 19th February 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk