Fred Talbot guilty of indecently assaulting two teenage boys – The Guardian

‘The former television weatherman Fred Talbot has been convicted of indecently assaulting two teenage boys when he was a teacher.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge brands rape victim ‘foolish’ for drinking too much – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 16th, 2015 in alcohol abuse, consent, Crown Prosecution Service, news, rape, sentencing, victims by sally

‘Mr Justice Males describes rape victim as ‘very unwise” for drinking so much in a nightclub she was raped by two men.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tax authorities should prosecute evaders, says Keir Starmer – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2015 in banking, fraud, news, select committees, sentencing, tax evasion, taxation, whistleblowers by sally

‘Criminal prosecution for tax evasion should become the default position of the tax authorities, Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions, has said, as HM Revenue and Customs came under further scrutiny over whether it responded to an email from a French whistleblower setting out details of the scale of tax evasion by HSBC.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Baby P’s mother back in jail ‘for naked pictures’ – The Independent

Posted February 16th, 2015 in bail, internet, news, photography, pornography by sally

‘Baby P’s mother is back in prison after allegedly selling pornographic photographs of herself online.’

Full story

The Independent, 15th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tina Love jailed over Butlins nose-bite panto attack – BBC News

Posted February 16th, 2015 in assault, grievous bodily harm, holidays, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman who bit off part of another woman’s nose at Butlins during a children’s pantomime has been jailed.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge refuses mother’s plea to treat terminally-ill son, saying he should be allowed to die – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 16th, 2015 in cancer, Court of Protection, doctors, families, medical treatment, news, young persons by sally

‘Court of Protection rules that specialists can lawfully stop providing chemotherapy to terminally-ill teenager.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Data protection laws broken 13 times by Companies House – BBC News

Posted February 16th, 2015 in data protection, freedom of information, news by sally

‘Confidential and personal details were sent to the wrong people by staff at Companies House in Cardiff, BBC Wales has learned.’

Full story

BBC News, 14th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 16th, 2015 in legislation by sally

SI 2015/135 – The Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Order 2015

SI 2015/132 – The Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Commissioners (Removal of Pilotage Functions) Order 2015

SI 2015/143 – The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2015

SI 2015/134 – The Pensions Act 2014 (Commencement No.4) Order 2015
Continue reading…

Victim told to write to vicious attacker or face jail herself – Daily Telegraph

‘A mother who was tortured for seven hours and had her throat slashed in front of her twin sons has been forced to write to her attacker, and could face jail herself if she refuses.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Online court proposed to resolve claims of up to £25,000 – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2015 in dispute resolution, internet, legal aid, news, small claims, telephone hearings by sally

‘The UK justice system should receive a radical overhaul for the digital age with the creation of an online court to expand access to justice and resolve claims of up to £25,000, the official body that oversees civil courts has recommended.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Kenneth Noye, M25 road rage killer, to get parole hearing – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2015 in murder, news, parole by tracey

‘Road rage killer Kenneth Noye, one of the UK’s most notorious criminals, has been given the chance to argue for his release at a parole hearing.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Top judge says claims Sun trial judges were switched to secure conviction are ‘absurd’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 13th, 2015 in conspiracy, judges, media, misfeasance, news by tracey

‘In a rare move, Mr Justice Sweeney weighs in at the Old Bailey to settle the legal row which erupted that week over the retrial of senior Sun executives.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Birmingham PE teacher Marcus Marcussen jailed for abuse – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2015 in child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual offences, teachers by tracey

‘A retired PE teacher has been jailed for nine years for sexually abusing schoolboys nearly 60 years ago.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid in domestic violence cases: civil law vs. LASPO 2012 – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted February 13th, 2015 in domestic violence, legal aid, news by tracey

‘Is the domestic violence evidence gateway in the Civil Legal Aid (Procedure) Regulations 2012 ultra vires the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO 2012)? Sarah Clarke, a solicitor at the Public Law Project, examines a recent ruling on the matter and discusses the implications for practitioners.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th February 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Judge rules that Mr Pickles unlawfully discriminated against Gypsies and Travellers – Garden Court Chambers Blog

‘Marc Willers QC explores the recent High Court judgment in which it was found that the conduct of Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, constituted indirect discrimination against Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers.’

Full story

Garden Court Chambers, 12th February 2015

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Important Presidential decision on costs in immigration cases – Free Movement

Posted February 13th, 2015 in costs, immigration, news, tribunals by tracey

‘The Presidents of the Immigration and Asylum Chambers sat together in the First-tier Tribunal case of Cancino (costs – First-tier Tribunal – new powers) [2015] UKFTT 00059 (IAC) in order to give guidance on when legal costs might become payable in immigration cases. The power to make awards of legal costs to a party in immigration appeals was only introduced in October 2014 and there has been no real guidance until now.’

Full story

Free Movement, 13th February 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

No more ‘early release’ for child rapists and terrorists – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 13th, 2015 in child abuse, early release, rape, sentencing, terrorism by tracey

‘Child rapists and terrorists will no longer be automatically released half-way through their sentence, as part of a range of tough new laws that have received Royal Assent today.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 12th February 2015

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

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 13th, 2015 in legislation by sally

SI 2015/126 – The Antarctic (Recognised Assistance Dog) Regulations 2015

SI 2015/121 – The Gaming Machine (Circumstances of Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

SI 2015/106 – The Non-Domestic Rating (Small Business Rate Relief) (England) (Amendment) Order 2015

SI 2015/104 – The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2015

SI 2015/103 – The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2015
Continue reading…

Court rules on power to decline to determine retrospective planning applications – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 13th, 2015 in enforcement notices, local government, news, planning, retrospectivity by tracey

‘The High Court has issued a ruling that clarifies the scope of a local authority’s power to decline to determine a retrospective planning application when an enforcement notice is in place. The case of Wingrove v Stratford on Avon District Council [2015] EWHC 287 (Admin) was the first time the ambit of s. 70C of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 had been considered.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Supreme Court to hear QASA appeal – but rejects claim of threat to advocate independence – Legal Futures

Posted February 13th, 2015 in advocacy, appeals, barristers, news, proportionality, public interest, quality assurance by tracey

‘The barristers challenging the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates have today been granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court declined permission to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s finding that the principle of independence of the advocate was not infringed by QASA, saying it did not have a real prospect of success.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 12th February 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk