New guidance for public bodies on FOI requests for information they intend to publish in future – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 11th, 2016 in codes of practice, disclosure, freedom of information, news, public interest by tracey

‘Public bodies will find it harder to justify decisions to withhold information requested under freedom of information (FOI) laws on the basis that they intend to publish the material in future where no date has been set for that publication, according to newly issued guidance.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th January 2016

Source: out-law.com

Landlords in England get ready for right to rent – Home Office

‘Landlords in England are being reminded that there is less than a month to go before “right to rent” rules go live.’

Full press release

Home Office, 8th January 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Finance and Divorce Update January 2016 – Family Law Week

‘Edward Heaton, Principal Associate and Jane Booth, Associate, both of Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during December 2015.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 8th January 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Dating website fraudsters jailed over £1.6m scam – BBC News

Posted January 11th, 2016 in conspiracy, fraud, internet, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Two men who conned a woman out of £1.6m by using a fictional character to contact her on a dating website have been jailed.’

Full story

BBC News, 8th January 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nearly 300 British veterans face investigation over alleged Iraq war crimes – The Guardian

‘Nearly 300 British personnel who served in Iraq have been contacted by investigators looking into allegations of war crimes, with some of them facing interrogation on their doorsteps, officials have said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Diplomats use Vienna Convention to fight London basement digout – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 11th, 2016 in appeals, diplomats, housing, news, planning, treaties by tracey

‘An argument over an extension plan next door to the French embassy in London has gone global as an unlikely alliance of diplomats has formed, citing the 1961 Vienna Convention, in a bid to kill it off.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

City watchdog denies going soft on banks after dropping inquiry – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2016 in banking, financial regulation, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, tax avoidance by tracey

‘The acting chief executive of the City watchdog has denied claims it has gone soft on banks following the decision to drop its inquiry into banking culture.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Traveller Movement condemns Met Police inquiry into racism as ‘a whitewash’ – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2016 in appeals, complaints, inquiries, internet, news, ombudsmen, police, racism, travellers by tracey

‘The Metropolitan Police is examining whether its staff need to change the way they engage with members of the two ethnic minority groups, despite its official investigation into the racism claims concluding without any officers being formally disciplined or charged.’

Full story

The Independent, 9th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family judge criticised for not naming council that breached father’s rights – The Guardian

‘A family court judge has come under fire after refusing to name a council that violated a man’s parental rights by taking his four-year-old daughter into care without a proper investigation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Too many people unfit to plead face criminal trials, says Law Commission – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2016 in criminal justice, fitness to plead, Law Commission, mental health, news, trials by tracey

‘Commission will tell Government legal tests to determine whether someone is mentally fit for trial are Victorian legacies.’

Full story

The Independent, 10th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk