Crown Court Bench Book – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 13th, 2016 in criminal procedure, Crown Court, judiciary, juries, press releases by tracey

‘The main aim of this Compendium is to provide guidance on directing the jury in Crown Court trials and when sentencing, though it contains some practical suggestions in other areas, for example jury management, which it is hoped will be helpful..’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 10th May 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Bar regulator has made “significant improvements”, says LSB’s report – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has made “significant improvements” as a regulator since 2012-13, says the Legal Services Board (LSB)’s today in its Regulatory Standards Report for 2015-16 about the Bar regulator.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 10th May 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Wellbeing in the legal profession – one year on – The Bar Council

Posted May 13th, 2016 in barristers, mental health, press releases by tracey

‘The Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, has urged the legal sector and other professions to work together on supporting wellbeing and mental health in the professions one year after the Bar Council and the Inns of Court published its Wellbeing at the Bar report.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 13th May 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Daily Mail publisher fined £40,000 over pixellated photograph – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2016 in anonymity, child abuse, fines, guilty pleas, media, news, victims by tracey

‘Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, has been fined £40,000 after pleading guilty to identifying a man who claims to be the victim of a VIP paedophile ring.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Medway youth offenders centre complaints ‘ignored’ – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2016 in complaints, detention, news, young offenders by tracey

‘Dozens of complaints about how G4S ran three youth offender centres were ignored, a report has concluded.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Birmingham pub bombings: coroner receives ‘significant’ information about whether MI5 had prior knowledge – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 13th, 2016 in explosives, inquests, intelligence services, news, terrorism by tracey

‘The coroner who is considering re-opening the inquests into the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings has received “significant” new information about whether MI5 knew about the IRA attacks in advance.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Court rejects request by same-sex Indian couple to remain in UK – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2016 in homosexuality, immigration, India, married persons, news by tracey

‘A married lesbian couple from India who have lived legally in the UK for many years have had their request to continue living in Britain rejected despite the fact their relationship will not be legally recognised in the south Asian country.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

City insider traders sentenced to eight years in prison – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 13th, 2016 in financial regulation, insider dealing, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Two men who were part of the most complex insider dealing ring uncovered by the City watchdog have been sentenced to a total of eight years in prison.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A judge-shaming list is bad for justice – The Guardian

‘Judges shouldn’t be frightened to set precedents. A list of those that have “gone too far” – including over a Guardian freedom of information request on the Prince of Wales’s letters – risks deterring justice.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police watchdog to investigate Hillsborough inquest spin claims – The Guardian

‘The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into allegations that South Yorkshire police tried to influence daily media coverage of the Hillsborough inquests and spin what the force considered to be evidence favourable to it.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ted Heath investigation to continue after probe into police misconduct finds no evidence of wrongdoing – The Independent

‘Police have vowed to continue their investigation into allegations of child sex abuse by the late Sir Edward Heath after several people responded to an appeal for information.’

Full story

The Independent, 12th May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court to rule on Isle of Wight term-time holiday case – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2016 in fines, holidays, news, parental responsibility, school children, truancy by tracey

‘The case of a father who refused to pay a £120 fine for taking his daughter on an unauthorised term-time holiday is due to be heard by the High Court. Magistrates had ruled that Jon Platt had no case to answer as, overall, his daughter had attended school regularly. But Isle of Wight Council has asked the High Court to clarify whether a seven-day absence amounts to a child failing to attend regularly.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

PPI victims ‘should have got £5bn more’ – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2016 in compensation, consumer protection, insurance, news by tracey

‘Twelve million consumers who were mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) should have got an extra £5bn, a group of MPs has said. That is the total amount that claims management companies charged clients to process their complaints.
MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said they were disappointed the money did not go to the victims of the scandal.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gang found guilty of hunting down and stabbing Hackney teenager to death – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2016 in gangs, murder, news by tracey

‘Four members of gang who hunted down and murdered a teenager in east London are facing life behind bars.’

Full story

The Independent, 12th May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Conservatives receive High Court challenge to hand over election spending information – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 13th, 2016 in disclosure, elections, expenses, news, political parties by tracey

‘The Conservatives are being taken to court over claims they failed to disclose information related to its investigation into claims that it breached election spending rules.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police review revenge porn case against man let off with caution – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2016 in cautions, children, harassment, internet, news, police, pornography, telecommunications by tracey

‘Detectives are considering whether to reinterview a man accused of revenge pornography after criticism over their failure to charge him.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court of Appeal backs decision to clear Green Belt land of Romany Gypsy caravans – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 12th, 2016 in appeals, local government, news, planning, travellers by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected a judicial review challenge to the decision of a local authority to use its planning enforcement powers to clear agricultural land in the Green Belt of caravans occupied by Romany Gypsies.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 12th May 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court rejects 600 Iraqis’ claims of mistreatment by UK soldiers – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2016 in appeals, armed forces, compensation, Iraq, news, Supreme Court, time limits by sally

‘Claims by more than 600 Iraqi civilians alleging that they were unlawfully detained and physically mistreated by British soldiers have been dismissed by the supreme court in London.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 12th, 2016 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

High Court (Administrative Court)

High Court (Chancery Division)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Source: www.bailii.org

Sentencing guidelines to reflect influence of technology – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The influence of technological developments on offending – such as sharing photos and videos on social media, and online grooming – have been factored into new sentencing proposals for young offenders.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 12th March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk