Child sex abuse inquiry public hearings to start – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2017 in charities, child abuse, children, Christianity, immigration, inquiries, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales is to hold its first public hearings later.’

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BBC News, 27th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EU referendum campaign spending probed – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2017 in budgets, disclosure, news, political parties, referendums by sally

‘The spending returns of the Stronger In and Vote Leave campaigns in last year’s EU referendum are under investigation, the Electoral Commission has announced.’

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BBC News, 24th February 2017

source: www.bbc.co.uk

If you’ve ever thought that prison is the place for mentally ill criminals, you need to hear about the tragic life of Vishnu Wood – The Independent

Posted February 24th, 2017 in mental health, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘I’m not a vindictive person by nature. But when I attended Vishnu’s funeral after mentoring him through so many highs and lows, I wanted the judges who had sent him to Wormwood Scrubs to be there.’

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The Independent, 24th February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

European Parliament calls for comprehensive legal framework for robotics and AI – Technology Law Update

Posted February 24th, 2017 in artificial intelligence, EC law, news by sally

‘Robots. Whether you love them or hate them, they are on the march. Many new consumer robotics products were on display at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, offering personalised help with controlling connected equipment and mundane household tasks. Robots and Artificial Intelligence are increasingly active in industrial fields like manufacturing and warehouse logistics (think Ocado’s new online shopping distribution warehouse, for example) and service contexts like banking.’

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Technology Law Update, February 2017

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Council to set up QC-led inquiry into controversial compulsory purchase order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 24th, 2017 in compulsory purchase, inquiries, news by sally

‘The full council at the London Borough of Lewisham has unanimously agreed to set up an independent inquiry led by a QC to examine matters relating to a controversial proposed compulsory purchase order.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Are we tough enough on animal cruelty? – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2017 in animal cruelty, bills, news, sentencing by sally

‘When two brothers who filmed themselves torturing a dog were spared jail it provoked an outcry. Yet England and Wales has the lightest maximum sentence in Europe for animal cruelty offences. Now an MP is hoping to make the law tougher on perpetrators.’

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BBC News, 24th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case of conflicting CPR provisions “highlight concerns over fixed costs extension” – Litigation Futures

‘A recent ruling caused by “shoddy” drafting of the CPR highlights the importance of any extension of fixed costs being accompanied by “a well-drafted and fully integrated set of procedural rules”, a costs specialist has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Solicitors unite to oppose fee cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 24th, 2017 in budgets, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘The criminal defence community cannot absorb any more legal aid fee cuts, the Law Society and practitioner groups have told the government, which this week suggested that it will press ahead with controversial proposals.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th February 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

British Bill of Rights plan shelved again for several more years, Justice Secretary confirms – The Independent

Posted February 24th, 2017 in bills, human rights, news by sally

‘The long-running Conservative proposal for a “British Bill of Rights” has once again been shelved for several more years.’

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The Independent, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Women who sign up to dating sites are not consenting to sex regardless, judge tells Plenty of Fish rapist – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 24th, 2017 in consent, internet, news, rape, sentencing by sally

‘Women who sign up to dating sites are not consenting to sex, a judge said as he jailed a man for raping a woman he met on Plenty of Fish.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Davor Jancic: A Very Parliamentary Brexit: Satire in Two Acts – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted February 24th, 2017 in brexit, devolution, EC law, news, parliament, referendums, veto by sally

‘Brexit is a very parliamentary affair. The reason is that both the UK Parliament, the European Parliament and, in all likelihood, each of the parliaments of the EU Member States will have veto powers over the terms of Brexit. This gives them ample opportunities to influence the course of negotiations. Unless the wishes of all of these parliamentary bodies are accommodated, it will be a rather ‘hard’ Brexit indeed. This commentary examines the role of parliaments in the UK’s yet-to-be-triggered exit from the EU.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Jasvinder Sanghera: I ran away to escape a forced marriage – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2017 in forced marriages, news, Sikhism by sally

‘Jasvinder Sanghera was locked in a room by her parents when she was 16, when she refused to marry the man they had chosen for her. Here she describes how she escaped with the help of a secret boyfriend – but lost all contact with her family as a result.’

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BBC News, 24th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New UK laws address driverless cars insurance and liability – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 24th, 2017 in bills, damages, insurance, news, personal injuries, road traffic by sally

‘Insurers would be primarily responsible for paying out damages stemming from accidents caused by ‘automated vehicles’ under new UK legislation laid before the UK parliament’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Police surgeon carried out ‘unacceptable’ examinations – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2017 in complaints, doctors, inquiries, news, police by sally

‘A former police surgeon conducted “woefully or grossly” unacceptable medical examinations, an independent investigation found.’

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BBC News, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Helen Bailey murder: Ian Stewart jailed for at least 34 years for killing author – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2017 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘Ian Stewart, the “callous” and “wicked” man who drugged and murdered his fiancee, Helen Bailey, before dumping her body in a cesspit to get his hands on her fortune, has been sentenced to at least 34 years in prison.’

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A united approach – Counsel

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in barristers, children, cross-examination, news, witnesses, young persons by sally

‘HHJ Simon Drew QC and Lynda Gibbs explain why the pan-profession s 28 and ‘advocacy and the vulnerable’ training – being delivered to over 14,000 criminal advocates over the next two years – heralds a sea change.’

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Counsel, March 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Regulators should recognise that drivers cannot be expected to stay in-the-loop in highly autonomous vehicles – Technology Law Update

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in computer programs, consultations, insurance, news, road safety, road traffic by sally

‘The UK Government’s response to last year’s consultation on driverless cars concluded that the current approach of rolling regulatory reform was the right one, giving the flexibility to adapt to technological change and enabling innovation in a step-by-step way. The focus should be on technologies that are near to market, working to facilitate their safe introduction to UK roads.’

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Technology Law Update, 22nd February 2017

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Banns of marriage – their development and future – Law & Religion UK

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in Church of England, disclosure, marriage, news, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales by sally

‘The legal requirement to read banns for couples intending to marry in church services was considered by members of the Church of England General Synod on 14 February 2017. Though Synod rejected moves that sought to end this “ecclesiastical preliminary” to marriage, important arguments were cited both for their retention and for their removal. In this post, we summarize the development and current usage in England and Wales, Scotland and the two jurisdictions in Ireland, and examine possible future directions.’

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Law & Religion UK, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

A Final Costs Order is Just That – Zenith PI Blog

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in civil procedure rules, costs, news by sally

‘CPR r.3.1(7) gives the court a general power to vary or revoke an order, but does this extend to a final order?’

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Zenith PI Blog, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in brexit, climate change, EC law, enforcement, environmental protection, news, reports by sally

‘In this latest Environmental News Update, Christopher Badger comments on a record payment for an enforcement undertaking agreed by the Environment Agency, the House of Lords Brexit report, and the UK’s role in the EU-ETS scheme.’

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Six Pump Court, 22nd February 2017

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk