Online divorce extended in £1bn justice system shake-up – The Guardian

Posted October 31st, 2017 in divorce, documents, electronic filing, internet, news by sally

‘All married couples will be able to apply for a divorce online as part of a £1bn change to the justice system.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Defendant does not have to plead dishonesty to disapply QOCS, Court of Appeal rules – Litigation Futures

Posted October 31st, 2017 in appeals, costs, insurance, news by sally

‘A defendant does not have to specifically plead fundamental dishonesty for a court to find that qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS) should be disapplied, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 31st October 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Impact of cuts to legal aid to come under review – The Guardian

Posted October 31st, 2017 in civil justice, consultations, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

‘The justice secretary, David Liddington, has committed his department to review the deep cuts imposed on legal aid by the coalition government in 2012.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Human rights lawyer: prisoner votes plan is ‘cynical’ – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2017 in elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘A lawyer for prisoners seeking the vote has called leaked government plans to enfranchise some inmates a “cynical” attempt to do the minimum required.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police release distressing fictional rape video as part of campaign to increase prosecutions – The Independent

Posted October 31st, 2017 in evidence, media, news, police, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘Police in Leicestershire have released a distressing short film designed to improve conviction rates for rape and serious sexual assaults.’

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The Independent, 31st October 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Institute of Licensing warns ministers that licensing system putting public safety at risk – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 31st, 2017 in criminal records, licensing, news, taxis by sally

‘The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has written to the Government to raise concerns about failings in the taxi and private hire licensing system that it claims are putting public safety at risk.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th October 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Edge Hill University dean and secret lover jailed for £500,000 fraud – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2017 in fraud, news, sentencing, universities by sally

‘A former university dean who employed his secret lover as part of a £500,000 scam has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A good bet? The fixed-odds controversy – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2017 in consultations, gambling, news by sally

‘Britain’s betting industry is bracing for the release of a government review into controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).’

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BBC News, 26th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Child sexual abuse victims to be granted compensation following criticism – The Guardian

Posted October 31st, 2017 in child abuse, compensation, consent, news, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘Fresh guidelines have been issued to ensure that child victims of sexual abuse are not denied compensation on the mistaken grounds that they consented to a relationship.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 31st, 2017 in legislation by Verity

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 4) Regulations 2017

The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2017

The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017

The Criminal Finances Act 2017 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2017

The Court of Protection Rules 2017

The Non-Contentious Probate (Amendment) Rules 2017

The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2017

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2017

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Compensation for customers of failed investment firms to rise from £50,000 to £85,000 – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 31st, 2017 in compensation, consumer protection, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Investors who lose out when their firms go bust could now receive up to £35,000 more compensation under plans unveiled by the City watchdog.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st October 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Paralysed woman’s life-sustaining treatment ‘can end’, judge rules – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2017 in euthanasia, families, health, medical treatment, news by sally

‘A paralysed elderly woman whose care became the focus of a family dispute can have her life-sustaining treatment discontinued, a judge has ruled.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Social worker could be struck off after faking evidence in child case – The Guardian

Posted October 31st, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, evidence, news, social services by sally

‘A social worker has appeared before a professional disciplinary panel after she was found by a judge to have fabricated evidence to bolster the case for removing a child from the mother’s care and then lied in court about having done so.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government reiterates plans for EU-UK data flows post-Brexit amidst criticism of Data Protection Bill powers – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has reiterated its plans to establish an agreement with the remainder of the EU member states that will allow personal data to flow across borders unhindered post-Brexit.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th October 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

The victims of Orgreave deserve justice and the truth – despite what the Government thinks – The Independent

Posted October 30th, 2017 in assault, industrial action, inquiries, news, police, professional conduct, trials by sally

‘The parallels between Hillsborough and Orgreave are alarming. The same attempt to divert blame from the police. The same methods to conceal the truth. In many cases, the same officers.’

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The Independent, 30th October 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoners Will Finally Be Given The Vote, Say Reports – Rights Info

‘A limited number of prisoners will be allowed to vote ending the UK’s total ban on prisoners voting, according to reports.’

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Rights Info, 29th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Deaths in custody: police urged to stop holding mentally ill in cells – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2017 in complaints, criminal justice, death in custody, detention, mental health, news, police by sally

‘Far-reaching reforms to the police, justice system and health service in England and Wales are needed to reduce the risk of people dying in custody, a long-delayed report has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 30th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

HMCTS launches new consultation on flexible court hours pilots after heeding objections – Legal Futures

Posted October 30th, 2017 in consultations, courts, diversity, HM Courts Service, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has launched a new consultation on flexible operating hours pilots which accepts the possibility that extending the hours of courts, although desirable, might have to be abandoned altogether.’

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Legal Futures, 26th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Youth Justice System ‘Falls Short’ of Human Rights Obligations, MPs Claim – Rights Info

‘The current system of disclosing past convictions undermines the principles of the youth justice system, according to a report published today by the Justice Committee.’

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Rights Info, 27th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

“Complete backing” for not extending cab-rank rule to public access work – Legal Futures

Posted October 30th, 2017 in barristers, complaints, consultations, disclosure, insurance, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The cab-rank rule will not be extended to public and licensed access (PLA) cases after the Bar Standards Board (BSB) received complete backing for the position in consultation.’

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Legal Futures, 30th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk