UK government launches consultation on open justice – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government is seeking to clarify the rules governing when litigation should be heard in private, in a bid to safeguard the principles of open justice.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th July 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Arrest for lawful acts – UK Police Law Blog

Posted July 17th, 2018 in news, police, warrants by tracey

‘The recent decision of Holmes v CC Merseyside Police [2018] EWHC 1026 (QB) confirms the power of the police to arrest individuals who are not acting unlawfully. It relies on the earlier case of CPS v McCann [2015] EWHC 2461; [2016] 1 Cr. App. R. 6, which held that an arresting officer was acting in the execution of their duty when making an arrest notwithstanding that their suspicion that that offences were being committed being mistaken.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 15th July 2018

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted July 17th, 2018 in legislation by tracey

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2018

The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Personal Medical Services Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2018

The Marine Licensing (Application Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2018

The Sea Fishing (Enforcement) Regulations 2018

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 17th, 2018 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

FPH Law (a firm) v Brown (t/a Integrum Law) [2018] EWCA Civ 1629 (16 July 2018)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Page, R (On the Application Of) v Darlington Borough Council [2018] EWHC 1818 (Admin) (16 July 2018)

M B v Preliminary Investigation Tribunal of Napoli, Italy [2018] EWHC 1808 (Admin) (16 July 2018)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Sherratt v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police [2018] EWHC 1746 (QB) (16 July 2018)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Castle Trustee Ltd & Ors v Bombay Palace Restaurant Ltd [2018] EWHC 1602 (TCC) (06 July 2018)

Source: www.bailii.org

Judge rules residence qualification in allocation policy of council to be unlawful – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 17th, 2018 in housing, illegality, local government, news by tracey

‘A residence qualification set by Hillingdon Council stating that only households with at least 10 years’ continuous residence in-borough could qualify to join the three-welfare-based bands of its housing register was unlawful, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th July 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lawyers could be forced to share notes of hearings with litigants in person – Litigation Futures

‘A new rule giving judges the power to order lawyers to share notes of hearings with litigants in person is being proposed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Another new rule would put the parties under an explicit obligation to disclose to the other side communications with the court.’

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Litigation Futures, 17th July 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Whiplash reforms delayed a year to April 2020 – Legal Futures

Posted July 17th, 2018 in delay, news, personal injuries, small claims by tracey

‘Implementation of the government’s whiplash reforms is to be delayed by a year to April 2020, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced.’

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Legal Futures, 17th July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judicial Protocol update: Expedition of Cases Involving Witnesses Under 10 Years – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 17th, 2018 in children, courts, press releases, reports, witnesses by tracey

‘A Protocol between The National Police Chiefs’ Council, The Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service to Expedite Cases Involving Witnesses Under 10 Years.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 13th July 2018

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Daughters in legal bid for House of Lords seat rights – BBC News

‘Five daughters of hereditary peers are to challenge a law that stops them from being elected to the House of Lords. They are taking the government to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to end the system of male primogeniture which has resulted in almost all titles being passed to male heirs.’

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BBC News, 16th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Transgender van driver sues for gig economy discrimination – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2018 in bullying, employment, harassment, news, transgender persons by tracey

‘A transgender woman who worked as a van driver in the gig economy is bringing a discrimination claim against courier company Gnewt Cargo.’

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BBC News, 17th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Safestyle UK: Window firm fined for ‘aggressive sales’ – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2018 in advertising, consumer protection, fines, news, regulations by tracey

‘A double-glazing windows and doors firm which used aggressive sales techniques and lied to customers to secure sales has been fined £120,000. Sheffield Crown Court heard Safestyle UK employees used a variety of “unlawful business practices” to apply pressure to homeowners.

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BBC News, 16th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

ICC crime of aggression comes into effect without key signatories – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2018 in crime, international courts, news, treaties, war crimes by tracey

‘A crime of aggression, under which politicians and military leaders can be held individually responsible for invasions and other major attacks, comes into force at the international criminal court, reviving global legal powers last exercised at the Nuremburg and Tokyo war crimes trials of the 1940s. Claims alleging that armed force has been used against the “sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence” of another state can, from Tuesday, be taken to the tribunal in The Hague.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Failure to enforce law means older workers face discrimination – report – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2018 in age discrimination, elderly, employment, enforcement, news, reports by tracey

‘Government ministers and Britain’s equalities watchdog are failing to save more than a million older workers from discrimination, bias and outdated employment practices, according to a group of MPs. In a highly critical report for the government, the women and equalities committee said the talents of older workers were going to waste because too little was being done to enforce discrimination law.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Editing human embryos ‘morally permissible’ – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2018 in assisted reproduction, embryology, news, reports by tracey

‘An inquiry into the ethical issues surrounding genetically altering a human embryo has found there is “no absolute reason not to pursue it”. But appropriate measures must be put in place before it becomes UK law, said the report – which calls for further research both medically and socially.’

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BBC News, 17th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape and domestic violence victims at risk as police fail to record tens of thousands of crimes, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted July 17th, 2018 in crime, domestic violence, news, police, rape, sexual offences, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Victims are being left at risk by the police’s failure to investigate tens of thousands of crimes, including rape, violence and domestic abuse, a watchdog has warned.HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that almost one in five crimes reported to Lincolnshire Police were not being formally recorded, meaning they are not investigated and victims cannot access support.’

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The Independent, 17th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs’ anti-bullying rules will cover Speaker, Leadsom suggests – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2018 in bullying, news, parliament, professional conduct by tracey

‘New rules to stop MPs from bullying and harassing staff will cover the office of the Speaker, meaning that any future complaints about John Bercow would have to be investigated, the leader of the Commons has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Alex Salmond Show tweets misled audience, says watchdog Ofcom – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2018 in complaints, media, news by tracey

‘The Alex Salmond Show on Kremlin-backed TV channel RT breached broadcasting rules, media watchdog Ofcom has ruled. The regulator investigated “audience tweets” used in the former Scottish first minister’s show on the Russian broadcaster, which aired last year. It found they were presented as having come from viewers, but most were posted by people working on the programme.’

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BBC News, 16th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk