Leasehold law set for radical reform – Law Commission

Posted July 19th, 2018 in housing, Law Commission, leases, press releases by tracey

‘Radical new proposals to provide a fairer deal for leasehold homeowners have been announced by the Law Commission. Following hot on the heels of plans by the Government to ban the sale of houses on a leasehold basis, the independent legal body is outlining a range of measures to help existing leasehold homeowners buy the freehold of their houses.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/

Applying to commit for breach of a child arrangements order – Family Law

‘Family analysis: Sarah Keily, partner at Thomson Snell & Passmore in Tunbridge Wells, discusses the decision in CH v CT [2018] EWHC 1310 (Fam), [2018] All ER (D) 03 (Jul), which illustrates the need to strictly comply with the relevant procedural requirements when seeking a committal order following a breach of a child arrangements order.’

Full Story

Family Law, 19th July 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Group jailed for 47 years after £450,000 maternity payment scam – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 19th, 2018 in benefits, conspiracy, fraud, press releases, sentencing, social security by tracey

‘Twelve people who plotted to claim more than £450,000 in maternity payments for babies which did not exist have been jailed for 47 years today (18 July). The defendants, who included members of the same family and their partners and friends, made at least 158 fraudulent applications for maternity allowance over the course of 52 months.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 18th July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bar Council launches LASPO: 5 years on survey – The Bar Council

Posted July 19th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, legal aid, legislation, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘The Government has now commenced a Post-Implementation Review of Part 1 of LASPO and subordinate legislation. As part of its response, the Bar Council is conducting another survey of the Family and Civil Bar. Your answers will form a central part of its submissions to Post-Implementation Review.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 19th July 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Offenders ‘not getting support they need’ due to decline in pre-sentence reports – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 19th, 2018 in community service, criminal justice, news, reports, sentencing by tracey

‘Fewer pre-sentence reports (PSR) may be linked to the worrying decline in community sentences in England and Wales, according to interim analysis conducted by a justice thinktank. The Centre for Justice Innovation says community sentences are significantly more effective than short-term custodial sentences to reduce reoffending – a key priority for justice secretary David Gauke. However, community sentences have fallen in England, in contrast to other UK jurisdictions.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CoA refuses costs ‘carte blanche’ to cases with multiple defendants – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 19th, 2018 in appeals, costs, news by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has made clear it will not grant costs favours to claimants bringing proceedings against multiple defendants.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Surrogacy and HFEA Update: July 2018 – Family Law Week

Posted July 19th, 2018 in news, parental responsibility, surrogacy by tracey

‘Andrew Powell, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, considers recent important judgments concerning surrogacy and highlights the focus of the Law Commission’s review of the law of surrogacy.’

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Family Law Week, 18th July 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

In-flight bacon roll row passenger fined – BBC News

Posted July 19th, 2018 in airlines, compensation, fines, news, threatening behaviour by tracey

‘A plane passenger who flew into a rage after being denied a bacon roll by cabin crew has been fined £230.’

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BBC News, 18th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tommy Robinson jail sentence appeal delayed by judges – BBC News

Posted July 19th, 2018 in appeals, contempt of court, delay, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Judges have delayed their decision in an appeal by far-right activist Tommy Robinson against his conviction and jailing for contempt of court.’

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BBC news, 18th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Media experts alarmed at consequences of Cliff Richard ruling – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2018 in BBC, media, news, police, privacy, public interest by tracey

‘When he emerged from court on Wednesday after a judge ruled in his favour in one of the most carefully watched media law cases of the year, Sir Cliff Richard declared himself delighted at what he saw as a vital victory over the BBC. But while there is no doubt that the decision is a blow to the corporation, the case sets a wider precedent, too – and one that experts say could have a substantial impact on the future media coverage of criminal cases.’

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The Guardian, 18th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government orders Phillip Morris to stop advertising “healthier” tobacco products or face legal action – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 19th, 2018 in advertising, consumer protection, news, smoking by tracey

‘The Government will take one of the world’s largest tobacco firms to court unless it stops illegally targeting UK consumers with tobacco adverts, a Minister has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal aid deserts: MPs and peers express ‘grave concerns’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Squeezing the legal aid budget has left vast numbers of people – including the most vulnerable – unable to assert their rights, the Law Society said today. In a report published today, Enforcing Human Rights, parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights reflects the Law Society’s concerns that large parts of England and Wales are becoming “legal aid deserts”, as solicitors are forced to withdraw from services because they can no longer afford to do the work.’

Full report

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Watchdog cautions on police response to hate crime and warns of post Brexit surge in reports – The Independent

Posted July 19th, 2018 in hate crime, news, police, reports, statistics by tracey

‘Police must address failings in their response to hate crime ahead of a possible post-Brexit surge in reports, a watchdog has warned. A major review found victims have been let down after being targeted because of personal characteristics such as race, religion or sexual orientation.’

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The Independent, 19th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Baroness Newlove: Reform ‘derisory’ victims of crime compensation scheme – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 19th, 2018 in compensation, crime, news, victims by tracey

‘Victims of crime are having to wait too long for compensation under a “derisory” system, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales has said. Baroness Newlove called for a change to the way court-ordered financial awards are paid after they are imposed on convicted offenders.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Child sexual abuse investigation fined £200,000 after sending bulk email identifying possible victims – The Independent

Posted July 19th, 2018 in data protection, fines, inquiries, news, privacy, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has been fined £200,000 after sending a bulk email that identified possible victims. Ninety participants in the public inquiry were potentially identified by the “concerning” blunder, said the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which warned the incident had “placed vulnerable people at risk”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 18th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Privacy vs Freedom of Expression: How the law has developed – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 19th, 2018 in freedom of expression, human rights, media, news, privacy by tracey

‘The delicate balance between a person’s right to privacy and someone else’s right to freedom of expression were set at odds when they were enshrined in the Human Rights Act, brought in by Tony Blair’s Labour Government in 1998.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Exam boards launch legal challenge over government’s flagship T-level qualifications – The Independent

Posted July 19th, 2018 in education, examinations, news by tracey

‘Legal action has been launched against the Department for Education over the introduction of the government’s flagship technical qualification, by the body which represents exam boards.’

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The Independent, 19th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Landmark court ruling finds against ex-wife who sought higher maintenance payments – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 19th, 2018 in appeals, financial provision, news, Supreme Court by tracey

‘A divorced husband should not be forced to pay increased maintenance payments because of his ex-wife’s poor financial decisions, the Supreme Court has ruled in a landmark case.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pte Sean Benton: Deepcut soldier’s death was suicide, coroner rules – BBC News

Posted July 19th, 2018 in armed forces, bullying, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by tracey

‘The death of a young soldier at Deepcut barracks 23 years ago was suicide, a coroner has ruled after a new inquest.’

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BBC News, 18th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted July 18th, 2018 in legislation by tracey

The Financial Market Infrastructure Administration (Designation of VocaLink) Order 2018

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

The Sea Fishing (Enforcement) Regulations 2018

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk