UK’s pensions regulator cracks down on scams with use of new powers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in enforcement, fraud, news, pensions, proceeds of crime, valuation by sally

‘The UK’s Pensions Regulator (TPR) has begun to use a number of enforcement powers for the first time in efforts to deal with issues such as pension scams, scheme valuations and automatic enrolment.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Shopkeeper gets jail for selling illegal skin lightening products – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in fines, hazardous substances, health & safety, news, sentencing by sally

‘A shopkeeper has been jailed for 20 months for selling illegal and toxic skin-lightening products, in the first custodial sentence of its kind.’

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The Guardian, 21st August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

When service charges become indisputable – Nearly Legal

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in default judgments, landlord & tenant, news, service charges, striking out by sally

‘Tenants/Leaseholders can seek a determination of the payability and reasonableness of service charges under s.27A Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. It has been something of a question about how far back a challenge can extend in terms of service charge years. While this Upper Tribunal decision is not a complete answer, it does address some of the ways in a which a service charge can become unchallengeable.’

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Nearly Legal, 19th August 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Barrister who failed to give “unwelcome advice” suspended – Legal Futures

‘A barrister who failed to give “unwelcome advice” to an “over-enthusiastic client” about a private criminal prosecution has been suspended for a month by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New police rules for female detainees on periods – BBC News

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in detention, news, police, women by sally

‘New guidelines for how police treat female detainees with their periods have been proposed by the Home Office.’

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BBC News, 21st August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court says seriously ill woman can work while fighting UK deportation – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in health, immigration, news, taxation, terrorism, visas by sally

‘Economic migrants forced into destitution by a law forbidding them to work, rent property or use the NHS have been handed a lifeline after a “David and Goliath” battle in the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 21st August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge lays into Tommy Robinson fan who graffitied ‘Hitler was right’ around city for ignorance of Nazis – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in arson, criminal damage, guilty pleas, news, racism, sentencing by sally

‘A judge has laid into a Tommy Robinson fan who daubed a city centre with swastikas and “Hitler was right” posters for having “no idea what living under a tyrannical regime” is like.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st August 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government to ban unethical puppy and kitten farms in England – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in animal cruelty, licensing, news by sally

‘The government is to ban unethical puppy and kitten farms in England, pledging to end the trade of unscrupulous breeders who keep animals in filthy and cramped conditions and force some to be pregnant many times over.’

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The Guardian, 20th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government agrees to improve financial order enforcement – Family Law

Posted August 21st, 2018 in debts, divorce, enforcement, financial provision, Law Commission, news by sally

‘The Law Commission has announced that the Government has agreed to help improve financial orders enforcement following its report published in 2016. The Government has committed to bringing forward non-legislative measures in order to reform and improve the enforcement system, as well as taking time to consider further reform in the future.’

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Family Law, 17th August 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

UK accounting regulator fines KPMG £2.1 million after misconduct admission – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 21st, 2018 in auditors, financial regulation, fines, news, professional conduct by sally

‘The UK’s accountancy regulator, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has fined KPMG £2.1 million after an investigation into audits of fashion company Ted Baker.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Women’s Rights and the Proposed Changes to the Gender Recognition Act – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted August 21st, 2018 in consultations, equality, gender, human rights, news, women by sally

‘In this post we use the word women to refer to individuals born as women (also known as ‘natal women’). The current government consultation on proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) has opened up space for discussions about who defines what it means to be a woman and who controls the boundaries to women’s places of association. Central to those debates are the safety, dignity, and privacy of women using sex-segregated spaces. These are significant matters, which raise complex issues for women, which is why so many feminists are adding their voices to the public debate. These are women who support trans-rights but whose genuine concerns, based on expertise and lived experience, are being silenced by accusations of ‘hate speech’ and ‘transphobia’.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 17th August 2018

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Tougher regulation of bailiffs urged as debt levels rise – BBC News

Posted August 21st, 2018 in bailiffs, citizens advice bureaux, debts, enforcement, local government, news by sally

‘A charity has called for tougher regulation of bailiffs, as it calculated that households have fallen behind on essential bills by £18.9bn.’

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BBC News, 21st August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Reflections on family law: What is ‘family’? – Family Law

Posted August 21st, 2018 in cohabitation, families, news, parental responsibility by sally

‘Reflections on family law can occur in the most unusual of places. After a recent delayed flight from London to Chicago (taken by Michael), a couple were asked at customs whether they were family. Both gave conflicting answers: she said yes, and he said no! Over the jet-lagged fueled bickering, it got Michael thinking about how the concept or term ‘family’ can mean different things to different people. It turned out this couple were living together as boyfriend and girlfriend but their difference of opinion on whether they were family members recalled the recent lecture given by the former President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby.’

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Family Law, 17th August 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

The government knew about horrific conditions at Birmingham prison, but didn’t care – The Guardian

Posted August 21st, 2018 in ministers' powers and duties, news, prisons, reports by sally

‘The chief inspector of prisons’ shocking report on HMP Birmingham shows that our prison estate is out of the control of authorities. The report found that inmates used drink, drugs and violence systematically. Prison gangs perpetrating violence could do so “with near impunity”. Staff experienced widespread bullying. While the inspectors were on site they witnessed an arson attack on a car in a staff car park.’

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The Guardian, 20th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Women in the Law UK gears up for London launch – Legal Futures

Posted August 21st, 2018 in legal profession, news, women by sally

‘Women in the Law UK, the Manchester-based lobbying, networking and support organisation, is gearing up for its launch in London next month.’

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Legal Futures, 21st August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

British Accession to the Hague Agreement – NIPC Law

Posted August 21st, 2018 in agreements, consultations, intellectual property, news, regulations, treaties by sally

‘On 13 March 2018 the British government deposited with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) an instrument of ratification of the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (“the Hague Agreement”). The deposit of that instrument enabled the UK to join the Hague system for the registration of industrial designs from 13 June 2018. The Hague system allows businesses to register up to 100 designs in 69 countries in a single application.’

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NIPC Law, 18th August 2018

Source: nipclaw.blogspot.com

Celebrities and social media stars under the spotlight for hidden endorsements – Technology Law Update

Posted August 21st, 2018 in advertising, competition, consumer protection, news by sally

‘UK enforcement watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority is opening an investigation into whether social media stars are being open about paid-for endorsements.’

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Technology Law Update, 20th August 2018

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

No-fault evictions making hundreds of families homeless each week – The Guardian

Posted August 21st, 2018 in homelessness, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘Hundreds of families are being made homeless every week in “no-fault” evictions by landlords keen to cash in on rising property prices or put the rent up.’

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The Guardian, 18th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Claimant who exaggerated impact of genuine injury found fundamentally dishonest – Litigation Futures

Posted August 21st, 2018 in appeals, damages, news, personal injuries by sally

‘A claimant who suffered a genuine injury – but admitted being dishonest about the extent of his symptoms tripping in a pothole – has lost his argument that was not fundamentally dishonest.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th August 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Sandhurst cadets allegedly waterboarded fellow recruit – report – The Guardian

Posted August 21st, 2018 in armed forces, bullying, news, torture by sally

‘Military police are investigating allegations that two cadets waterboarded a fellow recruit at Sandhurst military academy.’

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The Guardian, 18th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com