CPS ‘cherrypicking’ cases to prosecute, say senior police chiefs – The Guardian

‘Two of Britain’s most senior police chiefs have accused prosecutors of “cherrypicking” cases to prosecute in court and warned that victims were being let down.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS Says: Conviction rates play no part in deciding whether or not to charge a case – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Conviction rates play no part in CPS decision making – so we know a story this week “CPS failing victims by cherry-picking cases” may have caused concern.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 19th May 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Couple get payout after water buffaloes fall into Essex swimming pool – The Guardian

Posted May 22nd, 2023 in animals, compensation, damages, insurance, news by tracey

‘An Essex couple have spent 10 months seeking compensation after 18 escaped water buffaloes stampeded through their garden, with eight of them taking a morning dip in their new swimming pool.’

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The Guardian, 20th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kaylea Titford: Parents’ jail terms increased for neglect death – BBC News

‘Two parents who left their 16-year-old daughter to die in squalor have had their sentences for neglect increased.’

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BBC News, 20th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Work-related suicide probe call after death of head teacher Ruth Perry – BBC News

‘Every work-related suicide should be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, experts have said, in the wake of the death of a head teacher following an Ofsted inspection.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Received wisdom – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 19th, 2023 in interpretation, leases, local government, London, news by tracey

‘Matt Hutchings KC, Ranjit Bhose KC and Shomik Datta report on a dispute between two public bodies about the interpretation of a commercial lease, implied terms and estoppel by convention worth over £200m.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Squaring the circle – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 19th, 2023 in care homes, children, detention, local government, news, social services by tracey

‘What steps can a local authority take to ensure a lawful deprivation of liberty in an unregistered children’s home in England for children under 16? Hannah Taylor and Ruth Atkinson-Wilks explain.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 19th, 2023 in legislation by tracey

SI 2023/548 – The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Commodity Derivatives and Emission Allowances) Order 2023

SI 2023/543 – The Social Security and Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/540 – The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/554 – The National Health Service (Primary Dental Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/552 – The Elections Act 2022 (Commencement No. 8) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/549 – The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Temporary Increase) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/545 – The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) and Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 19th, 2023 in law reports by tracey

Supreme Court

Revenue and Customs v SSE Generation Ltd [2023] UKSC 17 (17 May 2023)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Bogolyubova v Bogolyubov & Anor [2023] EWCA Civ 547 (18 May 2023)

Bhaur & Ors v Equity First Trustees (Nevis) Ltd & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 534 (18 May 2023)

AB v Worcestershire County Council & Anor (Rev1) [2023] EWCA Civ 529 (17 May 2023)

Close Brothers Ltd v Rooster Trucking Company Ltd & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 533 (17 May 2023)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Barton, R. v [2023] EWCA Crim 531 (17 May 2023)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Bembridge Harbour Trust, R (On the Application Of) v Bembridge Harbour Improvement Company Ltd [2023] EWHC 1185 (Admin) (18 May 2023)

Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of the Netherlands v Baybasin [2023] EWHC 1147 (Admin) (18 May 2023)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Colicci & Ors v Grinberg & Anor [2023] EWHC 1177 (Ch) (18 May 2023)

HRH Prince Hussam Bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud v Mobile Telecommunications Company KSCP [2023] EWHC 1144 (Ch) (18 May 2023)

Official Receiver v Kelly (Re Walmley Ash Ltd and Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986) [2023] EWHC 1181 (Ch) (18 May 2023)

Financial Conduct Authority v Exall & Anor [2023] EWHC 1130 (Ch) (17 May 2023)

Stitch Editing Ltd v TikTok Information Technologies UK Ltd [2023] EWHC 1167 (Ch) (17 May 2023)

Town and Country Properties (GB) Ltd & Ors v Patel & Ors [2023] EWHC 1168 (Ch) (17 May 2023)

Source: www.bailii.org

Renters (Reform) Bill – overview Part 2 – Nearly Legal

Posted May 19th, 2023 in animals, bills, housing, landlord & tenant, leases, news, rent by tracey

‘Following on from yesterday (17 May) publication of the Renters (Reform) Bill and Part 1 of my overview of what the Bill does, onwards to the rest of it. Pets! There has been a lot of fuss about this, but as Tessa Shepperson has sagely observed, it doesn’t really make much of a change to existing law. The Bill adds an implied term that the tenant has a right to request to keep a pet and that the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse such a request. Where the landlord’s own lease forbids pets, or requires the superior landlord’s consent, the landlord is to request this. It is not unreasonable for a landlord to refuse permission if their superior landlord had refused consent, or if the landlord’s own lease forbids pets.’

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Nearly Legal , 18th May 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Cryptoassets should be regulated as gambling, say MPs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 19th, 2023 in cryptocurrencies, gambling, news, regulations, select committees by tracey

‘Bitcoin, Ether and other “unbacked” cryptoassets should be subject to gambling, not financial services, regulation, a prominent committee of UK MPs has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th May 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Jeevan Hariharan: The Changing Face of Horizontal Effect – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted May 19th, 2023 in constitutional law, human rights, judges, news, privacy, speeches by tracey

‘On 10 March, Lord Sales delivered the Cambridge Freshfields Annual Law Lecture on the topic of “constitutional values in the common law of obligations”. The lecture, which has not been discussed so far on this blog, seeks to explain how constitutional values familiar from the world of public law (such as freedom of expression, liberty and access to justice) feature in private law areas such as tort and contract. In the course of the speech, Lord Sales articulates a particular conception of how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) relates to the way UK courts resolve disputes between private parties, an issue commonly referred to following the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) as “horizontal effect”. Lord Sales’ picture, which is summarised briefly below, is revealing because it offers an insight into how the Supreme Court, as currently constituted, seems to have shifted its approach in relation to horizontal effect. As I explain, the HRA’s horizontal effect was central in particular to the development of the English law of privacy. More recently, however, there is evidence of the court rejecting arguments based on the ECHR and HRA in the private law context. This can be understood as a continuation of a well-documented and controversial trend discernible in public law decisions, where the court has criticised the tendency to focus on the HRA and increasingly championed common law constitutional rights.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 17th May 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Trolls who encourage serious self-harm to face jail – Ministry of Justice

‘Vile trolls who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to encourage others to cause themselves serious harm will face prosecution as part of an overhaul of online safety laws announced today (18 May 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 18th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Housing case law update – April 2023 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Emily Howe, Kelly Lloyd and Laura Waby round up the latest housing law judgments of interest to housing associations and local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tighter damp and mould regulations set to impact registered providers – Local Government Lawyer

‘Six months after the conclusion of the inquest into the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, Matthew Bown and Amy Cowap outline the various measures set to be implemented to ensure tighter regulation of registered providers of social housing, with a specific focus on damp and mould issues.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Section 106 obligation to transfer land to council no longer enforceable – Local Government lawyer

Posted May 19th, 2023 in covenants, enforcement, housing, local government, news by tracey

‘A High Court judge has ruled that a s.106 obligation to transfer land to a council for a nominal sum of £1 where affordable housing had not been delivered by a specified date was no longer enforceable. Barristers at Francis Taylor Building explain why.’

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Local Government lawyer, 19th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Research Briefing: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill 2022-23: Consumer provisions – House of Commons Library

Posted May 19th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, news, parliament by tracey

‘This briefing considers the consumer provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill [Bill 294, 2022-23]. Second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons is scheduled for 17 May 2023.’

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House of Commons Library , 17th May 2023

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Harris Society Annual Lecture – Lady Justice Carr – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 19th, 2023 in judges, judiciary, news by tracey

‘“Delicate Plants”, “Loose Cannons” or “A Marriage of True Minds”? The Role of Academic Literature in Judicial Decision‑Making.’

Full speech

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 17th May 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Bar Council launches new Wellbeing Certificates – The Bar Council

Posted May 19th, 2023 in barristers, mental health, news by tracey

‘As part of #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek this week, we have relaunched the Bar Council’s Wellbeing Certificates. As part of the process, we received 34 applications from chambers, circuits and Inns of Court.’

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The Bar Council, 17th May 2023

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

HMP Stoke Heath must improve emergency response after death – BBC News

Posted May 19th, 2023 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons by tracey

‘Staff at HMP Stoke Heath must be better prepared to deal with medical emergencies after an inmate died in the prison’s yard, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 18th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk