Unnecessary tribunals wasting taxpayers’ money, watchdog warns – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2011 in appeals, government departments, news, reports, tribunals by sally

“Government departments and agencies are costing the taxpayer huge sums each year by making incorrect decisions which are then overturned by tribunals, an official report has concluded.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

FSA wins first criminal conviction for ‘boiler room’ fraud – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2011 in financial regulation, fraud, money laundering, news, sentencing by sally

“The Financial Services Authority has secured its first criminal conviction for a ‘boiler room’ fraud after David Mason was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from being a director for six years.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teacher jailed indefinitely for sexual abuse – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2011 in attempts, children, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, teachers by sally

“A primary school teacher who filmed himself sexually abusing young girls in his classroom has been jailed indefinitely.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Split juries into smaller groups, psychologists argue – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 14th, 2011 in juries, news by sally

“Juries should be split into three groups of four to allow every member an equal chance to participate, a new study has suggested.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th June 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Postal Services Act 2011 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted June 14th, 2011 in legislation, postal service by sally

Postal Services Act 2011 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted June 14th, 2011 in legislation by sally

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Leuchars) Regulations 2011

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Northern Ireland International Airshow) Regulations 2011

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2011

The Food Additives (England) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2011

The Allocation and Transfer of Proceedings (Amendment) Order 2011

The Calibration of Tanks of Vessels (EEC Requirements) (Revocation) Regulations 2011

The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Assault guidelines come into effect – Sentencing Council

Posted June 14th, 2011 in assault, news, sentencing by sally

“Following a three months period of training and implementation the definitive guideline on assault came into effect on 13 June 2011. It aims to ensure a consistent and proportionate approach to sentencing, with convicted offenders receiving a sentence that reflects both the harm they have caused to their victim and their culpability.

This guideline and the updated Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines, incorporating the new assault guideline, are available here.”

Sentencing Council, 13th June 2011

Source: sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Next set of changes to student visa rules is announced – UK Border Agency

Posted June 14th, 2011 in education, immigration, news, regulations, visas by sally

“The next set of changes to the Immigration Rules affecting Tier 4 – the student tier – of the points-based system has been laid in Parliament today. The changes will come into effect on 4 July 2011.”

Full story

UK Border Agency, 13th June 2011

Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Animal testing consultation – Home Office

Posted June 14th, 2011 in animals, consultations, EC law, news, vivisection by sally

“The government is asking you to have your say on how EU rules on testing are introduced in the UK.”

Full story

Home Office, 13th June 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Paedophiles who distributed child images on web are jailed – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2011 in indecent photographs of children, news, sentencing by sally

“Three men were jailed on Monday after they admitted running an international paedophile ring that distributed millions of indecent images and films of children to subscribers in more than 40 countries.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sex offender register plan to be revealed – The Independent

Posted June 14th, 2011 in appeals, criminal records, human rights, news, sexual offences by sally

“Home Secretary Theresa May will outline plans to close loopholes in the sex offenders register today.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th June 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Thousands of children held in police cells overnight – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2011 in children, detention, news, police by sally

“Thousands of children under 16 are being held overnight in police cells every year, figures reveal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Landowners say new laws will stop them making fields and buildings available to public – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 14th, 2011 in bills, commons, news by sally

“Playing fields and cricket grounds could be withdrawn from public use by landowners because of new laws that give the community the right to bid for private land.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th June 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal aid: a necessary safety net – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2011 in inquiries, legal aid, news by sally

“The testimonies that inform Unequal before the law? show how vital legal aid is for the most vulnerable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jail warning over unburied granny – The Independent

Posted June 14th, 2011 in burials and cremation, news by sally

“A mother and daughter who left the corpse of a grandmother unburied for up to six months while one of them pocketed her pension were told they face jail today (13 June).”

Full story

The Independent, 13th June 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid cuts a ‘false economy’ – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2011 in inquiries, legal aid, news by sally

“The government’s proposals to slice £350m out of the legal aid budget are a ‘false economy’ that will hurt the ‘vulnerable and socially excluded’ hardest, an independent inquiry warns on Tuesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Why is BAILII appealing for funds?

Posted June 13th, 2011 in news by sally

“BAILII’s operating costs have been running at approximately £160,000 per annum, excluding replacement of computer hardware and other items which are not incurred annually. This figure will be reduced following an offer by The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies to reduce the quarterly overhead charge which it makes to BAILII for use of office space at the Institute and other services.

BAILII’s future is uncertain because of the lack of secure funding to meet these costs. The Society for Computers & Law is not currently in a position to provide funding to BAILII, but has stated that it remains supportive of BAILII and will review the situation if circumstances change. The Law Society Charity has provided funding to BAILII for 2011, but has indicated that it may be unable to continue to provide funding to BAILII thereafter; BAILII hopes that the Law Society may be able to continue to provide funding to BAILII in some other manner. The contract with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service under which BAILII receives payments from Government sources continues until March 2012; BAILII hopes that it will be renewed but there is no guarantee that this will happen.

If BAILII is to survive, it is essential that BAILII should obtain new sources of funding before its funds run out. We need much more support, particularly if major sponsors are not able to continue funding. But in any event BAILII’s expenditure has been exceeding its income from sponsorship in recent years and this needs to be remedied as a matter of urgency.

This appeal is mainly directed towards sets of Chambers and solicitors’ firms. Legal associations, academic institutions and publishers are also invited to contribute. We are confident we can reach our target provided that all those who use BAILII and who want to go on using BAILII respond to this urgent call for help.”

Details of appeal for funding

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted June 6th, 2011 in legislation by sally

The General Pharmaceutical Council (Continuing Professional Development and Consequential Amendments) Rules Order of Council 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted June 6th, 2011 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Spencer v S Franses Ltd [2011] EWHC 1269 (QB) (20 May 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Supermarket shopper wins £10,500 for slipping on grape – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 6th, 2011 in damages, news, personal injuries by sally

“A superkmarket shopper has secured a £10,500 payout after slipping on a grape in a branch of Asda.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd June 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk