Sharon Shoesmith on Baby P, child protection and the tabloid media: ‘I came very close to not standing up again’ – The Guardian

‘The death of a toddler at the hands of his abusive family shocked the nation in 2007, and led to the sacking and demonisation of Sharon Shoesmith, head of Haringey children’s services. But was she just a scapegoat?’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man who raped pensioner in Purley home jailed for 12 years – BBC News

Posted August 22nd, 2016 in elderly, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A man who raped a woman in her 70s after barging into her south London home has been jailed for 12 years.’

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BBC News, 19th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rogue plastic surgery clinics to be named and shamed for poor care – Daily Telegraph

‘Cosmetic surgeons will be named and shamed for poor practice for the first time as part of a Government crackdown.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Internet spying powers backed by review – BBC News

‘Britain’s spies should be allowed to continue harvesting large amounts of data from emails, the government’s reviewer of terror legislation said.’

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BBC News, 19th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jury service: what are your chances of being called up again and again? – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2016 in budgets, complaints, delay, juries, news, statistics by sally

‘As a reader has been told he must serve as a juror for the fifth time. He’s happy to do so, but repeated summons anger others.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rights group challenges FoI refusal in Libyan rendition case – The Guardian

‘A human rights group has challenged the government’s refusal to disclose whether ministers or Downing Street officials were involved in a decision not to prosecute anyone over an espionage operation to kidnap two Libyan dissidents.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Extremist prisoners ‘may be separated’ from other inmates – BBC News

Posted August 22nd, 2016 in Islam, news, prisons, reports, select committees, terrorism by sally

‘Violent extremist prisoners could be held in separate special units inside jails under government plans to stop other inmates being radicalised.’

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BBC News, 21st August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rise in women facing discrimination on taking maternity leave – The Guardian

‘New mothers are facing increasing discrimination when they take maternity leave including being made redundant and switched to zero-hours contracts.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Walkers Crisps holiday competition advert banned following complaints – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2016 in advertising, complaints, consumer protection, news by sally

‘An advert for a Walkers Crisps competition offering 20,000 holidays has been banned after more than 100 consumers complained that the trips on offer were virtually impossible to win.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Neighbourhood plan referendum halted after judicial review challenge – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 17th, 2016 in judicial review, news, planning, referendums by sally

‘A neighbourhood plan referendum has been postponed after an application for its judicial review was lodged.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th August 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Taser regulation ‘not strong enough’ – BBC News

Posted August 17th, 2016 in news, police, weapons by sally

‘Sophie Khan, a lawyer specialising in Taser injuries, explains on the Today programme her concerns about Taser training and regulation in the UK and questions the amount of force used by the police.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council fined £100,000 after social care files left in empty building – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2016 in data protection, fines, local government, news, privacy, social services by sally

‘A county council has been fined £100,000 after files containing highly sensitive personal details of more than 100 people were discovered in a disused building.’

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The Guardian, 17th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Failed company and its manager convicted of corporate and gross negligence manslaughter – CPS News Brief

Posted August 17th, 2016 in corporate manslaughter, negligence, news by sally

Today [16 August] Bilston Skips and Bikram Singh Mahli were found guilty of the manslaughter of 24-year-old site worker Jagpal Singh. Bikram Singh Mahli was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for a period of two years. The company, which is now in liquidation, was fined £600,000.

Full story

CPS News Brief, 16th August 2016

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

Advertising watchdog raps CMC for misleading consumers about fees – Legal Futures

Posted August 17th, 2016 in advertising, claims management, fees, insurance, news by sally

‘A claims management company in Manchester has become the latest to be slapped down by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after failing to make clear to potential customers that the amount of money they could receive was before its 33% fee was deducted.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 17th August 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The need for Parliament’s consent to trigger Art 50 is a matter of EU Law – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 17th, 2016 in consent, EC law, news, parliament, referendums, treaties by sally

‘Paragraph 1 of Art 50 of the Treaty on European Union, governing voluntary withdrawal of a member state from the EU, reads: “Any member state may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.” This right is followed in the next paragraph by an obligation: “A member state which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention.” This contribution addresses a single hypothetical scenario, namely, one in which Theresa May triggers Art 50 without prior parliamentary approval, asking: If she did this, would she be acting illegally? Several legal commentators have now offered answers to this question, the majority in the affirmative, and last month a legal action began by which the claimants wish to enjoin May from so acting. Thus the judges will have the final say. But which judges?’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th August 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

How to tell a shining knight of a lawyer from an ambulance chaser? – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2016 in armed forces, asylum, law firms, legal aid, news, public interest by sally

‘The question takes us straight to this week’s reported news that Phil Shiner’s Public Interest Lawyers is having to close.’

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The Guardian, 16th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police referred to watchdog after man dies from ‘dangerous’ dog attack days after pet returned to owner for not being banned breed – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 17th, 2016 in complaints, dogs, news, police by sally

‘Officers have been referred to the police watchdog after a dog mauled a man to death a week after being returned to its owner – despite long-term concerns that it was dangerous.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Court of Appeal quashes permission for hydro-electric station on Thames – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 17th, 2016 in electricity, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

‘A council must pay a local hotel owner £55,000 in costs after losing a judicial review over construction of a hydro-electric station.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th August 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Firms giving advice on aggressive tax avoidance could face large fines – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2016 in accountants, consultations, fines, news, tax avoidance by sally

‘Accountants, lawyers and consultants whose multibillion pound industry provides advice on how to aggressively avoid tax could face large financial penalties under government proposals.’

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The Guardian, 17th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge stays case until claimants pay correct court fee – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 17th, 2016 in contracts, fees, news, stay of proceedings by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that a contract claim against retailer Sports Direct should be stayed until the claimant has paid the correct court fee.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 16th August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk