Home Office to publish revised draft of snooper’s charter – The Guardian

‘The home secretary, Theresa May, has revised some elements of her controversial “snooper’s charter” legislation in an attempt to address criticism by MPs and peers of the surveillance powers it confers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peers inflict second government defeat on disability benefit cuts – BBC News

Posted March 1st, 2016 in benefits, bills, disabled persons, news, parliament, social security by sally

‘The government has been defeated in the House of Lords for a second time over plans to cut some disabled people’s benefits by £30 a week.’

Full story

BBC News, 29th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Finance and Divorce Update, February 2016 – Family Law Week

‘According to the Law Society Gazette, the outcome of more than 2,000 may have been voided by the Form E software fault.  Justice Minister Shailesh Vara MP has indicated, in a statement to Parliament, that the assets of more than 3,600 couples were miscalculated.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 15 February 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Policing and Crime Bill to address emergency licensing review ‘ambiguities’, says government – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 16th, 2016 in bills, crime, licensing, news, police by sally

‘The legal position of “interim steps” imposed by a licensing authority in England or Wales against premises where alcohol is sold in response to a police complaint is ambiguous and should be reviewed, the government has said.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th February 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

GCHQ hacking does not breach human rights, security tribunal rules – The Guardian

‘Hacking of computers, networks and smartphones in the UK or abroad by GCHQ staff does not breach human rights, a security tribunal has ruled.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New legal right for shop workers to refuse longer work hours on Sundays – Daily Telegraph

‘Ministers are changing legislation to give councils the power to extend trading hours in their local areas’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tribunal rules computer hacking by GCHQ is not illegal – BBC News

‘GCHQ is operating within the law when it hacks into computers and smart phones, a security tribunal has ruled.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

It’s time to overhaul the Investigatory Powers Bill – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 12th, 2016 in bills, internet, investigatory powers, news, reports by sally

‘This morning, the Joint Committee on the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill issued a 200-page report on the draft new law. It’s the next step in the scrutiny of a foundational piece of UK national security law – capabilities and safeguards on internet surveillance. The Report is remarkable and comprehensive work – not least because it was done in a few short months. The Committee has made no fewer than 86 recommendations for how the Bill can be improved.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 11th February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government introduces Policing and Crime Bill – Home Office

Posted February 12th, 2016 in bills, child abuse, disciplinary procedures, immigration, news, police by sally

‘The Home Office has introduced new legislation which will aim to finish the job of police reform.’

Full story

Home Office, 11th February 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Analysis: What MPs say is wrong with spy bill – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2016 in bills, investigatory powers, news, parliament by sally

‘Everyone agrees a new law governing surveillance powers is required but the devil is in the detail, as a series of parliamentary reports have illustrated.’

Full story

BBC News, 11th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers have not made ‘conclusive case’ for new web snooping powers – The Guardian

‘The home secretary has yet to make a conclusive case for giving spying agencies new snooping powers to track the web browsing histories of all British citizens, a key committee of peers and MPs has concluded.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Internet monitoring bill ‘must do more to protect privacy’ – BBC News

‘Plans to authorise mass data collection and hacking by Britain’s spies do not do enough to protect privacy, a watchdog has warned.’

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BBC News, 9th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Investigatory powers bill: snooper’s charter lacks clarity, MPs warn – The Guardian

‘The government’s investigatory powers bill lacks clarity and is sowing confusion among tech firms about the extent to which “internet connection records” will be collected, a parliamentary select committee has warned.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Landmark law to tackle psychoactive substances passed – Home Office

Posted January 29th, 2016 in bills, drug abuse, drug offences, press releases by tracey

‘The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 receives Royal Assent.’

Full press release

Home Office, 28th January 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Legal highs law could hinder police, says commissioner – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2016 in bills, drug abuse, drug offences, news, police, prosecutions by tracey

‘Police could face extra expense and confusion as a result of discrepancies in the laws banning the possession of drugs that will emerge once the psychoactive substances bill comes into force, a police and crime commissioner has warned.’

Full story

The Guardian, 29th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords defeat for ministers over disability benefit cuts – BBC News

Posted January 28th, 2016 in benefits, bills, disabled persons, news, parliament, social security by sally

‘The government has been defeated in the Lords over plans to cut the benefits of people with illness and disabilities.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th January 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims are ill-served by the justice system: this bill will change that – The Guardian

‘The case of Poppi Worthington is the latest in a lamentable catalogue of misses by police or prosecutors. It demonstrates why the law needs to change.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Poppers users beware: a draconian and discriminatory law is on its way – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2016 in bills, drug offences, news by sally

‘You rarely get a new law that criminalises the lifestyle choices of gay men, but the legal highs bill is coming to the statute book.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Vulnerable victims of violence ‘at risk’ over funding uncertainty – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2016 in bills, budgets, news, refugees, victims, violence, women by sally

‘The most vulnerable victims of violent crimes, including abused women and refugees, are being put at a greater risk over uncertainty in funding to frontline services, officials have warned in a letter to the government. Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) from across England have called on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide urgent clarification of the grants available to victims’ services.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Finding proportionality in surveillance laws – OUP Blog

Posted January 19th, 2016 in bills, investigatory powers, news, proportionality by sally

‘The United Kingdom Parliament is currently in the pre-legislative scrutiny phase of a new Investigatory Powers Bill, which aims to “consolidate existing legislation and ensure the powers in the Bill are fit for the digital age.” It is fair to say this Bill is controversial with strong views being expressed by both critics and supporters of the Bill. Against this backdrop it is important to cut through the rhetoric and get to the heart of the Bill and to examine what it will do and what it will mean in terms of the legal framework for British citizens, and indeed for those overseas.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 17th January 2016

Source: www.blog.oup.com