Judges overturn practice of double conviction for aggravated offences – The Guardian

‘A long-established legal practice of imposing double convictions for racially or religiously aggravated offences has been overturned by a high court ruling that could influence national crime statistics.’

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The Guardian, 20th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs break the rules ‘because they do not agree with them’, says standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson – Daily Telegraph

‘The comments will add further pressure on MPs to beef up the watchdog which polices their work, perhaps by giving members of the public a vote over decisions whether or not to reprimand errant MPs.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Advertising Standards Authority moves to ban junk food adverts from online children’s programmes – The Independent

‘Advertisements for junk food on online children’s programmes are set to be banned under new guidelines, it has been reported.’

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The Independent, 13th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New forensic science service planned – BBC News

‘A new forensic and biometrics service is planned by the Home Office, four years after it controversially abolished its predecessor.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parents of murdered schoolboy receive pay-out from blundering police force – Daily Telegraph

‘Surrey Police issue unreserved apology and pay substantial damages after admitting failings in the case of Breck Bednar, the 14-year-old schoolboy who was groomed online and then murdered by sadistic killer Lewis Daynes.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sex offence suspects need more protection, says ex-Met boss – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2016 in anonymity, codes of practice, evidence, news, police, sexual offences by sally

‘A former Met Police chief has said more should be done to protect the reputation of sexual offence suspects who are investigated but never charged.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police fail to respond to psychiatric units amid rise in attacks on staff – The Guardian

‘Police refused to respond to calls for help from staff at psychiatric units covering a large swath of east London and Essex on more than 125 occasions last year. The figures were released in response to a Guardian freedom of information request that sheds new light on how overstretched staff in mental health units are increasingly on the receiving end of violence.’

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The Guardian, 7th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judiciary proposes fee ban and new name for McKenzie Friends – Legal Futures

‘England and Wales should follow the example of Scotland in banning McKenzie Friends from charging fees, the Judicial Executive Board (JEB) has proposed.’

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Legal Futures, 25th February 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New offences and sentencing – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Two further significant provisions of the Serious Crime Act 2015 have been brought into force. First, on 10 November 2015, section 79 created section 40CB of the Prison Act 1952, which provides for an offence of throwing any article or substance into a prison without authorisation.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd February 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Here come the new lawyers – CLC sets out plans for probate practitioners and technicians – Legal Futures

‘Plans to create three new breeds of lawyer – probate practitioners, conveyancing technicians and probate technicians – are being published today by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).’

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Legal Futures, 15 February 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Outsourcing and use of litigation assistants – Bar Council

‘Purpose: To assist barristers regarding the rules and their ethical obligations relating to outsourcing and the use of litigation assistants.’

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Bar Council, 17 February 2016

Source: http://www.barcouncil.org.uk

New planning guidance emphasises importance of housing evidence to neighbourhood planning – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 17th, 2016 in codes of practice, evidence, housing, local government, news, planning by michael

‘New paragraphs were added to the UK government’s National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) last week clarifying that, in areas with a neighbourhood plan in place but without a five year supply of deliverable housing sites, neighbourhood plan policies relating to housing should not be considered up-to-date.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16 February 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Early guilty pleas: Justice for whom? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘New guidelines incentivising people accused of criminal offences in England and Wales to plead guilty as early as possible were proposed last week. While existing rules allow for a maximum one-third reduction in the sentence to those who plead guilty at the ‘first reasonable opportunity’, this benefit is now only available to those who plead guilty at their very first court hearing, with the available reduction falling on a steeper sliding scale thereafter.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

High Court enforcement continued – Nearly Legal

‘In what has turned into a continuing series, there are further updates on enforcement of possession orders via the High Court, obtaining writs and the scandalous conduct of many High Court Enforcement Officers.’

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Nearly Legal, 13th February 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Regulatory offenders could face lower fine discounts if they wait to plead guilty, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘Companies which face prosecution for health and safety, environmental and other regulatory breaches would have to plead guilty at an earlier stage or risk higher fines under new proposals put forward by the Sentencing Council, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th February 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

No 10 faces legal challenge over ministerial code rewrite – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2016 in codes of practice, international law, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘Downing Street is facing a legal challenge to restore 13 words deleted from the ministerial code that appeared to remove the government’s obligation to uphold international law.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Update to Sexual offences definitive guideline – Sentencing Council

Posted February 8th, 2016 in codes of practice, news, sentencing, sexual offences, young offenders by tracey

‘The sentencing guideline on the sentencing of sexual offences has been updated to take account of legislative changes to sections 48, 49, and 50 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The changes relate to a change in terminology and now use the term “sexual exploitation of a child” to replace references to “child prostitution” and “child pornography”. The changes are on pages 89 to 94 of the guideline.’

Full guideline

Sentencing Council, 5th February 2016

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Who Guards the Guardians? – Family Law Week

‘The Association of Lawyers for Children and the National Association of Guardians ad Litem and Reporting Officers respond to recent guidance given in the Central Family Court on the need for guardians to justify their attendance at care hearings save in specified circumstances.’

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Family Law Week, 31st January 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.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.’

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The Guardian, 1st February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Toddler dies of leukaemia after medics miss condition 35 times – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 1st, 2016 in cancer, children, codes of practice, coroners, doctors, hospitals, inquests, medical records, news by tracey

‘A toddler died of leukaemia after medics repeatedly failed to diagnose the condition despite numerous “red flags” and 35 separate visits to doctors and hospitals.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk