Landlords in England get ready for right to rent – Home Office

‘Landlords in England are being reminded that there is less than a month to go before “right to rent” rules go live.’

Full press release

Home Office, 8th January 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

The code of practice for victims of crime and supporting public information materials – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 18th, 2015 in codes of practice, press releases, victims by sally

‘Code of practice governing services to be provided in England and Wales to victims of criminal conduct which occurred in England and Wales.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 18th December 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

More cases to be heard by magistrates – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Criminal cases should be sent to the Crown court only if they are “clearly unsuitable” for trial in the magistrates’ court, the Sentencing Council says in fresh guidance to ensure cases are tried and sentenced in the appropriate court.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 10th December 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ urged to probe impact of ‘religion-based law’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2015 in codes of practice, equality, gender, Islam, Judaism, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice should issue guidance to ensure that religious and cultural tribunals comply with UK standards on gender equality and judicial independence, according to a high-profile commission into the role of religion and society.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th December 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Human Genome and Human Rights recommendations: “aspirational and symbolic” – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 7th, 2015 in codes of practice, DNA, equality, human rights, medical ethics, news by sally

‘The International Bioethics Committee, under the auspices of UNESCO, has recently updated its guidance on the human genome and human rights. The Report of the IBC on Updating its Reflection on the Human Genome and Human Rights was published in October 2015, and takes into account the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997), the International Declaration on Human Genetic Data (2003) and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005). The following summary is based on Alison Hall’s review of the recommendations in the PHG Foundation’s bulletin.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Jailed Libor trader Tom Hayes denied fair trial, says lawyer – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in appeals, banking, codes of practice, conspiracy, fines, fraud, juries, news, standards by sally

‘Th judge who sentenced a former trader to 14 years in jail for conspiracy to rig Libor blocked the defence from presenting key evidence about a banking industry that routinely flouted rules, the court of appeal has heard.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Second transgender prisoner found dead in male jail – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in attempts, codes of practice, death in custody, gender, murder, news, prisons, suicide, women by sally

‘A transgender woman has become the second trans prisoner in the space of a month to apparently take their own life while serving time in a male jail in England.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former MP Tim Yeo loses Sunday Times cash claim libel bid – BBC News

Posted November 26th, 2015 in codes of practice, defamation, media, news, parliament by sally

‘Former Conservative MP Tim Yeo has lost his libel case against The Sunday Times over a “cash for advocacy” claim.’

Full story

BBC News, 25th November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family ADR boosted by new guidance – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Sir James Munby, president of the Family Division, has issued guidance on arbitration in the family court in a move which could encourage more lawyers to view alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a viable option.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 24th November 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Reprimand and fine for barrister who admitted talking to jurors after trial – Legal Futures

‘A barrister who admitted that he had talked to jurors at Basildon Railway Station after a trial has been reprimanded and fined £300 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 25th November 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lord’s Prayer: What are the rules on religious adverts? – BBC News

Posted November 24th, 2015 in advertising, Church of England, codes of practice, news by sally

‘Leading UK cinemas are refusing to screen a Church of England commercial reciting the Lord’s Prayer. But what are the rules on religious advertising, asks Justin Parkinson.’

Full story

BBC News, 23rd November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Only Way is Ethics: Whose media laws should a British journo follow? – The Independent

Posted November 23rd, 2015 in codes of practice, France, freedom of expression, internet, media, news, privacy, terrorism by sally

‘It is a ghastly truth that newspapers come into their own when something terrible has happened. The horrors witnessed in Paris just over a week ago resulted in some excellent reporting and analysis. There have been some exceptions – though, given the confused nature of the situation, that is perhaps inevitable.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd November 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Best interests, hard choices: The Baby C case – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Judgments in best interests cases involving children often make for heart-wrenching reading. And so it was in Bolton NHS Foundation Trust v C (by her Children’s Guardian) [2015] EWHC 2920 (Fam), a case which considered Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidance, affirming its approach was in conformity with Article 2 and Article 3 ECHR. It also described, in the clearest terms, the terrible challenges facing C’s treating clinicians and her parents.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 19th November 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK police forces urged to review handling of child grooming cases – The Guardian

‘Police forces in England and Wales have been urged to review their handling of child grooming cases after inspectors found serious failings in the case of Breck Bednar, a 14-year-old who was murdered in a “sexual and sadistic” attack by a teenager he met online.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

“… this can no longer be tolerated”: a short guide to the correct use of section 20, Children Act 1989 – Family Law Week

‘Alex Laing, barrister of Coram Chambers, concludes his review of N (Children) (Adoption: Jurisdiction) by considering what the President said about section 20 agreements.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 11th November 2015

source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Barristers “under pressure” to agree not to act against big clients if they want their work – Legal Futures

‘Barristers need to resist pressure from big clients and government departments to agree not to act against them in the future if they want instructions, the Bar Council has said.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th November 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Affordability and intentionality – adding it up – Nearly Legal

‘A second appeal from a s.204 County Court appeal that addressed the council’s decision-making on whether the property from which Ms Samuels had become homeless was affordable (and thus, whether she was intentionally homeless for failing to pay the full rent).’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 8th November 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Bar Council comments on Draft Investigatory Powers Bill – The Bar Council

‘Responding to the publication of the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill, Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “The ‘double lock’ requirement of needing both judicial and senior ministerial authorisation for the most intrusive investigatory powers is not as secure as it is made out to be.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 5th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Consultation on extradition and transit codes of practice – Home Office

Posted November 2nd, 2015 in codes of practice, consultations, extradition, police by sally

‘This is a consultation on revised codes of practice for extradition and new codes of practice for transit cases.’

Full press release

Home Office, 2nd November 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Human rights group challenges Government’s change to ministerial code – Daily Telegraph

‘Rights Watch UK describes the Government’s bid to the change the code – which sets out standards expected from ministers – to disregard international law was ‘seriously concerning’.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th October 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk