UK’s top prosecutor defends journalists who break law in public interest – The Guardian

“Britain’s most senior prosecutor has launched a robust defence of journalists who break the law pursuing investigations that have a genuine public interest. Legal guidelines had been drafted, he said, to protect reporters.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service admits misleading public over complaints – The Guardian

“The Crown Prosecution Service has admitted publishing misleading records of complaints made about its performance.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Revised Banking Code of Practice gives HMRC too much discretion, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 15th, 2013 in banking, codes of practice, HM Revenue & Customs, news, taxation by sally

“HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be given ‘too much discretion’ to ‘name and shame’ banks that do not meet strict governance requirements in relation to tax matters under proposed changes to the industry Code of Practice, an expert has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 14th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Code of practice call over government tsars – BBC News

Posted October 15th, 2013 in codes of practice, government departments, news, parliament, reports by sally

“The process for appointing government ‘tsars’ and evaluating their work is inadequate, a new report has claimed.”

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BBC News, 15th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sexual offences: Wrong questions asked of victims, says Keir Starmer – BBC News

“Victims of sexual offences have been afraid of reporting them because police have asked ‘the wrong questions’, the director of public prosecutions for England and Wales has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Failure to respond to FOI request more promptly than ‘long stop’ 20 days deadline needs to be justified, says watchdog – OUT-LAW.com

“Public authorities may need to maintain a record to justify why they are unable to respond to freedom of information (FOI) requests more promptly than within 20 working days after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) released new guidance.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 8th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Statement from Director of Public Prosecutions on abortion related cases – Crown Prosecution Service

“In early 2012, the Daily Telegraph carried out an undercover investigation at various abortion clinics in England. As a result, a police investigation was conducted and, in due course, the police asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for advice about possible criminal charges. This note relates to the decision to take no further action in relation to two doctors: Dr S and Dr R.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 7th October 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Changes to Public Access rules come into effect – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 7th, 2013 in barristers, codes of practice, legal aid, legal education, licensing, news by sally

“Changes to Public Access rules come into effect today, as the Bar Standards Board (BSB) announces the appointment of the Bar Council and HJT to deliver new Public Access training schemes. The BSB also expects to be approving other providers shortly.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 4th October 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

BSB opens up public access to baby barristers – Legal Futures

Posted October 7th, 2013 in barristers, codes of practice, legal education, licensing, news by sally

“Junior barristers with less than three years’ practising experience can now undertake public access work.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th October 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal loophole closed to prosecute persistent fuel thieves – Daily Telegraph

“Motorists who repeatedly steal petrol by filling up and then claiming to have forgotten their wallets will no longer be able to escape criminal prosecution, after new guidance was issued to police forces.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dominic Grieve under pressure to explain CPS decision not to prosecute over gender selection abortion scandal – Daily Telegraph

“Britain’s top law officer is to come under pressure in the House of Commons this week to say why the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute over the gender selection abortion scandal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

General Medical Council too late with child sex abuse complaint, rules High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

“The High Court has strongly affirmed the prohibition against the pursuit of long delayed complaints against doctors in regulatory proceedings. The prohibition arose from the General Medical Council’s own procedural rules. It applied even where the allegations were of the most serious kind, including sexual misconduct, and could only be waived in exceptional circumstances and where the public interest demanded. The burden was upon the GMC to establish a sufficiently compelling public interest where allegations had already been thoroughly investigated by the competent authorities such as the police and social services.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 26th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Press regulation debate nears final reckoning – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2013 in codes of practice, interception, media, news, Privy Council, regulations by sally

“The marathon battle to introduce a new system of press regulation will come to a head on 9 October when the privy council is due to decide whether to seal a royal charter enshrining the industry’s preferred system of self-regulation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

In-game app fees face OFT consumer protection crackdown – BBC News

Posted September 26th, 2013 in children, codes of practice, computer programs, consumer protection, news by sally

“A UK watchdog is threatening action against video game app-makers it finds in breach of consumer protection laws.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Doctors and nurses’ regulators asked to clarify guidance on face veils – The Guardian

Posted September 20th, 2013 in codes of practice, doctors, freedom of expression, Islam, news, nurses, women by sally

“A government minister has asked the regulatory bodies for doctors and nurses to clarify their guidance on the wearing of veils after concerns that patients may be denied face-to-face contact with the person treating them.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

ASA ruling offers ‘helpful clarification’ on user generated content and CAP Code compliance, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 17th, 2013 in advertising, codes of practice, complaints, internet, news by sally

“Online advertisers do not have to hold evidence to show that user comments can be substantiated and that they comply with UK advertising rules where the comments have not been “adopted and incorporated” into marketing material, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has confirmed.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 16th September 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Collective licensing bodies face £50,000 fine for non-compliant code – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 17th, 2013 in codes of practice, copyright, fines, intellectual property, licensing, news by sally

“The Government could fine collective licensing bodies up to £50,000 if they fail to implement a compliant code of practice governing their activities, according to plans outlined by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th September 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Director of Public Prosecutions sets out charging standards for benefit and tax credit fraud – Crown Prosecution Service

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, QC, has today published new guidelines for prosecutors dealing with fraud cases involving state benefits and tax credits. The charging standards will ensure a robust prosecutorial position is taken against those who commit fraud against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and will ensure a consistent approach to prosecution across the wide spectrum of criminal fraud.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 16th September 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Benefit cheats could face jail terms of up to ten years – Daily Telegraph

“Benefit cheats could face jail terms of up to ten years under plans to crackdown on people who ‘flout the system’, the country’s top prosecutor will say on Monday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Watchdog consults on changes to rules on licensed gambling operators – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 13th, 2013 in codes of practice, consultations, gambling, licensed premises, licensing, news by tracey

“The Gambling Commission has launched consultations on proposed changes to the rules governing licensed gambling operators.”

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 12th September 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk