More part-time judges would help diversify judiciary, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, diversity, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“More part-timers should be put on the bench and fewer judges allowed to chair selection panels in order to improve judicial diversity, the Ministry of Justice has proposed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Have your say on stalking laws – Home Office

Posted November 15th, 2011 in consultations, harassment, news by sally

“Today (14 November), we have launched an online consultation asking for views on how best to tackle this crime and provide protection for victims. We ask whether specific offences of ‘stalking’ and ‘cyber stalking’ should be added to existing harassment laws and what training and guidance is needed for police and prosecutors.”

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Home Office, 14th November 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Clare’s law: Government urged to back campaign – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2011 in consultations, criminal records, domestic violence, murder, news by sally

“The government has been urged to support a campaign by the father of a Salford woman who was murdered by a man she met on Facebook.”

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BBC News, 7th November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Squatting in residential buildings to become a criminal offence – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 1st, 2011 in bills, consultations, crime, news, squatting, trespass by sally

“Squatting in residential buildings is to become a criminal offence for the first time, the Government has announced.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st November 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Consultation on ‘Clare’s Law’ launched – Home Office

Posted October 28th, 2011 in consultations, domestic violence, press releases by tracey

“The public are to be asked their views on whether to introduce a scheme for disclosing information about an individual’s history of domestic violence to a new partner, the Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.”

Full press release

Home Office, 25th October 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

We will consult on a new Code of Conduct for barristers and Alternative Business Structures – Bar Standards Board

“We will issue a new consultation on a future Code of Conduct for the profession and legal business structures. The consultation will be released in January 2012.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 27th October 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Consultation begins on domestic violence disclosure scheme – The Guardian

Posted October 26th, 2011 in consultations, criminal records, disclosure, domestic violence, news by sally

“Women could soon have the right to know whether a new partner has a history of domestic violence under proposed legislation announced by the home secretary, Theresa May. The Home Office has launched a consultation over how a national domestic violence disclosure scheme could work in practice following a campaign by the father of Clare Wood, who was strangled in 2009 by an ex-boyfriend she had met through Facebook.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government considers ‘right to know’ on domestic abuse – BBC News

Posted October 25th, 2011 in consultations, criminal records, domestic violence, news, violent offenders by sally

“People could be given the power to find out from the police if a new partner has a history of domestic violence under new government proposals.”

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BBC News, 25th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Have your say on public order policing – Home Office

Posted October 14th, 2011 in consultations, police, press releases, public order by tracey

“In the light of the summer riots James Brokenshire launched a consultation today to consider how to give the police more tools to tackle disorder.”

Full press release

Home Office, 13th October 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

May seeks stronger police riot powers – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2011 in consultations, news, police, public order, violent disorder by tracey

“The home secretary, Theresa May, is to press ahead with seeking public order curfew powers for the police to create ‘no-go’ areas during riots. The powers are expected to include immediate curfews over large areas to tackle the kind of fast-moving disturbances that swept across many of England’s major cities in August. May also wants to extend existing powers to impose curfews on individual teenagers aged under 16.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government to consider options for equal civil marriage for same-sex couples – Home Office

Posted September 30th, 2011 in consultations, homosexuality, marriage, press releases by tracey

“A public consultation to consider how to make civil marriage available to same-sex couples will begin in March 2012, the government announced today.”

Full press release

Home Office, 26th September 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Simplifying the law of kidnapping – Law Commission

Posted September 28th, 2011 in consultations, fraud, kidnapping, news by sally

“In a consultation opening today, the Law Commission is seeking views on its provisional ideas for reform of the common law offence of kidnapping. The existing definition of kidnapping is unclear and leaves room for confusion. The Commission aims to clarify the definition of kidnapping, rectify the problems associated with the current law and ensure that all types of kidnapping can be dealt with efficiently by the courts.”

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Law Commission, 28th September 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Warning over kidnap legal loophole – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2011 in consultations, fraud, kidnapping, news by sally

“A loophole means some people guilty of kidnap may not face the full force of the law, the government’s law reform experts have warned.”

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BBC News, 28th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regulator warns of secret app charges and proposes industry guidance – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 27th, 2011 in consultations, consumer protection, news, telecommunications by sally

“Some makers of mobile phone apps are secretly charging phone users for services they never asked for, premium rate phone regulator PhonepayPlus (PPP) has said. It has proposed guidance that it hopes would prevent consumers being harmed.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 27th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Environmental regulations come under spotlight in ‘red tape challenge’ – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2011 in consultations, environmental protection, news, planning by sally

“The government is seeking advice from the public on which pieces of regulation could be made more transparent.”

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The Guardian, 2nd September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Non-trial advocates to be excluded from court work – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 25th, 2011 in advocacy, consultations, news, quality assurance, rights of audience by sally

“Non-trial advocates will be excluded from higher court work by the quality assurance scheme for advocates (QASA), a leading solicitor advocate has warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th August 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Distance selling advertising rules should be more limited, advertising body says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 16th, 2011 in advertising, consultations, consumer protection, news by sally

“Broadcasters should only have to vet advertisers of goods and services sold online or over the phone if their adverts are targeted at consumers, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th August 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Joint Advocacy Group consultation paper on regulatory changes to support the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) – Bar Standards Board

Posted August 16th, 2011 in advocacy, barristers, consultations, news, quality assurance by sally

“We seek your views on proposed regulatory amendments required to embed the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) within the regulatory framework.”

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Bar Standards Board, 15th August 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council Responds to MoJ Funding Order Consultation – The Bar Council

Posted August 10th, 2011 in barristers, consultations, legal aid, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today responded to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on amendments to the funding of civil and criminal defence work.”

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The Bar Council, 9th August 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Does Britain need a bill of rights? – The Guardian

Posted August 9th, 2011 in consultations, human rights, legislation, news by sally

“A British bill of rights may complicate human rights law further, and that would help nobody but lawyers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th August 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk