David Cameron statement in response to the Leveson Inquiry report – The Guardian

“Prime Minister delivered the statement to the House of Commons on the day that Leveson report was published.”

Full statement

The Guardian, 29th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met policemen cleared of making racist comments – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2012 in complaints, freedom of expression, news, police, prosecutions, racism by sally

“Two Metropolitan Police officers have been cleared of making racially offensive comments.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th November 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Leveson report to be published amid intense debate on nature of regulation – The Guardian

“On what is likely to be a landmark day for politicians, the media and the police, Lord Justice Leveson’s report into the future regulation of the press will be published after a 16-month public inquiry that has seen the industry face unprecedented criticism.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson inquiry: the essential guide – The Guardian

Posted November 28th, 2012 in freedom of expression, inquiries, media, news, professional conduct, regulations by sally

“Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry ‘into the culture, practices and ethics of the press’ heard from 184 witnesses and accepted 42 written submissions in more than six months of hearings.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Leveson Report: what will it recommend? – The Lawyer

Posted November 28th, 2012 in freedom of expression, media, news, regulations, reports by sally

“Leading media lawyers have set out their expectations of Lord Justice Leveson ahead of the Thursday (29 November) publication of his inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 27th November 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Balancing freedom of the press with the right to a fair trial – Law Commission

Posted November 28th, 2012 in consultations, contempt of court, freedom of expression, internet, juries, media, news by sally

“In a consultation opening today the Law Commission is asking whether the existing law on contempt of court continues to work effectively in light of the challenges posed by new media and the way these are used by the mainstream press and, increasingly, by citizen journalists.”

Full story

Law Commission, 28th November 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Leveson inquiry: public wants press watchdog backed by law, poll claims – The Guardian

“David Cameron is facing a public backlash if he fails to act to rein in the press when Lord Justice Leveson reports on Thursday, according to a poll which finds that 79% are in favour of an independent press regulator established by law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Christopher Jefferies: ‘I have had no letter of apology’ – The Guardian

“The retired teacher speaks out about his vilification by the press after his wrongful arrest for the murder of Joanna Yeates.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

PCC chair says he has widespread media backing for self-regulation plan – The Guardian

“The head of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), Lord Hunt, has said there is widespread agreement within the media for a proposed new self-regulation body he is arguing should be introduced in the wake of the Leveson report into press standards, which is published on Thursday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Facebook faux pas and disciplinary proceedings – when do human rights come in? – UK Human Rights Blog

“Two employment cases, about Facebook and train tickets respectively, indicate the difficulties of deciding where human rights may or may not be raised in disputes between private parties – neither defendant in these cases was a public authority.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 21st November 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Unpopular Twitter accounts could escape prosecution for ‘grossly offensive’ tweets – Daily Telegraph

“Twitter account holders with few followers could escape prosecution for posting ‘grossly offensive’ messages as part of an attempt to protect free speech online, under new guidelines being developed by Britain’s most senior prosecutor.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Leveson Report: What price will the press have to pay? – The Guardian

Posted November 12th, 2012 in freedom of expression, inquiries, media, news, privacy, regulations by sally

“Lord Justice Leveson has an unenviable and, some say, impossible task: to come up with a press regulation plan that will at once preserve privacy and freedom of speech, and offer a solution to deal with the growing problem of libel in blogs and social media. So too has David Cameron when he receives Leveson’s long-awaited report at the end of this month.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Human rights victory for BNP bus driver – UK Human Rights Blog

“The BNP has been a relentless opponent of Human Rights Act and its manifesto for the 2010 General Election made no less than three separate declarations of its intention to scrap the Act and abrogate the European Convention of Human Rights which it described charmingly as being, ‘exploited to abuse Britain’s hospitality by the world’s scroungers.'”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 6th November 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Policies or Aims, Obnoxious or Otherwise – Employment Law Blog

“The European Court of Human Rights today released its judgment in the case of Redfearn v UK, and held that the UK had failed through its domestic law adequately to protect the right of Mr Redfearn, a British National Party councillor, to freedom of association under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

Full story

Employment Law Blog, 6th November 2012

Source: www.employment11kbw.com

Freedom of expression: why are there greater restrictions online? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 2nd, 2012 in freedom of expression, internet, news, public order by sally

“When you are speaking to someone face to face you are free to say something grossly offensive to them, or even to shout it out so that anyone within earshot can hear. It’s not a crime. Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 states that it doesn’t matter whether you let loose your volley of invective in front of someone who is likely to be insulted by it, or even offended by it, provided they are not likely to have been caused harassment, alarm or distress.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd November 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.com

Why we allow dissent – by our judges – Legal Week

Posted November 2nd, 2012 in EC law, freedom of expression, judiciary, news by sally

“Why do judges disagree and publish their disagreements when cases get decided? After all, the Cabinet does not do so (openly at least), and our FTSE 100 companies do not generally do so, when their executives propose a merger or launch a new product. Surely, judicial dissent is a recipe for diminishing the authority of the majority answer, and an invitation to self-indulgence on the part of the minority to re-fight lost and irrelevant battles.”

Full story

Legal Week, 1st November 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Frankie Boyle, free speech and legal jokes – The Guardian

Posted October 24th, 2012 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, public order, racism by sally

“When speech offends, insults and disparages should we resort to legal action?”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Why we allow dissent – by our judges – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 15th, 2012 in freedom of expression, human rights, judgments, judiciary, news by sally

“Why do judges disagree and publish their disagreements when cases get decided? After all, the Cabinet does not do so (openly at least), and our FTSE-100 companies do not generally do so, when their executives propose a merger or launch a new product. Surely, judicial dissent is a recipe for diminishing the authority of the majority answer, and an invitation to self-indulgence on the part of the minority to re-fight lost and irrelevant battles.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 14th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Scientists to get extra protection from libel – The Independent

Posted October 12th, 2012 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Scientists and academics are to be given extra protection from bullying corporations that use Britain’s libel laws to suppress legitimate criticism and debate, the Government has indicated.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lawcast 222: John Cooper QC on the DPP round table social media prosecutions discussions – Charon QC

“Today I am talking to John Cooper QC. The DPP is holding a series of round table meetings to consider where the law should be in relation to online social media spoken and written. Rather strangely – while the DPP invited lawyers who have been involved in recent high profile cases and some lawyers who weren’t even peripherally involved – Keir Starmer QC did not extend an invitation to leading criminal silk John Copper QC who actually led the team in the celebrated Paul Chambers Twitterjoketrial case – which the team won.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 10th October 2012

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.