Leveson lawyer: Too many potential witness were scared off by threat of ‘monstering’ from certain newspapers – The Independent

Posted October 17th, 2013 in inquiries, media, news, witnesses by sally

“Potential witnesses holding relevant evidence that should have been heard by Lord Justice Leveson’s press probe were scared off by the perceived threat of being ‘monstered’ by certain newspapers, according to the QC who lead questioning at the inquiry.”

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The Independent, 16th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Extent of spies’ mass surveillance to be investigated by parliamentary body – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2013 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, select committees, spying by sally

“The extent and scale of mass surveillance undertaken by Britain’s spy agencies is to be scrutinised in a major inquiry to be formally launched on Thursday.”

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The Guardian, 17th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Collins v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and another – WLR Daily

Collins v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and another [2013] EWCA Civ 1193; [2013] WLR (D) 376

“Where a planning decision engaged a child’s right to private and family life that child’s best interests would be a primary consideration for the decision-maker.”

WLR Daily, 9th October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Stuart Lawrence race complaint against Met upheld – BBC News

“A Metropolitan Police officer accused of racial discrimination against the brother of Stephen Lawrence has a ‘case to answer for misconduct’, the police watchdog has said.”

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BBC News, 12th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jail sentence penalties for data breaches will be consulted on despite Government’s scepticism – OUT-LAW.com

“The Government has reiterated its commitment to consult on introducing custodial sentences as a possible penalty for individuals who breach UK data protection laws.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

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.”

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BBC News, 13th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Why Mrs Litvinenko did not get her PCO – but what if it had been an environmental claim? – UK Human Rights Blog

“An extraordinary story which would have raised our eyebrows at its implausibility had it come from our spy novelists. In late 2006, Alexander Litvinenko was murdered by polonium-210 given to him in London. He was an ex-Russian Federation FSB agent, but by then was a UK citizen. He had accused Putin of the murder of the journalist Anna Politovskaya. He may or may not have been working for MI6 at the time of his death. The prime suspects for the killing are in Russia, not willing to help the UK with its inquiries. But rightly, in one form or another, we want to know what really happened.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Court of Appeal upholds CPO by council of site of famous amusement park – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 9th, 2013 in appeals, compulsory purchase, inquiries, local government, news by sally

“A district council’s compulsory purchase of the site of a famous amusement park has today been upheld by the Court of Appeal.”

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Victim suing police for taking too long to arrive – Daily Telegraph

“A crime victim who was beaten almost to death by a baseball bat-wielding gang of thugs is fighting a landmark battle for compensation from Humberside police.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Truth about dangerous mental patients let out to kill – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 7th, 2013 in criminal justice, homicide, inquiries, mental health, news, recidivists, statistics by sally

“The NHS trust that left a dangerous schizophrenic to kill a Birmingham schoolgirl allowed six other patients to kill people last year alone, The Telegraph has learnt.”

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Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Further guidance on the conduct of Iraqi death inquiries – High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 4th, 2013 in armed forces, families, inquiries, Iraq, news, unlawful killing by sally

“Earlier this year, the High Court ordered that an approach based upon a coroner’s inquest would be the most appropriate form of inquiry under Article 2 EHCR into claims of ill treatment or killings of civilians by the British armed forces in Iraq (see Adam Wagner’s post on this decision). Here the President of the Queen’s Bench sets out the Court’s views as to the form such inquiries should take.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Legal blow for widow of poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko who risks bankruptcy by continuing her battle for a public inquiry – The Independent

Posted October 4th, 2013 in costs, families, inquiries, judicial review, news, poisoning, spying by sally

“Marina Litvinenko’s fight for answers over the suspicious death of her husband, Alexander, has suffered another defeat after judges refused to protect her from facing crippling costs if she loses her legal battle for a public inquiry.”

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The Independent, 3rd October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

No public inquiry into Lynette White police corruption case – BBC News

“There will be no public inquiry into the handling of a police corruption trial surrounding a notorious murder case, the Home Office has confirmed.”

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BBC News, 27th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Michael Mansfield: ‘Nowadays there’s one rule for the rich, and another for the poor’ – The Independent

Posted September 30th, 2013 in barristers, budgets, equality, inquiries, legal aid, news by sally

“He has represented everyone from the Lawrence family to the Hillsborough victims. But, he tells Emily Dugan, cuts to legal aid mean he can now only exist as a ‘virtual lawyer’.”

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The Independent, 27th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

GMC probe into Mid-Staffs slammed as “whitewash” as cases abandoned – Daily Telegraph

“The investigation into the Mid-Staffs scandal was branded a ‘whitewash’ after regulators abandoned efforts to pursue the last of 44 doctors accused of failing patients.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police whistleblower denied immunity from prosecution – The Guardian

Posted September 19th, 2013 in immunity, inquiries, news, official secrets act, police, whistleblowers by sally

“A former undercover police officer who blew the whistle on a covert Scotland Yard squad has been denied immunity from prosecution for potential breaches of the Official Secrets Act.”

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The Guardian, 18th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.com

Detainees at Yarl’s Wood immigration centre ‘facing sexual abuse’ – The Guardian

“A former detainee at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre has alleged that women held there have been subjected to unwanted sexual advances and abuse by security guards and other officials.”

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The Guardian, 14th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Joanna Yeates murder: police apologise to landlord – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2013 in anonymity, bail, compensation, inquiries, media, murder, news, police, professional conduct, standards by tracey

“The landlord of the murdered landscape architect Joanna Yeates has received a letter from police expressing ‘regret’ for the first time at the way he was treated after being arrested over her killing.”

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The Guardian, 16th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hillsborough: police, FA, council and club could face manslaughter charges – The Guardian

Posted September 12th, 2013 in health & safety, homicide, inquiries, local government, negligence, news, police, sport by tracey

“Manslaughter charges could be brought against the South Yorkshire police force and senior officers on duty when 96 people died at the Hillsborough football stadium on 15 April 1989, according to the senior detective leading a new criminal investigation into the disaster.”

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The Guardian, 12th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Acpo’s role to be examined by Sir Nick Parker – BBC News

Posted September 11th, 2013 in inquiries, news, police, standards by tracey

“A retired general will lead an inquiry into whether an association for senior police officers is fit for purpose.”

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BBC News, 10th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk