Anonymity Before Charge – Part I – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted May 7th, 2013 in anonymity, Law Commission, news, rape, sexual offences by sally

“In our article ‘Rape Defendant Anonymity’ last year ((2012) 176 JPN pp.5-8 and 24-26) we suggested that there was a strong case for banning the publication of the identities of rape defendants prior to any conviction. We included this as part of our submission to Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry into the press, suggesting that he should consider the issue as part of his remit. Tucked away in the depths of the report (The Report into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press, November 29, 2012 at G Ch 3 para.2.39), whether or not in response to our submission the relevant text does not make clear, Leveson proposes that, other than in exceptional circumstances, the names of suspects and arrested people (referred to as ‘arrestees’) should not be published and that police guidance relating to publication should be tightened up to reflect this. The Law Commission disagreed (Contempt of Court: A Consultation Paper, Number 209, Law Commission) but in a judicial response to the Consultation Paper, Lord Justice Treacy and Mr Justice Tugendhat – supported by many other senior Judges, including the President of the Queen’s Bench Division and the Senior Presiding Judge – backed Leveson (A Judicial Response to Law Commission Consultation Paper no.209, March 4, 2013, released April 9, 2013).”

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 4th May 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Law Commission proposes changes to ‘groundless threats’ IP laws – OUT-LAW.com

“A law reform body has proposed changes to the law that would make it easier for businesses seeking to protect their trade marks and design rights to make threats of legal action against alleged infringers of their rights without fear that those threats could be the subject of court action.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Put away the measuring tape – it’s time for greater codification – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted April 15th, 2013 in Law Commission, legislation, news, taxation by sally

“Ever since I was a law student, it has been an annual ritual of the newspapers to buy a copy of the Tolley Tax Handbook and measure how much fatter the tax laws have become. Red tape seems inevitable, regulation grows by half an inch or so each year and business bemoans this lack of simplicity. So why does no-one ask the same thing of statutes and case law? Couldn’t this all be simplified by codification?”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th April 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Law Commissions call for consumer protections to be extended to end user licence agreements – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 26th, 2013 in consumer protection, Law Commission, news, unfair contract terms by sally

“Legal protections preventing the inclusion of unfair contract terms in consumer contracts should be extended to apply to less formal notices, such as those included as part of software end user licence agreements (EULA), law reform bodies have said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 25th March 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Intestacy and Family Provision Claims on Death – Law Commission

Posted March 22nd, 2013 in intestacy, Law Commission, news, reports, trusts by sally

“Government has accepted, in part, the recommendations we made in our report Intestacy and Family Provision Claims on Death.”

Intestacy and Family Provision Claims on Death

Law Commission, 21st March 2013

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Law Commission

“The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission have today recommended reforms to provide better protection for consumers from unfair charges in small print.”

Full report

Law Commission, 19th March 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Law commissions urge tougher action on hidden charges – BBC News

“Consumers need more protection against hidden charges often tucked away in the
small print, according to two bodies responsible for promoting law reform.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Telcos to get early interim access to land but Law Commission plans slightly favour landowners, experts say – OUT-LAW.com

“Telecoms operators will be able to access land for equipment installation even
when full agreement with landlords has not been reached under Law Commission
proposals published today to revise the laws governing the installation and
maintenance of telecoms equipment.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 28th February 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Cracking the Electronic Communications Code – Law Commission

Posted February 28th, 2013 in electronic mail, internet, Law Commission, news, reports, telecommunications by sally

“In a report published today the Law Commission is recommending reforms that will bring the Electronic Communications Code up to date with modern technology while continuing to balance the rights of landowners and the public demand for modern communications services.”

Full story

Law Commission, 28th February 2013

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Law Commission Triennial Review – call for evidence – Law Commission

Posted January 9th, 2013 in evidence, Law Commission, Ministry of Justice, news, quangos by sally

“The Government’s response to the Public Administration Select Committee report ‘Smaller Government: Shrinking the Quango state’ sets out the plans for reforming public bodies. It includes new Triennial Review requirements for Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB).”

Full story

Law Commission, 9th January 2013

Source: www.consult.justice.gov.uk

Law Commission Consultation on Marital Property : FLBA Response – Family Law Bar Association

Posted January 8th, 2013 in barristers, consultations, Law Commission, matrimonial home, news by sally

“Download the FLBA Response to the Law Commission Consultation on Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements.”

Full story

Family Law Bar Association, 7th January 2013

Source: www.flba.co.uk

Reforming Electoral Law in the UK – Law Commission

Posted December 11th, 2012 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

“The Law Commission has identified the areas of UK electoral law that will come under scrutiny in a forthcoming review. The review, which will be conducted jointly with the Scottish Law Commission and the Northern Ireland Law Commission, aims to reform the law relating to elections and referendums across the UK.”

Full story

Law Commission, 11th December 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Law could be updated to make it easier to cull grey squirrels and badgers – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 23rd, 2012 in animals, consultations, Law Commission, news by sally

“Killing ‘pests’ such as badgers, deer and grey squirrels will be made easier under Government proposals.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd August 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bringing electoral law up to date – Law Commission

Posted June 18th, 2012 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

“In a consultation opening today (15 June), the Law Commission is asking which of the rules governing elections and referendums should be reviewed as part of its electoral law reform project. Electoral law in the UK is spread across 25 major statutes. It has become increasingly complex and fragmented and, according to the Commission, needs to be simplified, modernised and rationalised in order to benefit the electorate, administrators, and candidates.”

Full story

Law Commission, 15th June 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

The Law Commission’s review of Health and Social Care Regulation – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted May 31st, 2012 in consultations, health, Law Commission, news, social services by tracey

“I attended an interesting seminar yesterday evening hosted by Blake Lapthorn solicitors. Frances Patterson QC, one of the Law Commissioners, spoke about the LC’s current review of Health and Social Care Regulation.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th May 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

 

Regulation of Health and Social Care Professionals – Law Commission

Posted March 1st, 2012 in consultations, health, Law Commission, regulations, social services by tracey

“The consultation paper makes provisional proposals which seek to simplify and modernise the law and establish a streamlined, transparent and responsive system of regulation of health care professionals, and in England only, the regulation of social workers.”

Full consultation paper

Law Commission, 1st March 2012

Source: http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Clarifying the law on financial provision for couples when relationships end – Law Commission

Posted February 7th, 2012 in divorce, financial provision, Law Commission, news by sally

“The Law Commission is to conduct a targeted review of two aspects of the law that entitles married couples and civil partners to claim financial provision from one another on divorce or dissolution of their partnership.”

Full story

Law Commission, 6th February 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Insurance Contract Law: Post Contract Duties and other Issues – Law Commission

Posted December 20th, 2011 in consultations, contracts, insurance, Law Commission by tracey

“Insurance Contract Law: Post Contract Duties and other Issues.”

Full consultation paper

Law Commission, 20th December 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Unmarried couples ‘should have equal inheritance rights’ – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2011 in bills, cohabitation, intestacy, Law Commission, news, reports by sally

“Unmarried couples who have lived together for five years or more should be able to inherit from each other without writing a will, the Law Commission has recommended.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Easements, Covenants and Profits à Prendre – Law Commission

Posted June 8th, 2011 in covenants, easements, Law Commission, profits a prendre, reports by tracey

“In this report, we make recommendations to simplify, modernise and enhance the law of easements, covenants and profits à prendre.  These rights are essential to the effective use of land and are relied upon by a significant proportion of property owners in England and Wales.”

Full report

Law Commission, 8th June 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission