Stalkers facing longer jail terms for torment caused to victims – BBC News

Posted January 6th, 2017 in harassment, news, racism, religiously aggravated offences, sentencing, stalking by sally

‘The maximum sentence for stalking available to courts in England and Wales is to rise from five years to 10.’

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BBC News, 6th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man who admitted downloading baby rape video is spared jail – The Independent

‘Judge says public will be safer if Daniel Taylor attends treatment programme.’

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The Independent, 5th January 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Forensic science standards ‘at significant risk’ – BBC News

Posted January 6th, 2017 in criminal justice, DNA, forensic science, news, police, standards by sally

‘The quality of forensic science work in England and Wales is putting the integrity of the criminal justice system at risk, an expert has warned. Forensic Science Regulator Gillian Tully said some police forces were not committed to meeting the required standards, and there was a significant risk of DNA contamination.’

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BBC News, 6th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Beautician jailed for paying stranger £300 to take her speeding points after she revealed ploy on Facebook – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 6th, 2017 in guilty pleas, news, perjury, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘A beautician was jailed after she paid a stranger to take her speeding points and revealed the ploy on Facebook.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Works and quiet enjoyment – Nearly Legal

Posted January 5th, 2017 in construction industry, covenants, landlord & tenant, leases, news, noise, rent by sally

‘Timothy Taylor Ltd v Mayfair House Corporation & Anor [2016] EWHC 1075 (Ch). It is a commercial property case, but has interesting elements on the way in which building works may be reasonably carried out.’

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Nearly Legal, 4th January 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Leading the way on ethics – Counsel

‘Is the Bar still a stand-out example of adherence to high ethical standards? Desiree Artesi discusses the practicalities of professional ethics with Andrew Walker QC.’

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Counsel, January 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Judge lambasts council and police for flaws in investigation and care case – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 5th, 2017 in care orders, damages, human rights, news, police, social services by sally

‘A High Court judge has strongly criticised a council and a police force for serious breaches of the Human Rights Act, after two children were retained in care despite their mother not being charged with an offence following her arrest.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th January 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

SRA ordered to disclose report into law firm investigation – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society’s freedom of information adjudicator has ordered the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to disclose an investigator’s report, saying the regulator had overlooked “the public interest in transparency as a good in itself”.’

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Legal Futures, 5th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Whiplash reforms treat victims ‘like an inconvenience’ – APIL – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Claimant lawyers have mounted an all-out attack on the government’s plans to overhaul the personal injury sector as the deadline approaches for responses to a consultation.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 4th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lord Sumption and the Limits of the Law: Is the Human Rights Project Undemocratic and Elitist? – Family Law Week

Posted January 5th, 2017 in constitutional law, human rights, judges, judiciary, news, treaties by sally

‘David Bedingfield, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, considers the arguments in a debate of vital importance to family lawyers.’

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Family Law Week, 4th January 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Former soldier sentenced under Terrorism Act after attempting to travel to Syria to fight Isis – The Independent

Posted January 5th, 2017 in armed forces, community service, news, sentencing, terrorism, war by sally

‘A former soldier has been sentenced under the Terrorism Act after he attempted to travel to Syria to fight Isis.’

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The Independent, 4th January 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government names new chief to lead crackdown on worker exploitation – The Guardian

Posted January 5th, 2017 in employment, gangmasters, immigration, minimum wage, news by sally

‘The government has moved to crack down on unscrupulous employers by appointing a new boss to lead the collection of government bodies tasked with stamping out exploitation in the workplace. Prof Sir David Metcalf, a founding member of the Low Pay Commission and former chairman of the Migration Advisory Committee, was named on Thursday as the first director of Labour Market Enforcement.’

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The Guardian, 5th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

All prisoners should be allowed to wear their own clothes because transgender inmates can, inspectors say – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 5th, 2017 in freedom of expression, news, prisons, reports, transgender persons by sally

‘Prisoners should be allowed to wear their own clothes in jail because transgender inmates are allowed to wear dresses and make-up, inspectors have said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Truss orders review to ban abusers tormenting victims in family courts – The Guardian

‘The Justice Secretary has set up an emergency review to find the quickest way to ban perpetrators of domestic abuse from directly cross-examining their victims within the family court system.’

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The Guardian, 4th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Almshouses, tenancies and Article 14 – Nearly Legal

Posted January 4th, 2017 in appeals, charities, human rights, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘This post is my Christmas gift to land law students everywhere in the UK. It is a discussion of the very important Court of Appeal decision in Watts v Stewart [2016] EWCA Civ 1247, which concerned whether charitable providers of accommodation (in this case, almshouses, but, in principle, the issue in the case is broader) are exceptions to the Street v Mountford mantra that exclusive possession for a fixed term at a rent = tenancy.’

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Nearly Legal, 29th December 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Privilege – Closing the Stable Door – Zenith PI Blog

Posted January 4th, 2017 in accounts, disclosure, negligence, news, privilege, solicitors by sally

‘Everyone knows that the privilege of communications between client and lawyer is a fundamental principle of English Common Law. But there has been some uncertainty as to what happens if the privilege is waived for the purpose of some litigation. That, it seems to me, is clearly dealt with by the Court of Appeal in the recent case of Eurasian Natural Resources Corp Ltd v Dechert LLP [2016] 1WLR 5027.’

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Zenith PI blog, 3rd January 2017

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Sanctity of life v personal autonomy: Court of Protection – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 4th, 2017 in consent, Court of Protection, married persons, medical treatment, news by sally

‘Briggs v Briggs & Ors [2016] EWCOP 53 (20 December 2016). Apologies for starting the new year on such a sombre note, but there is a shaft of light in that this Court of Protection judgement is a clear indication that judges – or some of them – are prepared to favour an individual’s autonomy over the traditional emphasis on the sanctity of life above all else.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd January 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Unreasonable defendant must face costs consequences – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 4th, 2017 in budgets, costs, indemnities, news, proportionality by sally

‘The High Court has sent another warning message to litigants that they should expect to face costs penalties for unreasonable conduct. In Barkhuysen v Hamilton, published just before Christmas, Mr Justice Warby said the claimant was entitled to more than budgeted costs due to how the case was handled.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 4th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Making newspapers pay legal costs for libel cases even if they win is ’eminently fair’, says Max Mosley – The Independent

Posted January 4th, 2017 in costs, defamation, media, news by sally

‘Proposals which could see newspapers forced to pay their opponents’ legal costs even if they win in court are “eminently fair”, according to Max Mosley.’

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The Independent, 3rd January 2017

Source; www.independent.co.uk

Jailed marine Alexander Blackman’s defence team ‘fell below standard required’, official report concludes – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 4th, 2017 in armed forces, legal representation, miscarriage of justice, murder, news by sally

‘The legal team tasked with defending a Royal Marine accused of murdering a wounded Taliban fighter were responsible for a litany of failings that rendered his subsequent conviction unsafe, the body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice has found.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk