Forced marriage a problem for all religious minority communities in Britain – The Independent

Posted May 7th, 2014 in forced marriages, minorities, news by sally

‘Forced marriage is not confined to Britain’s Muslim communities but exists among all minority groups, the head of a commission into the issue has said.’

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The Independent, 6th May 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Top police officer blames £11,000 crime spree on brain injury – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in crime, fraud, news, personal injuries, police by sally

‘A senior police officer who carried out a series of frauds on high street stores and travel companies blamed her crime spree on a brain injury as she was jailed for two and a half years.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Child prostitution woman Amanda Spencer jailed for 12 years – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in children, news, prostitution, sentencing by sally

‘A woman who ran a child sex ring from the age of 16 by luring “weak and vulnerable” girls into prostitution has been jailed for 12 years.’

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BBC News, 6th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Palestinian asylum seeker to be deported for ‘appalling crime history’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in asylum, deportation, drug trafficking, news, recidivists by sally

‘A convicted Palestinian drug dealer is finally being thrown out of Britain after using the Human Rights Act to remain in the UK for an eight-year crime spree.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ofcom investigates Top Gear after complaint of ‘casual racism’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in complaints, media, news, racism by sally

‘Ofcom is to investigate Top Gear after allegations Jeremy Clarkson used a racist term during its Burma special.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Danish Kaneria’s life ban from cricket upheld by the high court – The Guardian

Posted May 6th, 2014 in appeals, costs, disciplinary procedures, disqualification, news, sport by sally

‘Danish Kaneria, the former Essex and Pakistan spinner who was given a life ban after a disciplinary panel concluded that he had encouraged a team-mate to underperform, has lost a high court fight with the England and Wales Cricket Board.’

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The Guardian, 6th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judicial Review, Legal Aid and Operation Cotton – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 6th, 2014 in human rights, judicial review, legal aid, lord chancellor, news, trials by sally

‘Legal aid, judicial review and the role of the Lord Chancellor dominated the headlines last week – with the Operation Cotton case and the Joint Committee on Human Right’s report on judicial review putting increasing pressure on the Government’s reforms.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th May 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

ONS report on ‘zero hours’ contracts highlights difficulties in legislating for them, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 6th, 2014 in contract of employment, employment, news, reports by sally

‘The government would find it hard to create legislation to deal with zero hours contracts because it is hard to define exactly what is meant by a “zero hours” contract and how many people are working under them, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Do we need a root-and-branch review of the Abortion Act? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted May 6th, 2014 in abortion, doctors, legislation, news by sally

‘In a thoughtful piece in the Guardian, MP Sarah Wollaston calls for a review of the Abortion Act. She focuses on the decision by the General Medical Council (GMC) not to pursue Fitness to Practice proceedings against 67 doctors who had pre-signed, without assessing the women concerned, the forms used to authorise abortion. She concludes: “… it makes no sense to prolong outdated and paternalistic attitudes that only doctors can make judgments about whether the grounds for the Abortion Act are satisfied. It makes even less sense to leave the situation as it is now with doubts about the legal obligation for a doctor to have seen the woman to whom form HSA1 refers; clear guidance must be issued as to whether doctors may sign based on evidence from clinical nurse specialists. A change to allow clinicians other than doctors to certify directly would, however, require an amendment to the Abortion Act.
In my view, the act is no longer fit for purpose. This would be a good time for a wider review of the ethical arguments and public attitudes, and to establish a legal framework fit for the 21st century.” ‘

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Judicial review to go ahead on impact of ‘bedroom tax’ on separated families – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 6th, 2014 in benefits, families, housing, human rights, news, social security by sally

‘Human rights campaign group Liberty has been given permission by a High Court judge to bring a judicial review claim over the impact of the Government’s spare-room subsidy or “bedroom tax” on separated families with shared custody of children.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New APIL president blames non-legally qualified lord chancellor for harsh reforms – Litigation Futures

‘A legally qualified Lord Chancellor would not have put in place the recent personal injury changes and court fee reform proposals, the new president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has claimed.’

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Litigation Futures, 6th May 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Cuts will not damage family justice, says Munby – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Legal aid cuts will not undermine family justice, the head of the Family Division insisted last week as he mooted plans for judge-free divorces and greater legal rights for separating cohabitees.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Liars and Divorce Lawyers: can an OS/DS hearing help and a possible future for split hearings in financial remedies? – Family Law Week

Posted May 6th, 2014 in case management, divorce, financial provision, news by sally

‘Byron James, barrister, Fourteen considers the utility of OS/DS hearings in the resolution of financial remedies disputes.’

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Family Law Week, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Clean Break Orders and Spousal Maintenance: where are we now? – Family Law Week

Posted May 6th, 2014 in divorce, financial provision, news, periodical payments by sally

‘Liz Cowell, principal lawyer with Slater & Gordon analyses the case law and trends emerging from case law regarding clean breaks and termination of spousal periodical payments orders.’

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Family Law Week, 30th April 2014

Sorce: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Postman took millions meant for City firms – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in fraud, news, postal service, sentencing, theft by sally

‘Ajaz Budi, 33, wept uncontrollably as he was sentenced at the Old Bailey for stealing cheques ranging from £50 to £110,000 at Mount Pleasant, London.’

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BBC News, 2nd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gulf War soldier takes on MoD over vaccines – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2014 in armed forces, legal aid, medical treatment, news, vaccination by sally

‘A soldier has won legal aid in his fight to find out what the Ministry of Defence knew of the health risks of the vaccinations given to troops ahead of the first Gulf War.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Detention ruling shackles troops, says Philip Hammond – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in armed forces, detention, news by sally

‘The detention policy used by the Armed Forces in Afghanistan was unlawful, the High Court has said. After the ruling, Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said the decision would tie the hands of soldiers abroad.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abuse claim Beechwood children’s home residents awarded compensation – BBC News

‘Former residents at a children’s care home have been awarded compensation after claims they were sexually abused.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fraud lawyers not underpaid despite legal aid cuts, says justice minister – The Guardian

Posted May 6th, 2014 in barristers, financial regulation, legal aid, news, remuneration, trials by sally

‘Lawyers in complex fraud trials are not underpaid and the government is taking steps to prevent cases collapsing, the justice minister, Simon Hughes, has said. The Liberal Democrat, a critic of the legal aid cuts before entering government, said the row over very high cost cases (VHCCs) did not involve “hard-up” lawyers at the start of their careers.’

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The Guardian, 4th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pre-signing abortion forms is illegal, General Medical Council admits – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 6th, 2014 in abortion, consent, crime, doctors, documents, illegality, news by sally

‘More than 60 doctors who pre-signed abortion forms without knowing anything about the women concerned did break the law, the head of the General Medical Council admitted last night as pressure grew on police to investigate.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk