Guaranteed support for victims of crime – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in codes of practice, consultations, news, victims by sally

“Victims of crime will now be able to hold the criminal justice system to account for the support it provides and be backed by a clear set of entitlements thanks to a statutory new Victims Code, Victims’ Minister Helen Grant announced today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 29th March 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Chancery traditional Probate: case update 2013 – 11 Stone Buildings

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in news, probate, wills by sally

“Sidney Ross reports on two recent probate cases and highlights how they interpret existing case law. In Joshi and others v Mahida [2013] EWHC 486 (Ch) the judge followed Re Segelman in answering three questions to determine the testator’s intentions. Sidney also discusses whether ‘the rule of double portions’ applies in Kloosman v Aylen and others [2013] EWHC 435 (Ch).”

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11 Stone Buildings, March 2013

Source: www.11sb.com

Absolutely Transparent – Pink Tape

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in adoption, costs, family courts, media, news, reporting restrictions by sally

“Transparency in family justice is an issue that cannot be swept under the carpet.”

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Pink Tape, 29th March 2013

Source: www.pinktape.co.uk

Graham Ovenden convicted of child sex offences – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in artistic works, child abuse, news, sexual offences by sally

“Artist found guilty at Truro crown court of four charges of indecency with a child but cleared of three counts of indecent assault.”

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The Guardian, 2nd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Extended definition of domestic violence takes effect – Home Office

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in domestic violence, news, young persons by sally

“From today [31 March] a wider definition of domestic violence, including 16 and 17 year olds and controlling behaviour takes effect.”

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Home Office, 31st March 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

New Justice Data Lab to help cut reoffending – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in news, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics by sally

“A pioneering new service giving charities and voluntary organisations more information about what works to reduce reoffending has been launched today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 2nd April 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Public access rules approved by LSB – Bar Standards Board

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in barristers, civil justice, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today approved the removal of two rules around public access work that will promote greater access to justice. At the same time the BSB is strengthening the training that all public access barristers are required to undertake.”

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Bar Standards Board, 28th March 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Introducing the new Handbook – Legal Aid Handbook

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“1st April 2013. LASPO day. The day the new legal aid scheme began. Except, for most, it wasn’t. It was Easter Monday. Today is the real LASPO day, the day the cuts bite in earnest, the day that over 600,000 people will no longer get legal aid, the day some organisations won’t open their doors to greet their clients – and never will again.”

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Legal Aid Handbook, 2nd April 2013

Source: www.legalaidhandbook.com

Jackson: lawyers welcome implementation of long-awaited reforms – The Lawyer

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in budgets, costs, disclosure, legal profession, news by sally

“Disputes lawyers across the market have broadly welcomed the Jackson Reforms, which come into force today, saying they will ease the burden created by disclosure.”

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The Lawyer, 1st April 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

You wait ages for an official report about the ICO’s data protection audit powers – Panopticon

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in consultations, data protection, health, hospitals, news, reports by sally

“On 21st March 2013 the House of Commons Justice Committee published a report about the ICO, recommending, among other matters, that the ICO should be given the power to carry out compulsory data protection audits of NHS Trusts and local authorities. With uncanny speed, on 25th March 2013 the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) published a consultation document on the proposed extension of the ICO’s compulsory audit powers to cover NHS bodies. Despite the coincidence of timing, the MOJ’s proposal is not in fact a response to the Justice Committee’s report, but is prompted by a recommendation from the ICO itself.”

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Panopticon, 28th March 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Albion v Dwr Cymru: Incompetence and counterfactuals – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in appeals, competition, damages, news, tribunals, water companies by sally

“The Competition Appeal Tribunal today delivered that rarest of beasts: a judgment awarding damages in a follow-on claim. After its decade-long fight, Albion Water has been awarded around £2 million for Dŵr Cymru’s abuse of dominant position in relation to the price it was prepared to charge Albion for the use of its water pipes.”

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 28th March 2013

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Packaged accounts comes under new rules – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in banking, consumer protection, financial regulation, news, sale of goods by sally

“New rules to govern the abuse of sales of ‘packaged accounts’ from banks have come into force.”

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BBC News, 31st March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Marital coercion defence could be scrapped – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in defences, harassment, married persons, news, repeals by sally

“Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, is considering abolishing the legal defence of ‘marital coercion’ that was unsuccessfully used by Vicky Pryce in her trial for taking speeding points on behalf of her husband.”

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The Guardian, 31st March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Last week not a good one for Theresa May: not just Abu Qatada – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in appeals, asylum, deportation, human rights, immigration, news, terrorism by sally

“Hot on the Home Secretary’s loss of the Abu Qatada appeal, a reverse for her in another deportation case about someone whom the Court of Appeal described as ‘an important and significant member of a group of Islamist extremists in the UK,’ and who was said to have links – direct or indirect – with men involved in the failed July 21 2005 bombing plot.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 31st March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Dog control powers axed despite fatal attack on teen – The Independent

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in dogs, homicide, news by sally

Plans to merge dog orders with antisocial behaviour powers fail to tackle irresponsible breeders

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The Independent, 31st March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victims’ Code criticised by watchdog – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in codes of practice, complaints, news, ombudsmen, victims by sally

“Victims of crime are being put under extreme duress, leading to injustices, due to a lack of awareness of the Victims’ Code by those working in the justice system, a watchdog has warned.”

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BBC News, 29th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid cuts: how to represent yourself in court – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in litigants in person, news by sally

“Family law, immigration and employment cases are no longer eligible for legal aid. So how can you take on the system alone?”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sheep snow deaths: Farmers could get law change – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in agriculture, animals, burials and cremation, EC law, news by sally

“Laws that prevent farmers burying dead animals could be relaxed to help those struggling after hundreds of sheep died in the recent snow.”

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BBC News, 2nd April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-councillor fails to suppress story about being drunk in supermarket in charge of daughter – The Independent

“A Labour councillor fined £100 after admitting being drunk in a supermarket while in charge of her two-year-old daughter has lost a High Court anonymity fight.”

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The Independent, 29th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Councils to get tougher powers to tackle Traveller sites – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in local government, news, planning, regulations, travellers by sally

“Councils will be given stronger powers to stop illegal Travellers’ sites being set up, communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles has announced.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk