Police overhaul of missing persons cases ‘could put children at risk’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 20th, 2013 in care homes, children, missing persons, news, police by tracey

“An overhaul of how police deal with missing people could put vulnerable children
at risk of being groomed and sexually exploited, the NSPCC has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police hid files on celebrity suspects – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 20th, 2013 in child abuse, investigatory powers, media, news, police, sexual offences by tracey

“Hundreds of police files on celebrities and politicians accused of sex assault
were so heavily protected that even officers investigating claims could not
access them.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MPs warn of £42.8m data protection shortfall – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2013 in budgets, data protection, EC law, news by tracey

“England’s Information Commissioner’s Office could be facing a £42.8m shortfall
that may have to be paid for by the taxpayer, MPs has warned.”

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BBC News, 20th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Payday lender shut down by OFT over identity fraud – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2013 in consumer credit, identity fraud, loans, news by tracey

“Payday lender MCO Capital has been shut down by the Office of Fair Trading, after it failed to stop fraudsters taking out loans using more than 7,000 stolen identities.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hacker jailed for bid to steal carbon credits from UN – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in carbon dioxide emissions, computer crime, news, sentencing, United Nations by tracey

“A cyber-criminal nicknamed the ‘Black Dragon’, who masterminded an audacious
attempt to hack into the United Nations computer systems to steal £6.5m worth of
carbon credits, was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Should the Decision of the Foreign Secretary be Justiciable? – Louise Christian

Should the Decision of the Foreign Secretary be Justiciable?

Louise Christian, Senior Consultant and Head of Public Law, Christian Khan Solicitors

Inner Temple Reader’s Lecture Series, 18th February 2013

Source: www.innertemple.org.uk

Damages for death and human rights – UK Human Rights Blog

“Swift v. Secretary of State for Justice, Court of Appeal, 18 February 2013. Ms Swift lost her live-in partner in an accident at work caused by negligence. She was pregnant with her partner’s child, but had only been living with him for 6 months. Had she been with him for 2 years, she could have claimed damages for his death under section 1(3) of the Fatal Accidents Act – set out at [1] of the CA judgment. She would then have been a ‘dependant’ as defined under the FAA. So she argued that her rights under Articles 8 (family) and 14 (discrimination) of the ECHR were not properly respected by the law governing damages for the death of a relative – there was no justification for this stark cut-off – 1 year 11 months no claim, 2 years a claim. The judge refused to grant a declaration of incompatibility between the ECHR and the Fatal Accidents Act, and the Court of Appeal has just upheld his decision.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Covert recordings may be admissible in Employment Tribunals – Technology Law Update

Posted March 19th, 2013 in admissibility, employment tribunals, evidence, news, video recordings by tracey

“As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the challenges faced by employers.  A seemingly common query relates to the legality of covert recordings made by employees of face to face meetings with managers or colleagues on smart phones or tablets.”

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Technology Law Update, 15th March 2013

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Court of Appeal rules on damages for frustration at DPA breach – Panopticon

Posted March 19th, 2013 in appeals, damages, data protection, news by tracey

“On a day in which the remedying of privacy breaches of the kind considered by Leveson LJ dominated parliamentary debate, the Court of Appeal (Arden LJ, Lloyd LJ and Ryder J) delivered an interesting judgment on remedies for privacy breaches of the data protection variety.”

Full story

Panopticon, 18th March 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Barnet council faces high court review of budget cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2013 in budgets, disabled persons, judicial review, local government, news by tracey

“The ‘easyCouncil’ model of no-frills local services faces a high court challenge today, with locals from the London Borough of Barnet, including the disabled resident Maria Nash who is bringing the action, calling for a £320m privatisation deal to be scrapped.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Black belt judo instructor fraudulently claimed £18,000 in disability benefits – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in benefits, disabled persons, fraud, news, social security by tracey

“David Roberts, 48, falsely claimed more than £18,000 disability living allowance. He claimed he was in severe discomfort after walking a few steps, needed help getting dressed and getting in and out of bed. But the sensei and black belt judo and martial arts instructor was filmed by Department of Work and Pensions investigators throwing adults over his shoulder and holding opponents in leg and arm locks, in Runcorn, Cheshire.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gagged NHS whistleblowers will be allowed to speak out, Sir David Nicholson says – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in compromise, contracts, health, news, select committees, whistleblowers by tracey

“Hundreds of whistleblowers are now free to come forward with damaging
disclosures about the NHS after their gagging orders were retrospectively
lifted, Sir David Nicholson has told MPs.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2013

Soruce: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sky News reporter cleared over canoe man email hacking – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2013 in electronic mail, interception, media, news, public interest by tracey

“Sky News correspondent Gerard Tubb will not face prosecution for hacking the email account of ‘canoe man’ John Darwin, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bloggers may face libel fines under press regulation deal – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2013 in bills, defamation, fines, internet, news, publishing by tracey

“Bloggers could face high fines for libel under the new Leveson deal with exemplary damages imposed if they don’t sign up to the new regulator, it was claimed on Tuesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Cash-for-crash’ scam in Durham ‘put car insurance up by £100’ – BBC News

Posted March 19th, 2013 in fraud, gangs, insurance, news, sentencing by tracey

“A ‘crash-for-cash’ scam run by a 60-strong gang swindled so much money car insurance firms raised bills of people in the area by about £100 a year. The fraud in County Durham involved faking accidents and making false whiplash compensation claims. The 60 either admitted or were found guilty during hearings held at Newcastle Crown Court since last March.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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.”

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BBC News, 19th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Politicians agree deal on post-Leveson Royal Charter for press regulation – but Daily Mail Group, News International and Telegraph Media Group refuse to sign up – The Independent

Posted March 19th, 2013 in charters, internet, legislation, media, news, parliament by tracey

“Britain’s largest newspaper groups are on a collision course with the Government over press regulation, after last night signalling their anger at the imposition of ‘several deeply contentious’ issues in a Royal Charter announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister.”

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The Independent, 19th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Snap inspections expose scandal of ‘institutionalised abuse’ in care homes and hospitals – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in care homes, elderly, hospitals, news, quality assurance by tracey

“A landmark programme of unannounced inspections in hospitals and care homes has
found that more than a third are still failing to respect elderly people’s basic
dignity, despite a series of scandals.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

No tax for Castle Howard painting as judge rules it is ‘plant or machinery’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 19th, 2013 in artistic works, capital gains tax, news, taxation by tracey

“The custodians of North Yorkshire stately home Castle Howard have won a tribunal
battle to avoid paying tax on the £9.4m sale of a painting, after a judge ruled
it a piece of ‘plant or machinery’ integral to attracting visitors.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Are Bills of Rights Necessary in Common Law Systems? – Justice Dyson Heydon AC

Posted March 18th, 2013 in human rights, legislation, news by sally

Are Bills of Rights Necessary in Common Law Systems?

Justice Dyson Heydon AC

Inner Temple Reader’s Lecture Series, 21st January 2013

Source: www.innertemple.org.uk