Launch of Child Sexual Exploitation Operating Protocol – CrimeLine

‘The Metropolitan Police Service is hosting a multi-agency launch at City Hall today, Monday 3 February, to set a benchmark for the investigation of child sexual exploitation in the capital. Designed to enhance victim care through improved referral pathways the MPS has drawn up robust processes to identify children at risk of abuse and sexual exploitation. The London Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Operating Protocol – which has been agreed across all 32 London boroughs – sets out the standards expected of all those agencies involved in dealing with the identification and protection of vulnerable children who are targeted for sexual abuse.’

Full story

CrimeLine, 31st February 2014

Source: www.crimeline.info

When to plead fraud – Barristers’ Hub

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in enforcement, fraud, misrepresentation, news, pleadings, time limits by sally

‘Pleading fraud is not to be done lightly, and there can be significant adverse consequences of doing so inappropriately. Equally, however, failing to plead fraud where appropriate can deprive a party to litigation of the opportunity to succeed on a point which might be decisive in that party’s favour, and successfully alleging fraud can have very beneficial consequences in terms of liability, remedy and enforcement. This article is intended to provide a brief overview of factors that should be weighed when deciding whether to plead fraud in any given (civil) claim.’

Full story

Barristers’ Hub, 31st January 2014

Source: www.barristershub.co.uk

VHCC cases jeopardised by fee cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in barristers, budgets, costs, fees, fraud, legal aid, news, solicitor advocates, trials by sally

‘Multi-million-pound fraud trials are being put in jeopardy by the Ministry of Justice’s cuts to advocates’ fees, the Gazette has learned.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd February 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Surrogacy: A Guide to the Current Law (Part 2) – Issues Arising – Family Law Week

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in consent, enforcement, families, news, surrogacy by sally

‘In the second of two articles providing an introduction to surrogacy law, Bianca Jackson, a pupil barrister at Coram Chambers, considers the main issues arising from the current legislation.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 30th January 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Constance Briscoe faces retrial over alleged lying in Chris Huhne case – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in news, perverting the course of justice, retrials, road traffic offences by sally

‘Jury fails to reach verdict after three-week trial of part-time judge accused of perverting course of justice in speeding points case.’

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Secret hearings could allow police to seize journalists’ notes if bill passes – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in bills, closed material, disclosure, inquiries, media, news, police by sally

‘The seizure of journalists’ notebooks, photographs and digital files could be conducted in secret hearings, owing to a little-publicised clause in a government bill aimed at cutting red tape, media organisations have warned. Requests for notebooks, computer disks, photographs or videos must currently be made in open court and representatives of news groups can be present. But the clause – in the deregulation bill, which comes before the Commons on Monday – significantly alters the way courts consider so-called “production orders”, stripping out current safeguards.’

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Widow begins case to keep dead husband’s sperm – The Independent

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in assisted reproduction, human tissue, married persons, news, time limits, widows by sally

‘A widow’s High Court case to preserve her late husband’s sperm has begun.’

Full story

The Independent, 31st Janaury 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge orders mentally ill woman to have forced caesarean – Daily Telegraph

‘ A High Court judge has given doctors permission to perform an urgent caesarean section on a mentally-ill woman with diabetes. The woman was delivered of a baby boy within hours of Mr Justice Hayden giving specialists at the Royal Free London NHS Trust approval for the procedure, following a five-hour hearing at the Court of Protection.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bullying in armed forces on rise, MoD figures reveal – The Guardian

‘Shocking official figures reveal a surge in the incidence of bullying in the armed forces, with one in 10 military personnel claiming to have been the victim of “discrimination, harassment or bullying in a service environment” during the past year.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

RSPCA risks losing power to prosecute – Daily Telegraph

‘The RSPCA’s role in prosecuting cases of animal cruelty could be overhauled to restore public confidence.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Iran sues MoD firm over the Shah’s tanks – The Independent

‘The Iranian government is taking a Ministry of Defence-owned company to the High Court to end a £400m row over British-made Chieftain tanks that has dragged on for 35 years.’

Full story

The Independent, 2nd February 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sussex landowners mount ‘legal blockade’ against fracking – BBC News

‘Landowners in the Sussex Downs National Park are mounting a “legal blockade” to block a potential fracking site. Solicitors for residents near Fernhurst, in West Sussex, have written to Celtique Energie and the Energy Secretary Ed Davey to explicitly deny permission to drill under their land.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd February 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani loses attempt to block extradition to South Africa – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 31st, 2014 in appeals, extradition, mental health, murder, news by sally

‘Shrien Dewani has been fighting removal from the UK to face proceedings over wife Anni’s death until he has recovered from mental health problems.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st January 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Recorded rape figures vary widely across England and Wales – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2014 in news, police, rape, statistics by sally

‘New figures show wide variations in the way police record and classify rape allegations across the 43 police forces in England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 31st January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man jailed for trying to arrange child rape on webcam – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2014 in child abuse, indecent photographs of children, internet, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who tried to persuade parents to sexually abuse and rape their children online has been jailed for five years.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebolajo makes appeal bid – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2014 in appeals, murder, news by sally

‘Michael Adebolajo, who was found guilty of the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby, has lodged an application to appeal against his conviction, the Judicial Office has confirmed.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Premier League live football: Pub landlord broke copyright law – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2014 in copyright, costs, licensed premises, media, news, sport by sally

‘A pub landlord has to pay £65,000 in legal costs for breaching the Premier League’s copyright by showing football matches using a foreign satellite card authorised only for private use.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Social media abuse – could a responsible user course be the answer? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 31st, 2014 in harassment, internet, news, prosecutions, sentencing by sally

‘Caroline Criado- Perez mounted a wonderful and successful campaign to have a woman appear on a Bank of England note. She succeeded and Jane Austen will feature on the next £10 note – hopefully more will follow. Whilst campaigning, however, Ms Craido-Perez was subject to the most appalling online abuse on Twitter.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th January 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Veil row woman admits witness intimidation – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2014 in court dress, human rights, intimidation, Islam, juries, news by sally

‘A Muslim woman who wore a full-face veil in court during her trial has admitted witness intimidation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Deborah Levey murder: ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ Phillip Brown convicted – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2014 in murder, news, trials by sally

‘A man who was once described by his former girlfriend as having a “Jekyll and Hyde” character has been convicted of her murder.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk