Post-Leveson press regulation clauses in the crime and courts bill – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2013 in bills, media, news by sally

“The Guardian analyses the controversial clauses that have sparked a heated debate over the cross-party plan for a new press regulation regime.”

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The Guardian, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tell me a storey – NearlyLegal

Posted March 26th, 2013 in housing, licensing, local government, news by sally

“This is an interesting appeal in relation to the counting of storeys for HMO licensing purposes. It actually repeats an argument dealt with in an appeal in a criminal prosecution of a Mr Williams by Cotswold District Council from way back in 2008 although the result here was different (see ‘Recount Your Storeys’ (2009) 12 JHL 1).”

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NearlyLegal, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Legal education: bespoke courses – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 26th, 2013 in legal education, news, solicitors, universities by sally

“News that Oxford Brookes University is discontinuing its legal practice course (LPC) because a drop in applications means it is no longer viable has sent a shock wave through the legal education market, as we await publication of the much-anticipated Legal Education and Training Review (LETR).”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th March 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Application of the Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules – Speech by Master of the Rolls

Posted March 26th, 2013 in civil procedure rules, news, speeches by sally

The Application of the Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules (PDF)

Speech by Master of the Rolls

District Judges’ Annual Seminar, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

In the teeth of it … – NearlyLegal

Posted March 26th, 2013 in appeals, evidence, housing, mental health, news by sally

“In El-Dinnaoui v Westminster CC [2013] EWCA Civ 231, the Court of Appeal found that the offer of a flat on the 16th floor of a block to a household which contained a person with fear of heights was perverse. The offer of accommodation was ‘in the teeth’ of the medical evidence. How could the case have got this far, one might well ask? At heart in this case, there is something interesting about the reception by homelessness officers about medical evidence (see comments at the end). The final point by way of introduction is a hat-tip to Debra Wilson at Anthony Gold who, I’m told, took Mr El-Dinnaoui’s appeal pro bono (and won).”

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NearlyLegal, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Should prison be reserved for dangerous criminals? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted March 26th, 2013 in dangerous offenders, detention, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“This month we saw eight-month sentences handed out to Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce for perverting the course of justice. Both had been warned to ‘be under no illusion as to the likely sentence’ – the judicial way of saying, ‘expect a custodial sentence’. Of course, the lawyers would tell you that this was inevitable as the courts treat such crimes severely.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Will the Public Sector Equality Duty survive the Red Tape Challenge? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 26th, 2013 in equality, government departments, local government, news by sally

“In May 2012, the Home Secretary announced a review of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which came into force a year earlier in April 2011, as an outcome of the Red Tape Challenge. The review is focusing in particular on levels of understanding of the PSED and guidance, the costs and benefits of the duty, how organisations are managing legal risk and ensuring compliance with the duty and what changes, if any, would secure better equality outcomes. It is being overseen by a steering group, appointed by Government Ministers, largely drawn from public authorities.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Law Commissions call for consumer protections to be extended to end user licence agreements – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 26th, 2013 in consumer protection, Law Commission, news, unfair contract terms by sally

“Legal protections preventing the inclusion of unfair contract terms in consumer contracts should be extended to apply to less formal notices, such as those included as part of software end user licence agreements (EULA), law reform bodies have said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th March 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

The Justice Committee and the Information Commissioner – Panopticon

Posted March 26th, 2013 in data protection, freedom of information, news, reports, select committees by sally

“On 21st March 2013 the House of Commons Justice Committee published a report (HC 962) on the functions, powers and resources of the Information Commissioner. It is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the current role and future prospects of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).”

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Panopticon, 25th March 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Justice and Security Bill: The “Secret Courts” Endgame? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 26th, 2013 in bills, closed material, news, parliament, private hearings by sally

“Today we will see the beginning of the end of the passage of the Justice and Security Bill through Parliament: the process commonly known as parliamentary ‘ping-pong’.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Targeted support for women offenders – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 26th, 2013 in news, prisons, rehabilitation, reports, women by sally

“Female offenders should receive more targeted support to break the cycle of crime and abuse many of them face, Justice Minister Helen Grant said today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Human Rights and Family Law Spring Update – Family Law Week

“Deirdre Fottrell, barrister of Coram Chambers, reviews recent cases involving human rights issues which are of significance to family lawyers.”

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Family Law Week, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Master of the Rolls hits out at “media-created perception” of a compensation culture – Litigation Futures

Posted March 26th, 2013 in compensation, judges, media, news, speeches by sally

“The courts are ‘very aware’ of the dangers of feeding media perceptions of a compensation culture, the Master of the Rolls has said.”

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Litigation Futures, 25th March 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Wandsworth jail criticised over prisoner death – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2013 in death in custody, inquests, news, prisons by sally

“An inquest jury has criticised procedures and practice at the UK’s biggest jail following the death of a prisoner, jailed for stealing a gingerbread man in the 2011 riots.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

IPCC report on Mark Duggan shooting to be completed next month – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2013 in complaints, delay, firearms, homicide, news, police, reports, Russia by sally

“The report into the police shooting of Mark Duggan will finally be completed next month, over a year later than it was first promised, the police watchdog has announced.”

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The Guardian, 25th March 2013

Source:www.guardian.co.uk

Darren Purchase jailed for 20 years for series of sex crimes – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2013 in news, recidivists, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting and raping eight people including a 13-year-old boy.”

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BBC News, 25th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Financial Conduct Authority may ban harmful products – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2013 in banking, consumer protection, financial regulation, insurance, news by sally

“Britain’s new financial watchdog has pledged to clean up the financial services sector by using new powers to suspend or ban products if they appear harmful to consumers.”

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The Guardian, 25th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

L-drivers face ‘minimum learning period’ in radical overhaul of driving test rules – The Independent

Posted March 26th, 2013 in driving licences, education, news, time limits, young persons by sally

“A sweeping overhaul of driving test rules was announced today [25 March] by Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, in an attempt to reduce the number of young motorists killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads.”

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The Independent, 25th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lords to vote on restoring safeguards to plan for secret courts – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2013 in bills, closed material, news, parliament, private hearings by sally

“Peers vote on Tuesday on whether to restore extra safeguards to the justice and security bill – amendments that the government has warned will make the expansion of secret courts unworkable.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Sadistic’ horror film fan jailed for Chester murder – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2013 in guilty pleas, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A horror film fan who killed his friend in a scene which mirrored one of his favourite films has been jailed for life at Chester Crown Court.”

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BBC News, 25th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk