Tougher sentences to be imposed on arms traders – The Independent

Posted February 6th, 2012 in firearms, news, sentencing by sally

“Criminals who trade in illegal firearms face severe sentences, leading judges warned today as they doubled the number of years to be served by a man caught by police with a loaded revolver.”

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The Independent, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abu Qatada in court seeking bail – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2012 in deportation, evidence, human rights, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“A radical Muslim cleric described as a grave threat to Britain’s national security could walk free on Monday.”

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The Guardian, 6th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Coogan v News Group Newspapers Ltd and another; Phillips v Same – WLR Daily

Coogan v News Group Newspapers Ltd and another; Phillips v Same [2011] EWCA Civ 48; [2012] WLR (D) 18

“The phrase ‘technical or commercial information or other intellectual property’ within the definition of ‘intellectual property’ in section 72 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 was apt to embrace telephone voice messages said to have been intercepted by a private investigator on the telephones of individuals; and the effect of that finding was that the privilege against self-incrimination on which the interceptor might otherwise have relied was removed.”

WLR Daily, 1st February 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

£20,000 fine levied for marketing ‘likely to result in harm to children’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in advertising, children, fines, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

“PhonepayPlus has fined a company £20,000 after determining that it was in ‘serious’ breach of its rules around the promotion of premium rate services (PRS) to children after two sisters ran up a bill of more than £2,500 texting the service.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Court of Appeal rules fixed share partners are not employees – Legal Week

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in law firms, limited liability partnerships, news, unfair dismissal by sally

“The Court of Appeal has upheld an Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) ruling that fixed share partners are not employees and, as such, are not eligible to claim for unfair dismissal.”

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Legal Week, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Legal Aid Bill domestic violence concession? – LAG News Blog

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in domestic violence, legal aid, news by sally

“So far the government has made two concessions on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (‘the Legal Aid Bill’), currently in the committee stage of the House of Lords. It seems more concessions might be on the way before the bill is approved.”

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LAG News Blog, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.legalactiongroupnews.blogspot.com

Bar Council – Private Legal Advice Must be Protected – The Bar Council

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in barristers, confidentiality, investigatory powers, news, police, privilege by sally

“Following a report published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on the use of undercover police officers, the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has urged the Government to protect the fundamental right of citizens to hold private conversations with their lawyers.”

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The Bar Council, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Statement by Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC on the case of Mr C Huhne and Ms V Pryce – Crown Prosecution Service

“This statement is made by the Crown Prosecution Service in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decisions reached in the cases of Mr Christopher Huhne and Ms Vasiliki Pryce and to explain the time taken in arriving at these decisions.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 3rd February 2012

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

Mirror wills invalidated by signature mix-up, appeal judges rule – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in married persons, mistake, news, wills by sally

“A simple mix-up when a husband and wife signed mirror wills 13 years ago means they have no value in law, the Court of Appeal ruled today. The ruling disinherits the couple’s intended heir and has left lawyers calling for a more flexible approach to probate law.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Latvian landlady jailed after claiming £33,000 benefits while owning six properties worth £1.1m – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in benefits, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“A benefits cheat has been jailed after claiming more than £33,000 in state handouts despite owning a £1.1 million property portfolio.”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mental Capacity Act Code needs revising to enable more effective best interests decisions, says Mental Health Foundation – Family Law Week

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in codes of practice, mental health, news, social services by sally

“The Mental Health Foundation, in partnership with the Norah Fry Research Centre at the University of Bristol and the Centre for Applied Social Research at the University of Bradford, have published a report calling for the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Code of Practice to be revised to enable health and social care staff to make more effective best interests decisions.”

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Family Law Week, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

New reforms to help reduce reoffending – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in criminal records, news, recidivists, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

“New plans to support the rehabilitation of offenders and the reduction of reoffending were outlined today by Justice Minister Lord McNally.”

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Ministry of Justice, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Douglas Binet jailed for murdering and dismembering man – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A drug dealer has been jailed for life for murdering a father whose severed arms were found in a lake in Essex.”

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BBC News, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Why this case matters: R (KM) v Cambridgeshire County Council – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in budgets, community care, disabled persons, local government, news by sally

“The supreme court is about to hear another case that cuts to the heart of human dignity in care services.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid bill: government considers further concessions – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in bills, legal aid, news by sally

“Further concessions may be made by the government on controversial areas of the legal aid bill, the minister steering the legislation through parliament signalled on Thursday.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The legislation gap: does slow and steady really win the race? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in bills, news, parliament, statutory interpretation by sally

“An analysis by the Times (‘Legislation gap makes light work for MPs’, 27 January) has revealed that MPs have spent a mere 24% of their time in the last four months considering government legislation. During the same period in the previous year, the figure was 62%.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk/

Kenneth Clarke to ‘wipe slate clean’ for hundreds of thousands of ex-offenders – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in criminal records, employment, news, rehabilitation by sally

“The justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, is to ‘wipe the slate clean’ for hundreds of thousands of offenders by dramatically shortening the period during which they are obliged to tell potential employers about their criminal past.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Custody deaths review announced after BBC investigation – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in death in custody, news, police by sally

“A watchdog has announced a review of the way it deals with deaths in police custody following a BBC investigation.”

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BBC News, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Divorced fathers to get more contact with their children – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in children, contact orders, divorce, news by sally

“Fathers will get improved contact with their children following divorce, amid plans to rewrite the law governing custody disputes.”

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The Guardian,3rd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Justice Secretary warning on longer jail terms – The Independent

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

“Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke risked the ire of some of his own party’s backbenchers today by claiming that sending more people to prison for longer sentences in order to cut re-offending ‘does not work’.”

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The Independent, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk