Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association Lead on EU Factsheet on Defendants’ Rights – The Bar Council

Posted January 31st, 2012 in barristers, defence, EC law, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, and the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) have played a leading role in the development of a factsheet which outlines the rights of defendants in the English and Welsh justice system.”

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The Bar Council, 30th January 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Crime map website to reveal hotspots – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2012 in crime, news, police by sally

“The number and type of crimes which take place at hotspots like nightclubs, subways and parks are to be revealed on a crime-mapping website from Tuesday.”

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BBC News, 31st January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar Council Urges Government to Amend Civil Litigation Reforms – The Bar Council

Posted January 31st, 2012 in barristers, bills, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“As Peers debate reforms to civil litigation funding within Part 2 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill, the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has urged the Government to consider seriously its alternative proposals for reform.”

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The Bar Council, 30th January 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Ken Clarke: £50m for victims’ services – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 31st, 2012 in consultations, crime, criminal injuries compensation, fines, news, victims by sally

“An overhaul of victims’ services could see up to £50m generated from offenders to help create a speedier, more supportive system for victims of serious crime.”

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Ministry of Justice, 30th January 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

AIB fraud trial of Mayfair property tycoon collapses – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2012 in conspiracy, fraud, news, retrials, Serious Fraud Office by sally

“The trial of Achilleas Kallakis, the onetime Mayfair property tycoon accused of using forged paperwork to trick banks, including HBOS and Allied Irish Bank, into lending £750m, has collapsed after four months. A retrial has been ordered.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More secret trials? No thanks – UK Human Rights Blog

“A child learns early that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. Thankfully that principle does not apply to Government consultations and this is aptly demonstrated by the responses to the consultation into whether ‘closed material’ (secret evidence) procedures should be extended to civil trials.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

PCC chief tells Leveson newspapers should be fined for breaching code – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2012 in complaints, fines, inquiries, media, news, penalties by sally

“Newspapers should be fined if they are found to be in ‘systemic’ breach of the standards set out in the industry’s code of practice, the director of the Press Complaints Commission has conceded at the Leveson inquiry.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police raid on whistleblower’s home was ‘total abuse of power’ – The Independent

Posted January 31st, 2012 in data protection, inquiries, news, police, whistleblowers by sally

“The Information Commissioner asked police to raid the home of a whistleblower days before he was due to give damaging evidence about alleged failings by the watchdog to Lord Justice Leveson’s public inquiry into media standards.”

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The Independent, 31st January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Deaths in police custody figures ‘understated’ – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2012 in complaints, death in custody, news, restraint, statistics by sally

“Official figures understate the number of people who die in custody after being restrained by police, a BBC investigation has found.”

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BBC News, 31st January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Libyan dissidents sue MI6 officer over abduction and torture claims – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2012 in intelligence services, misfeasance in public office, news, rendition, torture by sally

“Two prominent Libyan dissidents are suing a former senior MI6 officer in a move which could expose the role of ministers in the men’s abduction to Tripoli, where they say they were tortured by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s secret police.”

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The Guardian, 31st January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence killers to launch appeal – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2012 in appeals, evidence, murder, news, video recordings by sally

“David Norris and Gary Dobson are to appeal against their convictions for the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence in south-east London in 1993.”

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BBC News, 30th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Guidelines for drugs offences: an overview – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 30th, 2012 in drug offences, drug trafficking, news, sentencing by sally

“Last week, the Sentencing Council issued new definitive guidelines on drug offences that signify a more pragmatic and reasonable approach towards drug sentencing.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th January 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

London riot sentences ‘absolutely right’ – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in defences, news, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“One of the country’s leading prosecutors has defended the stiff sentences handed out to hundreds of rioters in London last summer and derided the excuses given by some of them in court.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Motorists to be hit with £100 speeding fines to support victims – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 30th, 2012 in fines, news, road traffic offences, victims by sally

“Motorists face a huge hike in speeding fines to as much as £100 to help fill a funding gap for victims of crime, Kenneth Clarke has disclosed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dangerous, vindictive and unnecessary – The Guardian

“Ken Clarke can already refuse victims compensation for violent crimes if they are of bad character. Now he wants to ban anyone with an unspent conviction from applying.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Compensation scheme to be overhauled – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2012 in compensation, criminal injuries compensation, criminal records, news, victims by sally

“Victims who suffer sprained ankles, broken toes or bruised ribs would no longer be entitled to compensation under Government plans, Kenneth Clarke said today.”

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The Independent, 30th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Leveson inquiry: PCC ‘not a regulator’ – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in complaints, interception, media, news, privacy by sally

“Former director says body is merely a complaints handler after it is criticised for its failure to investigate phone hacking.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Barrister who Tweeted insults struck off – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 30th, 2012 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by sally

“Barrister David Harris, who used Twitter to call opposing lawyers ‘slimebags’ and announced he wanted to ‘let the whoring and drinking’ begin after case had finished, has been struck off.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

University’s back up copy of email should be disclosed, rules Tribunal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 30th, 2012 in electronic mail, freedom of information, news by sally

“The Information Commissioner should have ruled that a university was likely to be storing a copy of a deleted email it had refused a request to disclose, an Information Rights Tribunal has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Lawyers in right-to-die case can act without fear of prosecution – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in assisted suicide, judicial review, legal profession, news by sally

“Lawyers for a stroke victim who wants help to end his life can continue to act on his behalf without fear of prosecution or disciplinary action following a high court ruling.”

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The Guardian, 27th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk