Pro bono and access to justice: mind the gap – The Guardian
“Should the UK follow New York’s lead and create a compulsory pro bono scheme to fill the legal aid gap?”
The Guardian, 4th February 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: news
Twitter cases ‘threat to freedom of speech’ – Daily Telegraph
“Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said too many investigations
into comments on networks such as Twitter would have a ‘chilling effect’ on free
speech. He issued his warning as he signalled that anyone who posted an
offensive message but then quickly removed it could escape prosecution.”
Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Mental health ‘excuse’ to sign off abortions – Daily Telegraph
“Doctors are routinely bending the law to allow women to have abortions on questionable mental-health grounds, the head of Britain’s biggest abortion provider has said.”
Daily Telegraph, 4th February 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
UK military interrogation method lawful, High Court says – BBC News
“The use of a ‘verbal short sharp shock’ on prisoners interrogated by British troops is lawful, judges have decided.”
BBC News, 1st February 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Fraud reporting change criticised – BBC News
“Victims of fraud across the UK will be told to contact the Home Office agency Action Fraud rather than their local force from 1 April. The government says this will create a central record which can then be used to combat the most serious criminals.The police will only respond to fraud directly if an immediate response is needed via a 999 call.Critics of the new system say this means only major fraud cases will now be investigated.”
BBC News, 2nd February 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Anonymous teenage hacker spared jail over cyber attacks – The Guardian
“A ‘profoundly isolated’ teenage hacker has been given a youth rehabilitation order for his role in planning cyber attacks with the hacking group Anonymous.”
The Guardian, 1st February 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
April Casburn jailed for News of the World leak offer – BBC News
“The first person to be prosecuted as part of the investigation into payments by journalists to officials has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.”
BBC News, 1st February 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Henry solicitor: CA ruling does not undermine Jackson’s costs management reforms – Litigation Futures
“The Court of Appeal’s ruling on costs budgets earlier this week has not undermined the Jackson reforms, the claimant solicitor from the case has argued.”
Litigation Futures, 1st February 2013
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Information ‘reasonably accessible’ despite hefty charge – Panopticon
“In Davis v ICO and Health and Social Care Information Centre (case no. EA/2012/0175, judgment 24 January 2013) the First-Tier Tribunal applied the absolute exemption under section 21 of FOIA 2000 for information which is reasonably accessible to an applicant other than under section 1. The requested information consisted of health statistics which the public authority was willing to provide to the appellant under its publication scheme for a charge of £1,550. The appellant argued that the charge meant the information could not be considered to be reasonably accessible to a person of ordinary means.”
Panopticon, 31st January 2013
Source: www.panopticonblog.com
Immigration route for entrepreneurs tightened to “stamp out abuse” – OUT-LAW.com
“Changes to the immigration rules for foreign entrepreneurs coming to the UK will
‘stamp out abuse by those looking to play the system,’ a Government minister has
said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 31st January 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
An assault on family law – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“As Ryder J contemplates reform of the family justice system, he may wish to be aware of the assault by the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court upon some of the more cherished assumptions of family lawyers. Family lawyers should perhaps look to the legitimacy of some of their long-held shibboleths before another Court of Appeal assault. To ignore the law, as the cases below show, can be repressive and is certainly illegal.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 31st January 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Man gave wife overdose to have ‘peace and quiet’ – The Guardian
“A man who acted as full-time carer to his wife for the five years of their marriage has been jailed for administering an overdose of prescription drugs to her to give himself a day of respite.”
The Guardian, 31st January 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Police get new powers to withdraw licences from short-sighted drivers – Daily Telegraph
“Short-sighted motorists involved in accidents or caught driving dangerously will
have their licences revoked within hours to prevent their posing a risk to other
road users.”
Daily Telegraph, 31st January 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Construction workers to challenge Met over blacklist – The Guardian
“Decision by the Metropolitan police not to investigate claims that officers supplied information to the blacklist faces appeal by workers’ lawyers.”
The Guardian, 1st February 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Assisted suicide: GMC signals doctors safe to provide medical records to Dignitas patients – Daily Telegraph
“Doctors will be able to provide medical records to patients who want them to
travel abroad for an assisted suicide without being struck off, new guidelines
make clear for the first time.”
Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Barry Reeve murder: Women tortured pensioner to death – BBC News
“Two women who tortured a retired bus conductor and left him to die have been found guilty of his murder.”
BBC News, 31st January 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Banks to pay for ‘swap’ mis-selling, FSA demands – BBC News
“Four banks will now compensate tens of thousands of small businesses who were mis-sold complex insurance deals, says the Financial Services Authority.”
BBC News, 31st January 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
