Autistic woman banned from having sex in latest Court of Protection case – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 6th, 2012 in autism, Court of Protection, learning difficulties, news by sally

“A senior judge has effectively banned a vulnerable young woman from having sex on the grounds that she does not understand the risks involved.”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court orders Surrey library plans judicial review – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2012 in budgets, injunctions, judicial review, libraries, local government, news by sally

“A judicial review of Surrey County Council’s plans for some libraries to be run by volunteers has been ordered by the High Court.”

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BBC News, 4th February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brent library closures: Supreme Court rejects appeal bid – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2012 in appeals, budgets, judicial review, libraries, local government, news by sally

“The Supreme Court has refused to allow campaigners fighting to save six north-west London libraries permission to appeal against a court’s decision.”

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BBC News, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cash crisis slows justice for the vulnerable at Court of Protection – The Independent

Posted February 6th, 2012 in budgets, Court of Protection, delay, news by sally

“Hundreds of vulnerable people seeking court decisions about where they live or whom they can meet could experience months of delays because the government expert protecting their interests has almost run out of money, The Independent can disclose.”

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The Independent, 4th February 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Met police investigators at News Corp jeopardise press freedom, say lawyers – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2012 in freedom of expression, interception, media, news, police by sally

“The Metropolitan police has a team of up to 20 detectives based at News Corporation’s internal investigation unit in Wapping, a move which leading media and human rights lawyers say puts press freedom in jeopardy.”

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The Guardian, 5th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Grandparents must have ‘clear rights’ to see grandchildren when couples split – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 6th, 2012 in children, custody, divorce, grandparents, news by sally

“Grandparents should be given clear rights to see their grandchildren when couples separate, ministers will say today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Family justice report author criticises plan to change divorce and custody law – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2012 in children, custody, divorce, family courts, news by sally

“Legislating to ensure that both parents in a divorce retain the right of access to their children could cause severe problems in custody cases, according to the former Whitehall official who conducted a review on family justice.”

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man jailed for 94-year-old woman’s murder at Bradford care home – BBC News

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

“A man who sexually assaulted and murdered a 94-year-old woman after breaking into a Bradford care home has been jailed for a minimum of 24 years.”

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BBC News, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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