Category: news

Nurses and midwives set to face three-yearly checks – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2013 in consultations, midwives, news, nurses, professional conduct by sally

“Nurses and midwives in the UK look set to face three-yearly checks from the end of 2015 under proposals being put forward.”

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BBC News, 6th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

First female genital mutilation prosecution ‘close’, says CPS – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, female genital mutilation, news, prosecutions by sally

“The likelihood of the first prosecution in the UK for female genital mutilation is higher than ever before, the director of public prosecutions says.”

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BBC News, 6th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nigel Kennedy escapes prosecution over fraud claims – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 6th, 2013 in elections, fraud, news, prosecutions, time limits by sally

“A Conservative MP has called for voting crimes to be punished retrospectively after it emerged that Nigel Kennedy, the violinist, will not face prosecution for alleged electoral fraud.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jacob Rowbottom: Third Party Spending Controls and the Lobbying Bill – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted September 5th, 2013 in bills, elections, lobbying, news, third parties by sally

“The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill is proving to be controversial for various reasons – not least for proposing amendments to controls on third party spending during election campaigns (under the current law independent organisations have to register with the Electoral Commission if they spend over a certain amount on election material, and such spending is subject to an overall cap). Many of the criticisms have focused on the potential for the proposed law to apply to the political speech of charities, think tanks, blogs and campaign groups.”

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UK Constitutional Law Group, 4th September 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

When can CFAs replace legal aid? – Legal Aid Handbook

Posted September 5th, 2013 in fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Many practitioners are concerned about the implications of recent delays in granting legal aid whilst the LAA is making detailed investigations about whether CFAs are available – even in cases where they clearly are not.”

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Legal Aid Handbook, 4th September 2013

Source: www.legalaidhandbook.com

UK judges have breathed new life into Human Rights Convention, says former court president – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 5th, 2013 in human rights, judiciary, media, news, political parties, speeches, treaties by sally

“Yesterday Sir Nicolas Bratza spoke candidly about the responsibility of certain UK politicians and media outlets in tarnishing this countries human rights legacy. He called on lawyers and NGOs to help rekindle the fire for human rights at home.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Rachel Manning murder: Police apologise to Barri White and Keith Hyatt – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2013 in miscarriage of justice, murder, news, perverting the course of justice, police by sally

“Thames Valley Police have apologised to two men wrongly convicted over the murder of a 19-year-old woman from Milton Keynes in 2000.”

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BBC News, 5th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regulator to review banks’ complaint handling processes as ombudsman complaints reach record levels – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 5th, 2013 in banking, complaints, financial regulation, financial services ombudsman, news by sally

“The financial industry regulator is to conduct a review of the way in which customer complaints to banks and building societies are handled, one of its directors has confirmed.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 4th September 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Expecting business to respect human rights without incentives or Sanctions – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 5th, 2013 in company law, enforcement, human rights, international trade, news, sanctions, United Nations by sally

“Cross-government coordination on an issue that affects trade, international development, foreign affairs, business activity and human rights is remarkable, especially at such a difficult economic time. So the UK’s Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, which is the government’s long-awaited strategy for implementing the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, is to be applauded for this achievement. Yet, while the Plan establishes clear expectations that UK companies should respect human rights, there are no effective legal requirements placed on them to do so.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Greater Transparency in the Family Courts – New Draft Guidance – RPC Privacy Law

Posted September 5th, 2013 in consultations, family courts, law reports, news, reporting restrictions by sally

“Proposed new guidance recommends that decisions of the family courts should always be published, unless there are compelling reasons against publication. Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court, has issued the proposed judiciary guidance to facilitate the ‘need for greater transparency’ in the family courts.”

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RPC Privacy Law, 4th September 2013

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

Law firm shut down after top judge’s complaint over ‘untruthful’ asylum case – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 5th, 2013 in complaints, law firms, news, professional conduct, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“A law firm has been closed down after one of the country’s most senior judges asked regulators to investigate its last-minute bids to block the deportation of failed asylum seekers.”

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Daily Telegraph, 4th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UN to investigate impact of ‘bedroom tax’ on human rights of low-income households – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2013 in benefits, housing, human rights, news, social security, United Nations by sally

“The impact of the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ on the human rights of low-income households is being examined by a senior United Nations official.”

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The Independent, 4th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Why not… legalise drugs? – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2013 in drug abuse, drug offences, news by sally

“Drug prohibition began in the UK during World War I, when the possession, distribution and sale of cocaine and opium was outlawed. Cannabis was added to the list in 1920, in line with international treaties.”

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BBC News, 5th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dartmoor prison facing closure as ministers announce shakeup of jails – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2013 in news, prisons by sally

“Justice secretary signals that Dartmoor does not have long-term future as immediate closure of four other jails is announcedFull story

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The Guardian, 4th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rachel Manning murder: Man jailed for killing 19-year-old woman 11 years after former boyfriend wrongly convicted of her killing – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2013 in DNA, miscarriage of justice, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A man has been given a life sentence for killing a 19-year-old woman, 11 years after her former boyfriend was wrongly jailed for the murder.”

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The Independent, 4th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hunt concerned by lack of prosecutions in gender abortion case – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2013 in abortion, Crown Prosecution Service, gender, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“The CPS’s decision not to prosecute two doctors who have been accused of offering to arrange abortions based on gender is ‘concerning’, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.”

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BBC News, 5th Sepetember 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court failings scupper 500 cases a week – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2013 in courts, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

“More than 500 court cases are being thrown out or delayed each week due to failings by prosecutors or in the court system, it has been claimed.”

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The Independent, 5th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grayling announces U-turn on legal aid competition plan – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2013 in competition, legal aid, news, solicitors, tenders by sally

“Plans to award legal aid contracts to the lowest bidders following criticisms it would reduce justice to a ‘factory mentality’ have been scrapped.”

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The Guardian, 5th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Modernisation of the prison estate – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 4th, 2013 in news, prisons, Wales by sally

“The Government has today set out the next stage in its prison modernisation programme, with confirmation that its planned new 2,000 place prison will be built in Wrexham, and the news that it has started feasibility work on a second large prison to be constructed in the South East of England. It has also confirmed opening dates for the new house blocks – mini-prisons – being built to create 1200 new places at four sites across England.”

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Ministry of Justice, 4th September 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Changes to Child Maintenance – Family Law Week

Posted September 4th, 2013 in child support, financial provision, news, parental responsibility by sally

“Anna Heenan, Solicitor at Gregg Latchams LLP explains the latest changes to the child support regime.”

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Family Law Week, 3rd September 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk