Policy Paper – Employment vetting: are we nearly there yet? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 12th, 2011 in bills, criminal records, employment, news, vetting by tracey

“Policy paper was written by Timothy Pitt-Payne QC for the legal think tank, Halsbury’s Law Exchange.”

Full paper

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th September 2011

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

EU extends music copyright to 70 years – BBC News

Posted September 12th, 2011 in copyright, EC law, news by tracey

“Musicians are set to receive royalties for their songs well into their old age under a new EU ruling. Regulations approved on Monday extended copyright on sound recordings from 50 to 70 years.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fake Viagra importer from Northampton jailed – BBC News

Posted September 12th, 2011 in counterfeiting, customs and excise, medicines, news by tracey

“An importer of fake Viagra pills into Britain from India and China has been jailed for a year. Victor Cheke, 42, from Northampton, pleaded guilty in July to possessing counterfeit medicinal products to sell and importing fake, unlicensed drugs.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ken Clarke criticised over restricting ‘no win, no fee’ agreements – The Guardian

Posted September 12th, 2011 in charities, fees, legal aid, news by tracey

“A coalition of high-profile, international charities has condemned the government’s legal reforms for denying overseas victims of UK multinationals any chance of justice. In a letter to the Guardian, Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth, Oxfam and others warn that if the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, succeeds in restricting ‘no win, no fee’ agreements then Trafigura-style cases could never be brought again.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Church helper Peter Holland jailed for abusing children – BBC News

Posted September 12th, 2011 in child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual grooming by tracey

“A predatory paedophile who volunteered at churches and scout groups in order to groom boys whom he sexually abused has been jailed for six years.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tales of bullying and abuse ‘prove authorities have failed disabled’ – The Independent

Posted September 12th, 2011 in bullying, disabled persons, harassment, news by tracey

“Public authorities are guilty of a ‘systemic failure’ to protect the hundreds of thousands of disabled people who routinely endure harassment or abuse, according to an inquiry. The most extreme cases of abuse, including torture and murder, represent only a small part of the problem, and a ‘cultural shift’ is needed in how disabled people are viewed.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fraud probe councillor wins six-figure payout after claiming he was deselected because he was Asian – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 12th, 2011 in elections, news, race discrimination by tracey

“The Labour party has been ordered by an employment tribunal to pay Raghib Ahsan £123,000 following a 13-year legal battle, in which his costs were met by taxpayers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Victims of crime ‘kept in dark’ despite promises – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 12th, 2011 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, victims by tracey

“Only half of those preyed on by criminals are kept up to date on their case while one in three never hear anything again after first reporting an offence, according to the charity Victim Support.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man faces jail for OAP sex assault – The Independent

Posted September 9th, 2011 in assault, news, sentencing, sexual offences by tracey

“A TV aerial fitter who sexually assaulted an 85-year-old woman in her own home after doping her with designer drugs has been told he faces a ‘lengthy custodial sentence’.”

Full story

The Independent, 9th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Slough firm Duco International fined over worker death – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fines, health & safety, news by tracey

“A firm which admitted safety failures over the death of a worker at its Slough factory has been fined £200,000.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Shooting company fined over damage to Farndale – BBC News

“A field sports company has been fined £40,000 after damaging part of the North York Moors National Park.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pensioner jailed for recording court proceedings is released – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in contempt of court, news, sentencing by tracey

“An 85-year-old man who was jailed for six months for recording court proceedings was freed by the court of appeal on Friday. Three judges in London quashed the sentence imposed on Norman Scarth in July for contempt of court and substituted one of 12 weeks, resulting in his immediate release from Armley prison in Leeds.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Munir Farooqi given four life sentences for terror charges – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in news, sentencing, soliciting to murder, terrorism by tracey

“A former Taliban fighter has been given four life sentences after being found guilty of trying to recruit undercover officers to fight in Afghanistan.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Courtroom drama – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 9th, 2011 in barristers, courts, media, news by tracey

“So, David Cameron and Ken Clark want televised court cases to give greater transparency and enable the public to understand the process. The suggestion has received some support from the Bar Council. Whilst bowing to the inevitable, I have only three words in response: Mock the Week. I can see that my whole world is about to change and it is hard to see that it will be for the better. Will TV in court teach the brilliance of our advocates? Will it expose shortcomings in a prosecution or reveal unmeritorious defendants? Will it bore everyone to death and leave us to the mercy of commentators anyway, handing them along the way a great deal more material at our expense? Rumpole was really only a star because he was fictional. If Hilda had been a barrister she would have gone shopping.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 8th September 2011

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Bill of Rights Commission publishes advice (and squabbles) on European Court of Human Rights reform – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 9th, 2011 in constitutional law, constitutional reform, human rights, news by tracey

“The Commission on a Bill of Rights has published its interim advice to Government on reform of the European Court of Human Rights. It has also published a letter to ministers on reform of the Court.”

Full story

Interim advice

UK Human Rights Blog, 9th September 2011

Source: http://ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government to ban referral fees in personal injury cases – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fees, news, personal injuries by tracey

“The government has today announced that it will ban the payment of referral fees in personal injury cases. The Ministry of Justice said the current arrangements have led to high costs, encouraged a ‘compensation culture’ and led to the growth of an industry which pursues claimants for profit.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Compensation claimants say changes to court costs law will add insult to injury – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in bills, costs, legal aid, news by tracey

“Victims and their families voice alarm over the ‘ill-considered’ legal aid bill now before parliament.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Streamlined use of forensic evidence eases burden on courts – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in forensic science, news by tracey

“The demise of the Forensic Science Service comes as police forces shift towards a more streamlined approach to the use of forensics in criminal cases. Instead of courts being presented with extensive forensic reports that cover all the evidence recovered in police investigations, only short reports with the initial and key findings will be submitted. Prior to the trial, prosecutors will present the defence with evidence incrementally and order additional forensic tests only when the case requires them.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Foreign criminals still released without being considered for removal – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in deportation, news, prisons by tracey

“Almost 100 foreign prisoners have been released in the last two years when they should have first being assessed for removal, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, revealed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cambridge footballer Jordan Patrick fined for racist abuse – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fines, news, racism, threatening behaviour by tracey

“Cambridge United player Jordan Patrick has been fined £750 for racially abusing a taxi driver and threatening a policeman in a drunken outburst.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk