Move to ’20-year-rule’ for secret papers will cost £52m – BBC News

“The Ministry of Justice says reducing the ’30-year rule’ for publishing secret government papers to 20 years will cost up to £52m.”

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BBC News, 13th July 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Freed sex offenders ‘raped again’ – The Independent

Posted July 16th, 2012 in news, rape, recidivists, sexual offences by sally

“More than 400 sex offenders set free in the last three years went on to commit rape, Ministry of Justice figures have revealed. Last year almost one in seven convicted rapists had a previous conviction for a sex crime, the highest level for five years.”

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The Independent, 16th July 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Five men found guilty of paying for sexual services of children in Derby – The Guardian

Posted July 16th, 2012 in care homes, child abuse, news, sexual grooming by sally

“Five men who preyed on vulnerable teenage girls for sex have been found guilty of paying for the sexual services of a child.”

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The Guardian, 13th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK accused of dithering over prisoners’ voting rights – The Guardian

Posted July 16th, 2012 in EC law, elections, human rights, interpretation, news, prisons by sally

“The government has ‘painted itself into a corner’ over its refusal to grant prisoners’ voting rights, according to Europe’s most senior human rights official.”

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The Guardian, 15th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Employment tribunal fees set to encourage mediation and arbitration – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 13th, 2012 in dispute resolution, employment tribunals, fees, news by sally

“Employment tribunal fees will be tailored to encourage businesses and workers to mediate or settle a dispute rather than go to a full hearing from summer 2013.”

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Ministry of Justice, 13th July 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Lawyers may face regulation as MPs reject lobbyist register – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 13th, 2012 in law firms, lobbying, news by sally

“Lawyers who lobby professionally for their clients should be subject to regulation, according to a Commons committee report out today.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 13th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Creating a swift and sure criminal justice system – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 13th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, delay, news by sally

“Far-reaching plans to reform the criminal justice system by reducing delays, tackling waste and overhauling unnecessarily bureaucratic systems were launched today by Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert.”

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Ministry of Justice, 13th July 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

QASA fourth consultation goes live – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 13th, 2012 in advocacy, barristers, consultations, news, quality assurance by sally

“The fourth and final consultation on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) (QASA) goes live today, Thursday 12 July.”

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Bar Standards Board, 12th July 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Private firm wins probation contract in London – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2012 in community service, news, probation, security companies by sally

“A private security company has won a contract to supervise offenders on probation doing unpaid work in the community.”

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BBC News, 13th July 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inaccurate records costs NHS body £60,000 for sensitive data breach – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 13th, 2012 in data protection, fines, hospitals, medical records, news by sally

“A health body has been fined £60,000 after two letters containing ‘confidential and highly sensitive personal data’ about a ‘vulnerable individual’ were sent to the wrong address.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th July 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Doctors broke abortion law in 13 NHS trusts – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2012 in abortion, doctors, news by sally

“Doctors in 13 NHS trusts in England have been found to be breaking abortion law by pre-signing forms certifying that women could have their pregnancies terminated.”

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The Guardian, 12th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fears of human rights abuses prompt UK to revoke arms export licences – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2012 in export controls, human rights, news, weapons by sally

“The UK must change its arms export policy to prevent weapons and other military equipment being sold to authoritarian regimes because the Arab spring has shown the system is fundamentally flawed, a Commons report warns.”

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The Guardian, 13th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords “Reform”: The Justice and Security Bill – Angela Patrick – UK Human Rights Blog

“Last night saw the latest round of Lords debate on the Justice and Security Bill. It should be required reading for the Secretary of State. Peers from all benches challenged the Government’s case for the breadth of reform proposed in the Bill. A number of amendments have been tabled jointly in the names of members of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Lords Constitution Committee, both Committees having already castigated the Government’s proposals as potentially harmful to the common law principles of open, adversarial and equal justice.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th July 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Final consultation launched on advocacy accreditation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 13th, 2012 in advocacy, consultations, news, quality assurance by sally

“A fourth – and ‘final’ – consultation on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) published today (12 July) contains a number of ‘significant’ changes that solicitors’ representative groups have welcomed.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Swift justice’ could resolve court cases within hours – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2012 in criminal justice, delay, magistrates, news by sally

“Criminal cases could be dealt with in days or even hours under plans to bring in “swift and sure justice”, ministers will say on Friday.”

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The Guardian, 13th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Copyright exception law could be changed without full Parliamentary scrutiny – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 12th, 2012 in bills, copyright, ministers' powers and duties, news, regulations by sally

“The Business Secretary will have the power to add or remove exceptions to copyright and add or remove exceptions to rights in performances through new laws that would not be subject to the full scrutiny of Parliament, under Government plans.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th July 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Unlawful cash forfeiture: fruits of the forbidden tree – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted July 12th, 2012 in forfeiture, HM Revenue & Customs, news, proceeds of crime by sally

“UKBA v Tuncel and Basbaydar [2012] EWHC 402 (Admin) is a decision of the High Court that is potentially significant in the field of cash seizure and forfeiture proceedings under Pt 5 Ch 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th July 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

UK laws ‘spurring trade in endangered species’ – BBC News

Posted July 12th, 2012 in animals, legislation, news, police, select committees by sally

“‘Confusing’ UK laws are spurring the trade in endangered species, a wildlife charity has said.”

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BBC News, 12th July 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jealous husband cleared of murdering wife after discovering affair – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2012 in firearms, mental health, murder, news by sally

“A jealous husband has been cleared of murdering his wife with a prohibited firearm after learning of her secret affair with another man.”

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The Guardian, 12th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Neuberger gets top job at Supreme Court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 12th, 2012 in judges, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury will become the second president of the Supreme Court, Downing Street announced today.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk