OFT to act on ‘Big Four’ audit firms – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 18th, 2011 in accountants, competition, news, unfair commercial practices by tracey

“The ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms are to face regulatory intervention for anti-competitive behaviour, which would severely curb the industry’s most powerful companies and cost them hundreds of millions in revenue.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Guidelines on DNA samples unlawful – The Independent

Posted May 18th, 2011 in DNA, fingerprints, news, police by tracey

“Police guidelines allowing forces to retain the fingerprints and DNA samples of innocent people are unlawful, a panel of leading British judges ruled today. The ruling was made by the Supreme Court in London nearly three years after the European Court of Human Rights reached a similar conclusion.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dunstable dog owner’s sentence reduced over attack – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in appeals, dogs, news, sentencing by tracey

“The owner of a Staffordshire bull terrier that attacked a nine-year-old girl in Bedfordshire has had his sentence reduced.”

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BBC News, 18th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Velcourt fined after farm worker electrocuted – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in fines, health & safety, news by tracey

“A firm has been fined £125,000 after admitting responsibility for the death of a man working on a Wiltshire farm.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence murder suspects to stand trial – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in evidence, murder, news, prosecutions, racism, trials by tracey

“Two men are to stand trial accused of being part of a racist white gang that ‘targeted and killed’ the black teenager Stephen Lawrence because of the colour of his skin, the appeal court has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2011

Source; www.guardian.co.uk

Sweeping House of Lords reforms announced by Nick Clegg – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in constitutional reform, elections, news, parliament by tracey

“Nick Clegg has unveiled sweeping plans for elected members to take seats in a reformed House of Lords in the next parliament. The deputy prime minister announced proposals for a cut-down second chamber, with 80% of its 300 members elected by proportional representation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy law could help judges decide over gagging orders, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in injunctions, legislation, news, privacy by tracey

“Justice secretary says he will consider legislation, but admits there may be quicker, less controversial ways of tackling issue.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Radical reforms for parental leave and flexible working proposed – Home Office

Posted May 18th, 2011 in flexible working, news, parental rights, sex discrimination by tracey

“Theresa May, the Home Secretary and minister for women and equalities, today backed a consultation on modernising Britain’s workplace laws.”

Full press release

Home Office, 16th May 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Sexual grooming of children far worse than thought, says minister – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in child abuse, news, sexual grooming, trafficking in human beings by tracey

“The sexual grooming of children in the UK is a much bigger problem than has previously been recognised, the government has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers demand pause in legal aid reforms – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in Law Society, legal aid, news by tracey

“Law Society accuses ministers of ignoring consultation by pressing ahead with plans to remove legal help for vulnerable.”

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The Guardian, 18th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Northampton brawling benefits cheat is jailed – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in benefits, fraud, news, sentencing by tracey

“A benefits cheat who was caught on CCTV brawling with police, despite claiming he could not leave home without a walking stick, has been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Derek Wiggett jailed for abusing boys in 70s and 80s – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in child abuse, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, sexual grooming by tracey

“A retired architect and former scout leader has been jailed for six years at Mold Crown Court for abusing two boys between 1976 and 1984.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

50pc ‘discount’ in jail term for rapists who enter early guilty plea – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 18th, 2011 in guilty pleas, news, rape, sentencing by tracey

“Rapists could have their sentences cut in half if they plead guilty after being arrested.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gypsy gang jailed for ‘sophisticated’ £800k benefit fraud – Daily Telegraph

“A gang of Romanian gypsies flew in and out of Britain to defraud taxpayers out of more than £800,000 through a series of benefit scams, a court has heard.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisoners’ lifeline celebrates 20 years – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in elections, human rights, legal aid, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Earlier this month the great and the good and a few ex-cons (not to mention the odd great and good ex-con) came out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Prisoners’ Advice Service (Pas) and debate prisoners’ rights at the City law firm Hogan Lovells.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government launches review to help establish new communications laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 17th, 2011 in consultations, internet, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“The Government has asked for industry’s input on new communication laws that could come into effect as early as 2015. It has opened a review into the regulation of the communications industry in the UK.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th May 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Sunday Telegraph journalist criticised by high court judge – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in expert witnesses, family courts, law reports, media, news by sally

“A high court judge has criticised a senior Sunday Telegraph journalist over his reporting of a case heard in the family courts last year.”

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The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Overseas aid targets ‘will be made law’, insists government – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in bills, charities, news by sally

“Downing Street has insisted the government is committed to enshrining its overseas aid spending targets in law, despite objections by the defence secretary, Liam Fox.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Raft of firms and chambers advise as Sienna Miller wins £100k ‘Hackgate’ damages – Legal Week

Posted May 17th, 2011 in barristers, damages, interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“Matrix and Doughty Street Chambers are among a raft of law firms and barristers’ sets to have acted on the high-profile phone-hacking dispute between Sienna Miller and the News of the World (NoW).”

Full story

Legal Week, 17th May 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Breaking the myth of the barristers’ dinner – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in barristers, inns of court, legal education, news by sally

“The focus on medieval ritual and indulgence does not paint a fair picture of the inns of courts’ qualifying sessions.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk