What’s wrong with the European Court of Human Rights? – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2012 in human rights, news, statistics by sally

“The prime minister goes to Strasbourg today arguing for reforms to the ECtHR claiming that it is ‘swamped’ by cases, becoming a ‘small claims court’ and needs urgent reform. Is he right?”

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The Guardian, 25th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Wind Farm Inquiries – A Practical Note – No.5 Chambers

Posted January 25th, 2012 in carbon dioxide emissions, energy, news, planning by sally

“Government policy, over succeeding years, has been moving in a more permissive direction. The present extant national policy is found in PPS 1, Planning and Climate Change: Supplement to PPS 1, PPS 22 and Planning for Renewable Energy: A Companion Guide to PPS22. Further, under the coalition government a fresh suite of policies extolling the benefits of wind farm development in appropriate locations. This includes ‘The Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development’, EN-1, EN-3 and the Renewable Energy Roadmap.”

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No.5 Chambers, 20th January 2012

Source: www.no5.com

Solar subsidies cuts: UK government loses court appeal – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2012 in carbon dioxide emissions, energy, news by sally

“The government lost its appeal on Wednesday against a judge’s ruling that its cuts to solar power subsidies were illegal, suggesting thousands of homes and businesses will now be able to claim the higher payments.”

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The Guardian, 25th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Terrorism control order system ends at midnight – BBC News

“The control order regime restricting the freedoms of terrorism suspects is being abolished from midnight.”

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BBC News, 25th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

David Cameron calls for reform of European court of human rights – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2012 in human rights, news by sally

“David Cameron is to warn that the European court of human rights is in danger of turning into a ‘small claims court’ that fails to deal with serious violations of human rights, unless it embarks on reforms.”

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The Guardian, 25th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Podcast: Adam Wagner – My advice to the Court

Care Quality Commission puts gagging orders on six employees – The Guardian

“A health watchdog with responsibility for protecting NHS whistleblowers has asked at least six employees to sign confidentiality agreements that stop them from criticising the organisation publicly.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Polling station law ‘must be changed before 2015’ – BBC News

Posted January 25th, 2012 in ballots, elections, news by sally

“The law should be changed before the next general election to allow anyone queuing at the ballot box when polls close to vote, a report says.”

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BBC News, 25th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Surrey Police to face IPCC over NOTW involvement in Dowler case – The Independent

Posted January 25th, 2012 in inquiries, interception, media, murder, news, police by sally

“The unanswered questions in Surrey Police’s handling of the investigation and subsequent murder inquiry of Milly Dowler in 2002, and the force’s close contact with journalists from the News of World, is to be investigated by the police’s internal watchdog authority, the IPCC.”

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The Independent, 25th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government warned over secret hearings – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2012 in closed material, evidence, human rights, intelligence services, news, trials by sally

“The expansion of secret hearings into the civil courts, proposed by the government as a means of protecting national security, will deprive individuals of the right to a fair trial, a parliamentary select committee has been warned.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Corruption self-reporters not disadvantaged by own investigative restrictions, SFO says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 24th, 2012 in bribery, corruption, fraud, news, Serious Fraud Office by sally

“The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) may formally investigate alleged corruption at firms that self-report the activity but will be mindful not to harm the company’s reputation, the head of the organisation has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Council spent £70,000 fighting judicial review of library closures – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2012 in costs, judicial review, libraries, local government, news by sally

“A council that had its library restructuring plans quashed in the high court spent more than £70,000 fighting the judicial review.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Landlords could become liable for tenants’ unpaid water bills under Government plans – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 24th, 2012 in consultations, landlord & tenant, news, water by sally

“Landlords could become liable for their tenants’ unpaid water bills if they fail to supply the details of those tenants to the water company, the Government has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Leveson urged to ensure libel law reform is not delayed – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2012 in bills, defamation, inquiries, media, news by sally

“Lord Justice Leveson has been urged to do what he could to ensure reform to libel laws is not delayed because of his inquiry into press ethics.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ex-husband to pay £6 million legal bill in acrimonious divorce – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 24th, 2012 in costs, divorce, news by sally

“A business tycoon is facing up to £6m in lawyers’ bills after an epic million court struggle during which he was ordered to pay a total of £15 million to his ex-wife.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man jailed over police chase in stolen ambulance – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2012 in drunk in charge, insurance, news, sentencing, theft by sally

“A man who led police on a high-speed chase after stealing an ambulance response car to get home after a New Year’s Eve party has been jailed for nine months.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Signed, executed and all that! – New Square Chambers

Posted January 24th, 2012 in appeals, documents, enfranchisement, leases, news by sally

“The decision of the Court of Appeal in Hilmi & Associates Ltd v 20 Pembridge Villas Freehold Ltd [2010] 1 WLR 2750 (CA) highlighted the strict requirements of s 36A of the Companies Act 1985 (and hence the similarly-worded ss 43-47 of the Companies Act 2006 now in force) about companies signing and executing documents. The decision concerns a claim for leasehold enfranchisement, but is of wider importance and is a reminder, assuming that any is required, that statutory notices are very much all or nothing.”

Full story (PDF) see p. 4

New Square Chambers, January 2012

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

UK seizes its moment to reform European court of human rights – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2012 in constitutional reform, courts, human rights, news by sally

“Judging by the media fury stoked up over the case of the Islamic cleric Abu Qatada and the ‘meddling’ judges of Strasbourg, the United Kingdom’s departure from the European court of human rights (ECHR) might appear imminent.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theodora Dallas: inside the jury room – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2012 in contempt of court, juries, jury directions, news by sally

“Yesterday’s judgment offers a rare insight into jury deliberations, revealing what Dallas told fellow jurors about her online research.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New online tool in transparency drive – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 24th, 2012 in courts, news, trials by sally

“The Ministry of Justice has published a new online tool that lets people see the length of time cases take in courts across England and Wales.”

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Ministry of Justice, 24th January 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

No smoke without fire – New Square Chambers

Posted January 24th, 2012 in fire, housing, insurance, land registration, news by sally

“It is well known that on exchange of contracts for the purchase of land, title to the property vests in the buyer in equity, so that the buyer is immediately at risk if there is damage to the property. This can be a trap. If, for example, the property is damaged by fire between exchange and completion, the buyer is bound to complete without reduction in price: Poole v Adams (1864) 10 LT 287.”

Full story (PDF) see p. 2

New Square Chambers, January 2012

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk