Tories evasive over Ashcroft tax status, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2010 in freedom of information, news, peerages & dignities, taxation by sally

“The Conservative leadership is today accused of being ‘evasive and obfuscatory’ over the tax status of Lord Ashcroft, the party’s deputy chairman and biggest donor, in a ruling by the information commissioner that sharply criticises the secrecy over where he is resident for tax purposes.”

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The Guardian, 1st February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Why the legal debates about Iraq will never end – The Times

Posted February 1st, 2010 in news by sally

“What have we learnt so far from the Iraq inquiry with regard to international law? At one level, we have heard views that international law is uncertain, international lawyers dogmatic, and that lawyers who are not international lawyers are not international lawyers and thus cannot, by implication, deal with arguments in that field.”

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The Times, 31st January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

QC aspirants think again as LSA casts pall over bar – The Lawyer

Posted February 1st, 2010 in barristers, news, queen's counsel by sally

“Concerns about the future stability of the bar are having a knock-on effect on the number of barristers applying to become QCs, leading barristers have warned.”

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The Lawyer, 1st February 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Stirland inquest looks at revenge killings – BBC News

Posted February 1st, 2010 in corruption, inquests, news, police by sally

“The public and press are being kept away from an inquest into the deaths of a Lincolnshire couple who were shot at a hideaway, for security reasons.”

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BBC News, 1st February 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ruling gives companies time and certainty in public procurement disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 1st, 2010 in news, public procurement, tenders, time limits by sally

“Companies now have more time to file legal objections to the award of public contracts after Europe’s top court overturned UK procurement law. The Government will have to re-draft its regulations and the ruling will take immediate effect.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st February 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Cash-for-crash car insurance fraud ring ordered to pay damages – The Times

Posted February 1st, 2010 in news by sally

“An organised ring of ‘cash for crash’ insurance fraudsters has been ordered to pay its victims almost £400,000 after a landmark case in the High Court.”

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The Times, 1st February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Britain stops northern Indian student visas after flood of applicants – The Times

Posted February 1st, 2010 in news by sally

“Britain has temporarily suspended student visa applications in northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh from today following a sudden spike in numbers, throwing thousands of prospective students’ plans into confusion.”

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The Times, 1st February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

John Terry case sparks government concern over super-injunctions – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2010 in freedom of information, injunctions, media, news by sally

“The government is consulting the media and the judiciary after becoming ‘very concerned’ that super-injunctions, such as the double gagging order which was obtained by the England football captain John Terry but lifted last week, are being used too often.”

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The Guardian, 31st January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government ordered to reveal Iraq legal advice – The Independent

Posted February 1st, 2010 in freedom of information, human rights, Iraq, news, war by sally

“The Government’s most senior legal advisers broke the law by refusing to tell The Independent who was given crucial advice about the treatment of prisoners during the war in Iraq, the Freedom of Information watchdog has ruled.”

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The Independent, 1st February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Heirs fight test case to appoint their own executors for will – The Times

Posted February 1st, 2010 in news by sally

“A retired civil servant is bringing a High Court test case today over the fees charged to thousands of bereaved relatives each year by will-writing firms when they act as executor of a will. David Khan, 69, from Norwood, South London, is taking legal action against Will Drafters, the Croydon-based firm, claiming that it will charge twice as much as a competitive quote obtained elsewhere.”

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The Times, 1st February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Child abuse deaths still rising despite action after Baby P – The Times

Posted February 1st, 2010 in news by sally

“Almost four children a week died or suffered a serious injury at home last year through neglect or abuse despite tougher child protection rules after the death of Baby P.”

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The Times, 1st February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Woman forced into hiding by Britain’s worst stalker attacks police failures – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2010 in harassment, inquiries, news, police by sally

“A social worker who was forced into hiding by a man dubbed Britain’s most prolific stalker has spoken out for the first time over ‘appalling’ failures of the Metropolitan Police in investigating her harassment, followed by what she describes as an ‘incompetent’ internal inquiry into its own conduct.”

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The Guardian, 1st February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Smokers to face doorway ban in new public health policy – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2010 in health, news, smoking by sally

“Smokers could be forced to light up away from the entrances to public buildings under government moves aimed at ensuring that no more than one in 10 Britons smoke cigarettes.”

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The Guardian, 1st February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Conwy man jailed for 20 years for fencing pin attack – BBC News

Posted February 1st, 2010 in attempted murder, attempts, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A man has been jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of trying to murder his ex-partner with a 4ft 6in (1.2m) metal fencing pin.”

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BBC News, 29th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Current Awareness Survey

Posted January 30th, 2010 in news by sally

We would be grateful if you could spend a few minutes completing a brief user survey, by following the link below. This will enable us to learn more about how the service is being used, with a view to making future improvements.

Survey link

15-year-old locked away after kicking homeless man to death – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 30th, 2010 in murder, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“A 15-year-old boy who kicked a homeless man to death in an alcohol-fuelled act of ‘random violence’ has been locked up for four years.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ex-carer jailed over child abduction – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2010 in child abduction, news, sentencing by sally

“A former foster carer who hid a vulnerable boy in a hollowed-out washing machine so he could evade police was jailed for 33 months today after being found guilty of child abduction.”

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The Independent, 29th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Couple who deceived planners win right to stay in Potters Bar barn – The Times

Posted January 30th, 2010 in news by sally

“A property developer who built a £500,000 home disguised as a barn in the green belt has won his appeal against eviction.”

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The Times, 30th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Family wins £100,000 for detention ordeal – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2010 in asylum, children, compensation, detention, immigration, news by sally

“A refugee has won a settlement of £100,000 from the Home Office after it admitted falsely imprisoning her and her children at an immigration detention centre.”

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The Guardian, 29th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High court overturns superinjunction granted to England captain John Terry – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2010 in injunctions, media, news, privacy by sally

“England captain John Terry emerged as the footballer who had obtained a gagging order preventing the publication of claims about his private life, after the high court overturned a superinjunction yesterday.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk