Andy Coulson phone-hacking investigation to be dropped – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2010 in interception, news, no case to answer, prosecutions, telecommunications by sally

“The Daily Telegraph can disclose that detectives are to be formally advised by the Crown Prosecution Service that Mr Coulson and other former and current employees of the tabloid newspaper have no criminal case to answer.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th December 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gloucestershire coroner’s law practice investigated – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2010 in accounts, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“The Cheltenham law firm of Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore has been closed following concerns over the way it was being run.”

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BBC News, 9th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rogue traders sentenced over East Midlands £1.5m fraud – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2010 in conspiracy, construction industry, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“A gang of rogue builders who conned hundreds across the East Midlands with substandard work have been sentenced.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pensioner cleared of murdering wife in mercy killing – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2010 in diminished responsibility, euthanasia, homicide, murder, news by sally

“A pensioner who smothered his 75-year-old wife in a “mercy killing” has been jailed for two years.”

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The Guardian, 9th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Treasury’s plans for tax avoidance rule sound like fantasy – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2010 in news, tax avoidance by sally

“Ambitions to deter avoidance while keeping businesses and taxpayers happy are likely to prove impossible.”

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The Guardian, 9th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council Welcomes Government’s ‘Sensible and Rational’ Approach to Sentencing Reform – The Bar Council

Posted December 9th, 2010 in news, prisons, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the publication of the Government’s ‘sensible and rational’ Green Paper entitled Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders, but has warned that the Government must look at the system in the round, and protect against unintended consequences.”

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The Bar Council, 8th December 2010

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Out of court disposals warning – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2010 in cautions, news, penalties, police by sally

“Too many cases are being dealt with by out of court disposals where the police are acting as prosecutor and judge, a Court of Appeal judge said last week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Childless couples win the right to pay surrogate mothers – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2010 in compensation, news, surrogacy by sally

“Childless couples will be able to pay surrogate mothers large sums of money to have babies for them, following a landmark High Court ruling.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secretive court opens doors to journalists – The Independent

Posted December 9th, 2010 in Court of Protection, disabled persons, media, news by sally

“One of Britain’s most secretive courts opened itself to public scrutiny yesterday after a High Court judge lifted reporting restrictions on work done by a hitherto-closed corner of the British justice system.”

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The Independent, 9th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Benefits repayment case upheld by Supreme Court – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2010 in benefits, mistake, news by sally

“The government has lost a legal battle to recover millions of pounds in overpaid benefits.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nativity photos not against law, says data watchdog – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2010 in children, data protection, news, photography by sally

“Parents should be free to photograph their children in nativity plays, the Information Commissioner has said.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Will mediation replace solicitors in divorce proceedings? – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2010 in dispute resolution, divorce, legal aid, news by sally

“Divorce can be a highly complex issue and many people going through it feel legal representation is vital. Until now, legal aid has been available to fund it, but new legislation means it will no longer be available in England and Wales.”

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BBC News, 8th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sentencing reform to focus on reoffending – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2010 in community service, news, persistent offenders, rehabilitation, reports, sentencing by sally

“Thousands of offenders will avoid jail under an overhaul of sentencing powers that will focus on cutting reoffending.”

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The Independent, 7th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Related link: Sentencing and rehabilitation: government proposals for reform

Woman who concealed stillborn babies avoids jail – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2010 in concealing birth, news, sentencing by sally

“A woman who concealed the births of four stillborn babies and kept three of them in her wardrobe for two decades escaped jail today.”

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The Independent, 7th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family anger at IPCC and police after failings that led to mother’s murder – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2010 in complaints, criminal records, domestic violence, murder, news, police by sally

“Relatives of Maria Stubbings plan action after Essex force failed to inform mother that her new partner was a convicted killer.”

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The Guardian, 7th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Should justice be televised? – Legal Week

Posted December 7th, 2010 in criminal justice, media, news, public interest by sally

“The head of Sky News has argued in a new Guardian article that justice must be televised as allowing TV cameras in court would help restore public faith in criminal proceedings.”

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Legal Week, 6th December 2010

Source: www.legalweek.com

G20 photographer awarded £30,000 for injury by police – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2010 in compensation, demonstrations, news, personal injuries, police by sally

“A photographer who was struck in the face by a police shield during the G20 protests last year has been awarded £30,000 compensation by the Metropolitan police.”

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The Guardian, 7th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords ruling paves way for separate AV referendum and election dates – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2010 in elections, news, referendums by sally

“Alternative voting referendum could be on a different day from 5 May elections according to a House of Lords amendment.”

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The Guardian, 6th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison system failing to tackle reoffending, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2010 in news, prisons, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

“The justice secretary, Ken Clarke, will today detail his plans to divert thousands of offenders from prison to bring to an end the Victorian-style ‘bang ’em up’ culture and reduce high reoffending rates.”

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The Guardian, 7th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government drops pledge of mandatory jail for carrying knife – The Independent

Posted December 7th, 2010 in news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

“A key Conservative election pledge that anyone caught carrying a knife could expect a jail term has been dropped by the Justice Secretary.”

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The Independent, 7th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk