Trials disrupted as barristers boycott high-cost case panel – Legal Week

Posted September 18th, 2008 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, news by sally

“The Government is in crisis talks with the Bar Council after the poor uptake of the very high-cost criminal cases (VHCC) panel has threatened the number of major trials going ahead.”

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Legal Week, 18th September 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Gurkhas need strong ties to stay in UK, court told – The Guardian

Posted September 18th, 2008 in armed forces, Gurkhas, immigration, news by sally

“Nepalese Gurkhas who fought with the British army but retired before their regimental headquarters moved to the UK from Hong Kong in 1997, do not have strong ties to the country and have no right to settle in it, a Home Office lawyer told a judge in the high court yesterday.”

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The Guardian, 18th September 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

OFT publishes new guidance on fairness in consumer contracts – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 17th, 2008 in consumer protection, news, unfair contract terms by sally

“The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published updated guidelines on what is and what is not acceptable in contracts for consumers. The new guidance replaces that which was published in 2001.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th September 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Suicide and the internet – updating the law – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 17th, 2008 in assisted suicide, internet, news by sally

“The law on assisting suicide is to be simplified to increase public understanding and reassure people that it applies as much on the internet as it does off-line, Justice Minister, Maria Eagle said today.”

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Ministry of Justice,17th September 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Pre-judgment interest on debts and damages – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 17th, 2008 in damages, debts, interest, news by sally

“The government’s response to the Law Commission report on the amount of interest courts should award on debts and damages in court proceedings. ‘Pre-judgment interest’ refers to the interest awarded from the day when payment fell due until judgment is entered or payment made (whichever is earlier).”

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Ministry of Justice, 16th September 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Families press for Deepcut public inquiry – The Guardian

Posted September 17th, 2008 in armed forces, inquests, inquiries, news by sally

“Families of four army recruits found dead at Deepcut barracks in Surrey will today launch a campaign for a public inquiry into the circumstances of the fatal shootings.”

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The Guardian, 17th September 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Terror lawyer bribe probe dropped – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2008 in bribery, news, solicitors, terrorism by sally

“Police have dropped a bribery probe into one of the leading UK lawyers who represents terrorism suspects.”

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BBC News, 16th September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Anti-terror laws used by council to spy on unauthorised punting – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 17th, 2008 in closed circuit television, investigatory powers, news by sally

“Covert surveillance was used in a bid to catch independent punt operators collecting customers from undesignated spots along the River Cam in Cambridge.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government drug advisers begin review of ecstasy’s class A status – The Guardian

Posted September 17th, 2008 in drug offences, news by sally

“The government’s drug advisers will begin a review of the classification of ecstasy next week, raising the prospect that the drug could be downgraded from class A.”

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The Guardian, 17th September 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crime victims face ‘postcode lottery’ in policing, says report – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 17th, 2008 in crime, news, police, victims by sally

“Crime victims are having to wait for up to a week before they can see a police officer and untrained officers are being sent to investigate serious offences, reports from the policing standards watchdog show.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK owes Gurkhas ‘a special debt’ – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2008 in armed forces, Gurkhas, immigration, news by sally

“Retired Gurkhas have launched their High Court battle for the right to live in the UK.”

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BBC News, 16th September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pressure group complains about five-year number plate retention – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 17th, 2008 in closed circuit television, data protection, news, privacy, road traffic by sally

“Activists have complained to the UK’s privacy regulator about plans to keep information gleaned from number plate-reading cameras for five years. Privacy International has said that the keeping of data for that long is ‘unnecessary and disproportionate’.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th September 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

CRB admits system to prevent new Soham could be at ‘significant risk’ of going wrong – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 17th, 2008 in criminal records, news by sally

“A new Home Office body aimed at preventing another Soham murder tragedy could be at ‘significant risk’ of failing, Government auditors said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police jurors are a threat to fair trials, senior judges warn – The Independent

Posted September 17th, 2008 in juries, news, police by sally

“Police officers should not be allowed to sit on juries because of the danger they pose to the fairness of trials, senior members of the judiciary say.”

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The Independent, 17th September 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law against religious discrimination needed, says Muslim minister – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 16th, 2008 in news, religious discrimination by sally

“Sadiq Khan, a Government whip, said that the forthcoming Single Equality Act, which could force public bodies to actively promote equality on grounds of gender, race and disability, must also tackle religion and end ‘Islamophobia in the workplace’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Actress at court ‘to see justice’ for Gurkhas – The Independent

Posted September 16th, 2008 in armed forces, Gurkhas, immigration, news by sally

“Actress Joanna Lumley brought a touch of showbiz glamour to the High Court today as she joined Gurkhas in their battle for the right to settle in Britain.”

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The Independent, 16th September 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Shannon hunt led to child porn find – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2008 in children, missing persons, news, pornography by sally

“Craig Meehan, who has been found guilty of downloading images of child abuse from the internet, was only caught because of the disappearance of his former partner’s daughter, nine-year-old Shannon Matthews.”

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BBC News, 16th September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Celery eating paramedic suspended – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2008 in disciplinary procedures, news, paramedics, professional conduct by sally

“A paramedic who ate celery while his colleague jokingly put a prawn on a dying man’s chin as he was given shock treatment was suspended for six months.”

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BBC News, 15th September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Review of judge sex abuse inquiry ordered after ex-wife’s complaint – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2008 in child abuse, judges, news, police by sally

“Police have been ordered to review their handling of the case of a judge accused of sexually abusing young children after claims that they failed adequately to investigate him because he was a friend of the chief constable.”

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The Guardian, 16th September 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court judge: Unproven allegations kept on CRB files can wreck lives – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 16th, 2008 in care workers, children, criminal records, news by sally

“A High Court judge has acknowledged that workers’ careers can be ruined by unproven allegations kept on police files but refused to allow a challenge to the rules.”

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Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk