Cannabis: tough penalties on way after another change of mind – The Times

Posted April 4th, 2008 in drug offences, news by sally

“Gordon Brown is preparing to overrule the advice of the Government’s drug advisory body and upgrade cannabis to a Class B drug, carrying tougher penalties for its possession.”

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The Times, 4th April, 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Current Awareness blog enters its second year

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in news by sally

The Current Awareness blog has now been going for a year. We are very pleased with the way this service has taken off and the positive response we have received. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our subscribers and remind you that feedback from users is always welcome. Please leave a comment or send an email if you have any suggestions/comments to make about the blog.

Police ‘justified’ in killing man – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in news, offensive weapons, police by sally

“A man shot dead by police as he brandished a sword was justifiably killed, an inquest jury has ruled.”

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BBC News, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Smith launches UK Border Agency – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in customs and excise, immigration, news by sally

“The new customs and immigration body, the UK Border Agency, was officially launched by the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, today.”

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met ‘let down’ victim killed by her family – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in disciplinary procedures, domestic violence, murder, news, police by sally

“Two Metropolitan Police officers are to face disciplinary proceedings over their treatment of a young woman who was tortured and murdered in a so-called ‘honour killing’ case after the police watchdog concluded yesterday she had been ‘let down’ by them.”

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Web filtering must be necessary and transparent, says Council of Europe – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in freedom of expression, human rights, internet, news by sally

“The body behind the European Convention on Human Rights has said that internet users must be told when content is being filtered, and that governments should not filter content except in very specific circumstances.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Privacy watchdog advises on how to deal with data loss – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“Leaders of organisations which lose personal data should think carefully before telling customers, employees or regulators of the incident, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said. New advice says that notification should have a clear purpose.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Security fears over fraud report – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in confidentiality, data protection, local government, news by sally

“Confidential information about security lapses in a council’s benefits section has been released – with passages that might help fraudsters highlighted.”

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BBC News, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Rome I – Should the UK opt in?’ consultation announced – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in EC law, news, treaties by sally

“The government has announced proposals designed to protect the interests of UK businesses operating in Europe.”

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Ministry of Justice, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Related link: ‘Rome I Should the UK opt in?’ consultation paper (PDF)

Schools named and shamed as crackdown launched to stop abuse of admissions law – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in education, news by sally

“Ministers launched a crackdown on schools covertly selecting pupils yesterday after government research confirmed that up to one in six schools could be breaking admissions laws. One north London school asked parents to commit to paying £895 a term when they applied, and another demanded £650.”

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Barristers snub MoJ’s revised high-cost cases contract – Legal Week

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in barristers, contracts, costs, legal aid, news by sally

“Barristers have snubbed a second opportunity to join the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) very high-cost criminal cases (VHCC) panel, with only 110 barristers out of the 2,300 to be offered contracts signing up to the panel.”

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Legal Week, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Terror plot jury could sit for six months – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in juries, news, terrorism by sally

“A jury panel has been warned they could have to sit for up to six months as the case began of eight men accused of trying to blow up transatlantic airliners.”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police criminalising young to hit targets, says charity – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in news, police, statistics, young offenders by sally

“A police drive aimed at thousands of low-level teenage offenders lies behind an apparent surge in youth crime figures, according to an analysis published today. Police figures suggest reported minor offences by young people soared by 38.9% from 2003-2006, and detected serious offences rose by 19%.”

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Faith in legal system vanishing, says judge – The Times

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Britain’s most senior judge spoke out yesterday against the early release of prisoners, which he said undermined confidence in the judicial system.”

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The Times, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sally Anne’s killer in appeal bid – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in appeals, murder, news by sally

“The man jailed for life for the murder of teenage model Sally Anne Bowman is appealing against his conviction, his lawyer has said.”

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BBC News, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New arrangements for governance, resourcing and operation of courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in HM Courts Service, news by sally

“The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice have made a joint statement on a new partnership for the operation of Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS).”

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Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Related link: Her Majesty’s Court Service Framework Document (PDF)

Cabinet split emerges over 42 day detention – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“The first signs of a high-level Cabinet split over proposals to extend suspects’ detention to 42 days emerged yesterday as the government faced criticism from Labour backbenchers. Gordon Brown has been counselled by senior colleagues that there is no real need to push ahead with the extension, adding to the pressure from leading figures in the judiciary, including the director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald.”

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The Guardian, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

80 prosecuted since smoking ban – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in news, prosecutions, smoking, Wales by sally

“Seventy nine people and one business have been prosecuted for flouting the smoking ban in the year since it was introduced in Wales, figures show.”

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BBC News, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coroner accuses Paul Burrell, Diana’s butler, of blindingly obvious deceit – The Times

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in inquests, news, royal family by sally

“Paul Burrell, the butler and self-styled ‘rock’ of Diana, Princess of Wales, was once a loyal servant of the Crown but ‘cashed in’ on his experience, the coroner said at her inquest yesterday.”

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The Times, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Email halts Diana inquest summing-up – The Independent

Posted April 1st, 2008 in inquests, news, royal family by sally

“The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales hit a last-minute glitch today, hours before it was due to conclude, after the discovery of potentially new evidence.”

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The Independent, 1st April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk