Rights body threatens to bring legal challenge on 42-day detention – The Guardian

Posted June 10th, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“The government’s human rights watchdog last night served notice that it will immediately launch a legal challenge to the government’s plan to extend the pre-charge detention limit to 42 days if it reaches the statute book. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, chaired by Trevor Phillips, backed its claim by publishing legal advice from Matrix Chambers that the extended limit would violate the European convention on human rights.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith hits out over 42-day terror plans – The Times

Posted June 10th, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“Tony Blair’s Attorney-General has given warning that ministers’ safeguards for detaining suspects for up to 42 days have failed to make the proposals acceptable.”

Full story

The Times, 10th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bar Council Constitution – The Bar Council

Posted June 9th, 2008 in barristers, news by sally

“The Bar Council’s Constitution is under review. The changes are be discussed at the forthcoming Bar Council meeting and at the AGM. For ease of reference, the proposed changes are marked as track changes. Any comments should be submitted to Andrew Hill.”

Proposed changes (Word)

The Bar Council, 9th June 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Legal Services Reform Update – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 9th, 2008 in complaints, legal services, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Legal Services Act was given Royal Assent on 30 October 2007. The Legal Services Reform Programme was established to oversee the implementation of two of the key proposals in the Act – the establishment of the Legal Services Board and the Office for Legal Complaints.

This update sets out the latest position in the implementation timetable.”

Legal Services Reform Update (PDF)

Ministry of Justice, 9th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Law Reform, Victims and Witnesses Bill – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 9th, 2008 in bills, criminal justice, news, victims, witnesses by sally

“The Law Reform, Victims and Witnesses Bill aims to deliver a more effective, transparent and responsive justice system for victims, witnesses and the wider public.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 9th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Online legal scheme threatens high street – The Lawyer

Posted June 9th, 2008 in internet, legal services, news, solicitors by sally

“Hugh James, Nelsons and Pannone have signed up to a post-Legal Services Act internet trading scheme called MyLawyer.co.uk that could challenge the position of the high street solicitor.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 9th June 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Jill Dando murder: Barry George faces retrial – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 9th, 2008 in murder, news, retrials by sally

“A man obsessed with female television celebrities and guns murdered Jill Dando nine years ago, the Old Bailey heard today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ex-employee must disclose online contacts, rules UK court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 9th, 2008 in confidentiality, disclosure, news by sally

“An ex-employee of recruitment firm Hays has been ordered to disclose details of his profile at social networking site LinkedIn. Mark Ions set up a rival agency and is accused of using LinkedIn to steal clients. He says Hays encouraged his use of the site.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 9th June 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Briton sues over deportation as failed asylum seeker – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2008 in asylum, deportation, false imprisonment, news by sally

“A 30-year-old British citizen with schizophrenia was taken into custody and flown by immigration officers to a foreign country where he had no connections and was allegedly beaten up because he could not speak the language and could not make himself heard.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Disaster’ planning law opposed – BBC News

Posted June 9th, 2008 in environmental protection, news, planning by sally

“Environmental groups are campaigning against planning laws they claim will lead to ‘faceless bureaucrats’ taking decisions on major projects.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court pressed for early hearing on Rock shareholders’ battle with Treasury – The Times

Posted June 9th, 2008 in banking, nationalisation, news by sally

“The Government has called for an early hearing of the court case in which Northern Rock shareholders are suing the Treasury over the nationalisation of the bank, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 7th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Revealed: how drugs trade took hold of British prisons – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2008 in drug trafficking, news, prisons by sally

“The government says it’s under control but a devastating new report reveals that a sophisticated new drugs trade is flooding British prisons with record levels of cocaine, cannabis and even heroin. In many cases it’s aided and abetted by corrupt prison guards. Jamie Doward reports.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Almost 70,000 criminal suspects fail to answer bail – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 9th, 2008 in bail, news by sally

“More than 67,000 criminal suspects fail to answer bail every year, new figures have disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Reader’s Digest mailshot probed – BBC News

Posted June 9th, 2008 in advertising, consumer protection, news by sally

“The Advertising Standards Authority is launching an investigation into a mailshot being sent by the bookselling company, Reader’s Digest.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Virgin warns illegal downloaders: stop or face prosecution – The Independent

Posted June 9th, 2008 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“The age of illegal music downloads could soon be over. The UK’s largest provider of home broadband is to warn internet users building up vast libraries of music that they could be prosecuted.”

Full story

The Independent, 7th June 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Despicable’ delay over 7 July terror payouts – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2008 in criminal injuries compensation, delay, news by sally

“Scores of victims horrifically injured in the 7 July London bombings are still waiting for full compensation almost three years after the attacks.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gordon Brown set to lose on 42-day detention – The Times

Posted June 9th, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“Gordon Brown’s chances of avoiding a humiliating defeat in the Commons this week dwindled after he effectively ruled out any more significant changes to proposals to detain terror suspects for 42 days without charge.”

Full story

The Times, 9th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Solicitor Jim Beresford makes £30m from sick miners’ compensation scheme – The Times

Posted June 9th, 2008 in compensation, industrial injuries, miners, news, solicitors by sally

“A solicitor who specialises in claiming compensation for sick coalminers has banked a personal profit of more than £30 million from the government-funded scheme.”

Full story

The Times, 9th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Fraudsters hack into Home Office website – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 9th, 2008 in computer crime, government departments, news by sally

“Cunning computer hackers have hijacked the Home Office crime reduction website and used it to carry out an elaborate online scam.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Repossessions swamp free lawyers – BBC News

Posted June 9th, 2008 in news, pro bono work, repossession by sally

“Homeowners threatened with repossession are being denied free legal advice because lawyers who provide it are being swamped, says a charity.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk