Ministers defy judges on rape law reforms – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2007 in news, rape by sally

“The government is to press ahead with plans to reform the rape laws in an attempt to increase the low conviction rate, despite strong opposition from the judges who will have to put them into effect, the Guardian has learned.”

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The Guardian, 18th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mental care bill back to Commons – BBC News

Posted June 18th, 2007 in mental health, news by sally

“The government will agin try to push through powers to detain mentally ill people in England and Wales who have not committed crimes.” 

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BBC News, 17th June 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barristers find treats bring in briefs – The Times

Posted June 18th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“Lavish parties, trips to the races and seats at Wimbledon have become common ploys by barristers seeking to woo solicitors and companies into giving them briefs, a report has found.”

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The Times, 18th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Fathers “unknown” should be fined, think tank says – Reuters

Posted June 18th, 2007 in birth certificates, news, paternity by sally

“Fathers who fail to register their name on their child’s birth certificates should be fined, a think tank said on Saturday.”

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Reuters, 16th June 2007

Source: www.reuters.com

Judge warns of rift on anti-terrorism laws – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 18th, 2007 in news, terrorism by sally

“A ‘disastrous’ rift exists between the Government and the judiciary over anti-terrorism laws, a senior High Court judge has warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Concern over new power of attorney laws – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 18th, 2007 in mental health, news, powers of attorney by sally

“Making arrangements to obtain legal authority to deal with the financial affairs of a loved one suffering from mental incapacity will become much more complicated following a change in the law later this year, a leading solicitor said yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cleared of killing TV presenter … after five trials – The Independent

Posted June 18th, 2007 in murder, news by sally

“One of Britain’s longest- running murder cases ended yesterday after five trials and two appeals with the acquittal of two men who faced charges of killing the television presenter Mark Levy.”

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The Independent, 16th June 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Woolf denies BAE review is knee jerk reaction to US investigation – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2007 in corruption, fraud, news, Saudi Arabia by sally

“Lord Woolf, the former lord chief justice of England and Wales, yesterday defended his £6,000 a day role as chairman of an independent committee set up to review arms maker BAE Systems’ business ethics, pledging a vigorous inquiry and dismissing any suggestion he had been appointed as ‘window dressing’.”

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The Guardina, 16th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Special units to crack down on honour killing – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2007 in domestic violence, forced marriages, news by sally

“Dedicated teams of senior prosecutors are to be deployed in the UK’s honour killing hotspots in the wake of the failings exposed this week by the case of a young Kurdish woman murdered by her family.”

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The Guardian, 16th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Four top litigators launch mediation chambers – Legal Week

Posted June 15th, 2007 in barristers, dispute resolution, news by sally

“Four senior mediators have launched a dispute resolution chambers as the battle to capture work outside of the courtroom continues.”

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Legal Week, 15th June 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Is Manchester Cathedral the right place for a moral debate over IP? – The Times

Posted June 15th, 2007 in intellectual property, news by sally

“Faith is the Church of England’s stock in trade. But the C of E’s recourse last week to copyright in its ‘gunfight’ battle with Sony epitomises a particular kind of faith – in the power of intellectual property (IP) laws. Clearly the Church is banking on the law’s capacity to deal with moral or societal issues, at least where a private or institutional interest is directly challenged.”

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The Times, 15th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

UK welcomes German proposals on EU constitution – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2007 in EC law, news by sally

“The government today welcomed German plans to break the logjam over a new European treaty that would drop the contentious ‘constitution’ label.”

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The Guardian, 15th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Parents given say in smacking law review – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2007 in child abuse, corporal punishment, news by sally

“Parents are to be invited to share their views on smacking as part of a review of changes to the law introduced to crack down on violence against children.”

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The Guardian, 15th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jails just 481 places away from reaching bursting point – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“The number of prisoners in England and Wales has risen to a record high of almost 81,000, the Prison Service said today.”

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The Guardian, 15th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council to investigate ‘of counsel’ title use by non-advocate solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 15th, 2007 in barristers, news, solicitors by sally

“The Bar Council is to consider the use of the term ‘of counsel’ by non-advocate solicitors after barristers expressed concern over its use, the Gazette can reveal.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th June 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

DNA records of children under 10 are on national database – The Times

Posted June 15th, 2007 in children, DNA, news by sally

“The DNA fingerprints of more than 100 children aged under 10 are on the national database, even though the youngsters are under the age of criminal responsibility, it was revealed last night.”

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The Times, 15th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Elderly ‘must get new rights to protect them from culture of abuse’ – The Times

Posted June 15th, 2007 in elderly, news by sally

“Elderly people must have the same legal safeguards as children, experts said yesterday after research found that almost 350,000 pensioners were abused in their own homes by carers last year.” 

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The Times, 15th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

De Menezes inquest delay ruling upheld – Reuters

Posted June 15th, 2007 in inquests, news, police by sally

“Senior judges have upheld a decision to delay the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian shot dead on a London train by police who believed he was a suicide bomber.”

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Reuters, 15th June 2007

Source: www.reuters.com

Prisoners paid £2.5m compensation – BBC News

Posted June 15th, 2007 in compensation, news, prisons by sally

“The Prison Service paid £2.5 in compensation to prisoners in England and Wales last year, figures show.” 

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BBC News, 15th June 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Four who faced deportation over serious crimes go missing – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2007 in deportation, news by sally

“Four prisoners who were facing deportation after finishing sentences for serious crimes have gone missing, immigration officials admitted yesterday.”

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The Guardian, 15th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk