Judges seek to retain sentencing powers in prisons crisis – The Guardian

Posted May 14th, 2007 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“The new justice secretary, Lord Falconer, is under pressure to find a solution to the prison overcrowding crisis without threatening judicial independence by leaning on judges to pass lighter sentences.”

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The Guardian, 14th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Doctors seek judicial review on job selection – The Guardian

Posted May 14th, 2007 in doctors, judicial review, news by sally

“Junior doctors will this week take the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, to court in a final attempt to stop a job selection process she admits “has simply not worked”. Remedy UK, an organisation representing 10,000 young doctors, is seeking a judicial review that would mean all training posts granted under the discredited system would only last for a year, allowing for a fairer system to be introduced in six months.”

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The Guardian, 14th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

One night in the court cells costs as much as a Ritz suite – The Independent

Posted May 14th, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“Prisoners are being held in court cells that cost more per night than a suite at the Ritz it emerged as ministers were accused of an ‘absurd waste of money’.”

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The Independent, 14th May 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Online communities face money-laundering – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 14th, 2007 in money laundering, news by sally

“Anti-Fraud experts are calling on the Government to start regulating virtual online communities amid fears that criminals and terrorists could use them to launder money.”

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Daily Telegraph, 14th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police back new law on killer dogs – The Observer

Posted May 14th, 2007 in dogs, news by sally

“One of Britain’s most senior police officers has demanded a change to the law on dangerous dogs so that children are better protected.”

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The Observer, 13th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Call for witnesses to be filmed – BBC News

Posted May 14th, 2007 in news, witnesses by sally

“The head of criminal justice for the judiciary in England and Wales has called for witnesses to be filmed when they testify in court.” 

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BBC News, 12th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gambler tried to sell his kidney online – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 14th, 2007 in human tissue, news by sally

“A gambler who touted one of his kidneys over the internet to pay off his debts has today walked free from court.”

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Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prison sell-off may fund village jail plan – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 14th, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“Britain’s large Victorian prisons could be sold off and replaced with dozens of small specialist units under plans being drawn up by the Government.”

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Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police ‘escape justice’ in Menezes death inquiry – The Independent

Posted May 14th, 2007 in news, police by sally

“Eleven police officers involved in the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian electrician shot after being mistaken for a terrorist, will not face any disciplinary action.”

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The Independent, 12th May 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Billionaire gambler sued by Iran in UK court – The Times

Posted May 14th, 2007 in news by sally

“A billionaire trader who is one of the world’s most prolific gamblers has won a £60m High Court battle with the Iranian military over a missing aeroplane.”

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The Times, 11th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Accidents banished from Highway Code – The Times

Posted May 14th, 2007 in news, road safety by sally

“The word ‘accident’ is to be banned from the new edition of the Highway Code in an attempt to persuade drivers and police that someone is almost always to blame for a death or injury on the roads.”

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The Times, 12th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Changes to domestic violence laws may backfire – The Times

Posted May 11th, 2007 in domestic violence, news by sally

“Domestic violence has the highest repeat rate of any crime. It is not limited to any particular class, creed or gender. So how should we deal with it? Following its consultation paper “Safety and Justice”, the Government has decided that the best way of tackling this growing – and largely unreported – problem is to criminalise it further.”

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The Times, 10th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Justice protest heats up with court demos – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 11th, 2007 in legal aid, news by sally

“The Access to Justice Alliance (AJA) will next week step up opposition to the government’s proposed civil legal aid reforms with a week of action, including protests outside courts.” 

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th May 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Jail at last for rapist cleared by sleeping judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 11th, 2007 in judges, news, rape by sally

“A man who was cleared of rape after a complaint that a judge fell asleep at his trial later raped two other young women, a court heard.”

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Daily Telegraph, 11th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ex-wives face loss of settlements in bankruptcy – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 11th, 2007 in bankruptcy, divorce, news by sally

“Former wives risk losing their financial settlements if their ex-husbands are made bankrupt within five years of a divorce, the High Court has ruled.”

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Daily Telegraph, 11th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Men who tried to leak Bush memo jailed – The Independent

Posted May 11th, 2007 in Iraq, news, official secrets act by sally

“A civil servant and an MP’s researcher were jailed for disclosing the contents of a secret memo recording discussions between Tony Blair and George Bush about the war in Iraq.”

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The Independent, 11th May 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cost of national ID card scheme soars by £840m in six months – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2007 in identity cards, news by sally

“The official cost of the controversial national identity card scheme has soared in the past six months by £840m, according to Home Office figures published yesterday. It means the total cost of the project is now £5.75bn.”

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The Guardian, 11th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police officers in the clear over Tube shooting – The Times

Posted May 11th, 2007 in news, police by sally

“Police watchdogs have cleared Scotland Yard officers of any disciplinary offence over the Stockwell shooting but the senior woman in charge could still face action.”

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The Times, 11th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Court gives up on ‘speeding’ driver who kicked up too much of a fuss – The Times

Posted May 11th, 2007 in news, road traffic offences by sally

“A motorist accused of driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone has had the case against him dropped after the prosecution decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.”

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The Times, 11th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lawyers unite to preserve compensation scheme – The Times

Posted May 10th, 2007 in compensation, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

“Seven firms of solicitors joined together today to launch a High Court challenge to the abolition of a discretionary compensation scheme for victims of miscarriages of justice.”

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The Times, 10th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk