Cost of prisoners underestimated by third – Reuters

Posted May 21st, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“The financial cost to the country of imprisonment has been underestimated by a third, a report said on Monday.”

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Reuters, 21st May 2007

Source: www.reuters.com

Related link: Poverty and disadvantage among prisoners’ families (PDF)

Lords defeat expected over home information packs – The Guardian

Posted May 21st, 2007 in home information packs, news by sally

“Ministers are facing fresh turmoil over the introduction of home information packs for house sellers, amid indications that Tory and Lib Dem peers will lead a successful revolt against the measure next Tuesday in the Lords.”

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The Guardian, 19th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crime boss must pay £4.7m costs – BBC News

Posted May 21st, 2007 in legal aid, news by sally

“Jailed crime boss Terry Adams has been ordered to pay back nearly £5m in legal aid he was awarded to defend himself.” 

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BBC News, 18th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Toddler goading sentences to stay – BBC News

Posted May 21st, 2007 in child abuse, news, sentencing by sally

“The Attorney General has said the sentencing of four women who filmed two toddlers fighting will not be referred to the Court of Appeal.” 

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BBC News, 18th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lords to shame MPs over secrecy bill – The Observer

Posted May 21st, 2007 in freedom of information, news, parliament by sally

“Members of Parliament who voted to remove themselves from anti-secrecy laws are to be ‘put to shame’ by peers gearing up to block a similar move for the House of Lords.”

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The Observer, 20th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BA faces prospect of multiple lawsuits – The Times

Posted May 18th, 2007 in competition, news by sally

“British Airways’ admission that there have been ‘breaches of its competition policy’ – a legalistic way of owning up to having cheated on ticket prices – opens the airline up to the potential for multiple lawsuits.”

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The Times, 18th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

MPs make themselves exempt from FOI – The Times

Posted May 18th, 2007 in freedom of information, news, parliament by sally

“A move to exempt Parliament from freedom of information law has been approved by MPs after attempts to block it in the Commons failed.”

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The Times, 18th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Legal aid reforms will put civil liberty work ‘at risk’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 18th, 2007 in legal aid, news by sally

“Proposed reforms to legal aid will destroy specialist civil liberties teams, practitioners have warned.” 

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Commercial bench feels squeeze – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 18th, 2007 in Commercial Court, news by sally

“The Commercial Court is under pressure because of the number of judges needed to hear criminal cases – and terrorist trials in particular.” 

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Related links: Report of the Commercial Court and Admiralty Court, 2005-2006 (PDF)

Bank charge firms under spotlight – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2007 in banking, fees, news by sally

“Regulators are investigating the tactics of ‘no win, no fee’ firms that specialise in recovering bank penalty charges, the BBC has learned.” 

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BBC News, 18th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Human-animal embryos get go-ahead – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2007 in embryology, news by sally

“Plans to outlaw the creation of ‘human-animal’ embryos are set to be scrapped by ministers amid fears that an outright ban would hamper work on incurable diseases and damage British science.”

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The Guardian, 18th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court bid to block casino plans – BBC News

Posted May 17th, 2007 in gambling, news by sally

“An attempt to block the government’s plans for a new super-casino has been launched at the High Court in London.”

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BBC News, 17th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Reforms will not stop another Shipman, pathologist warns – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2007 in coroners, news by sally

“A pathologist involved in the Harold Shipman murder case today launched a stinging attack on the government’s proposed reforms to the coroner system, claiming they will do nothing to prevent another such killer.”

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The Guardian, 17th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court restores control order on terror suspect – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2007 in control orders, news, terrorism by sally

“A control order which places severe curbs on a major terrorist suspect must remain in place, the court of appeal ruled today in a victory for the home secretary, John Reid.”

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The Guardian, 17th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Britain’s top barristers form breakaway chambers – Daily Mail

Posted May 17th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“Some of Britain’s highest-paid criminal barristers, who have defended a host of notorious figures, have formed a breakaway chambers.”

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The Daily Mail, 16th May 2007

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Senior judges refuse to back Ministry of Justice – Legal Week

Posted May 17th, 2007 in judges, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The judiciary has refused to give its full backing to the Government’s controversial new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) after senior judges failed to reach an agreement at a specially-convened meeting yesterday (15 May).”

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Legal Week, 16th May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

“Web site” baffles Internet terrorism trial judge – Reuters

Posted May 17th, 2007 in computer crime, judges, news, terrorism by sally

“A judge admitted on Wednesday he was struggling to cope with basic terms like “Web site” in the trial of three men accused of inciting terrorism via the Internet.”

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Reuters, 16th May 2007

Source: www.reuters.com

Related link: Statement from the Judicial Communications Office: Mr Justice Openshaw

Police may get power to evict bad neighbours – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2007 in news, police by sally

“Civil liberties and homelessness campaigners last night sharply criticised plans to give the police powers to ‘shut and seal’ all premises, including flats, pubs and clubs, generating yobbish behaviour.”

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The Guardian, 17th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers face more trouble over home seller packs in Lords – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2007 in home information packs, news by sally

“The government’s travails over the introduction of the controversial home information packs (Hips) continued yesterday, despite its defeat of a last-minute Conservative motion calling for them to be dumped. Opposition peers are hopeful they are on course to defeat the government in a separate House of Lords vote next Tuesday, although the motion will not kill the proposals.”

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The Guardian, 17th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fathers to be given six months’ paid paternity leave – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 17th, 2007 in news, paternity leave by sally

Fathers will be allowed to take six months’ paid paternity leave instead of mothers under new Government proposals. The law will not come into effect until maternity cover is extended to 12 months, which will happen in April 2009 at the earliest.

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th May 2007

Source: www.out-law.com