Privacy watchdog calls for power to carry out spot checks – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2007 in data protection, news, privacy by sally

“Richard Thomas, the information commissioner, described yesterday’s breach of the privacy of millions of families as ‘shocking’ and called on government to give him powers to mount unannounced spot checks on public and private bodies that hold large amounts of data.”

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The Guardian, 21st November 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk 

Coroner may contest Diana ruling – BBC News

Posted November 21st, 2007 in evidence, inquests, news by sally

“The coroner in the Princess Diana inquest has said he may appeal against a ruling blocking the use of statements from paparazzi who refuse to attend.”

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BBC News, 20th November 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Four killed unlawfully in ‘preventable’ Iraq terror attack, coroner rules – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2007 in armed forces, inquests, Iraq, news by sally

” … four British military personnel were unlawfully killed in Iraq when insurgents blew up their boat with a remote-controlled bomb, a coroner ruled today.”

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The Guardian, 20th November 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk 

Government appeals ruling on indeterminate sentences – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2007 in dangerous offenders, news, sentencing by sally

“The government launched an appeal today against high court rulings which could force it to free dozens of prisoners who were detained for public protection because they were considered dangerous.”

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The Guardian, 20th November 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk 

New data protection law ‘urgently needed’ – The Times

Posted November 21st, 2007 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“Security experts called for an urgent review of the law following the loss of the personal information of 25 million Britons by HM Revenue & Customs.”

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The Times, 21st November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk 

25 million exposed to risk of ID fraud – The Times

Posted November 21st, 2007 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“The sensitive personal details of 25 million Britons could have fallen into the hands of identity fraudsters after a government agency lost the entire child benefit database in the post.”

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The Times, 21st November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk 

Personal data is not a bar to FOI disclosure, rules European court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 21st, 2007 in EC law, freedom of information, news, privacy by sally

“Documents containing personal data cannot be withheld under EU freedom of information laws if the disclosure of the data does not undermine the privacy of the persons named, according to a ruling by the European Court of First Instance.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th November 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Civil cases surge 25% to post-Woolf high – Legal Week

Posted November 21st, 2007 in courts, news, statistics by sally

“The number of civil cases launched in the High Court has jumped by 25% in a year – reaching its highest level since the advent of the Woolf Reforms in 1999.”

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Legal Week, 20th November 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Britain’s illegal drugs trade worth £8bn a year – The Independent

Posted November 21st, 2007 in drug trafficking, news by sally

“Britain’s illegal drugs trade is worth up to £8bn a year, a Home Office report has revealed.”

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The Independent, 21st November 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior UK constable resigns amid inquiry – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2007 in news by sally

“One of Britain’s most senior police officers was ‘pensioned off’ early over claims that a personal friendship had ‘got out of hand’, it has been disclosed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

£25,000 for soldier told to “act like a psycho” – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2007 in armed forces, compensation, news, personal injuries by sally

“A soldier has been awarded £25,000 from the Ministry of Defence after suffering an injury when he was told to ‘act like a psycho’ during a training exercise.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police chiefs want cannabis re-classified – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2007 in drug offences, news by sally

“Police chiefs have come out in support of reclassifying cannabis as a Class B drug just three years after they supported the controversial Government decision to downgrade it legally to a less serious Class C substance.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man broke girlfriend’s leg in damages fraud – The Times

Posted November 21st, 2007 in grievous bodily harm, news, personal injuries by sally

“A man deliberately broke his girlfriend’s leg as part of a £100,000 compensation swindle and was caught only because he filmed the incident on his mobile phone.”

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The Times, 21st November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Fifth bomber in failed July 21 plot sentenced to 33 years – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2007 in conspiracy, news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

“The ‘reluctant’ fifth bomber in the failed July 21 suicide attacks on London was jailed yesterday for 33 years.”

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The Guardian, 21st November 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Widow, 88, faces arrest warrant over death of Polish hero – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2007 in extradition, news, perverting the course of justice, Poland by sally

“An 88-year-old Polish widow living in Britain is facing extradition to her home country and 10 years in jail for her alleged part in the killing of a Polish national hero who led the country’s anti-Nazi resistance in the second world war.”

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The Guardian, 21st November 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Grace and favour showdown looms as Speaker fights for pension perk – The Times

Posted November 20th, 2007 in news, parliament, pensions by sally

“Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons, is fighting an attempt by Gordon Brown to scrap the ‘grace and favour’ pension that comes with his job, The Times has learnt.”

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The Times, 20th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Mascot is too white, male and blond…so Met introduces the PC PCs – The Times

Posted November 20th, 2007 in minorities, news, police by sally

“Scotland Yard is spending £15,000 on ethnically diverse police mascots after complaints that PCSO Steve, its current rubber representative, is too white, too male, and too blond.”

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The Times, 20th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Inquiry clears heart hospital over deaths – The Guardian

Posted November 20th, 2007 in hospitals, news by sally

“Heart transplants have been allowed to resume at one of the UK’s specialist hospitals following an investigation into a rise in the number of patient deaths, the Healthcare Commission said today.”

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The Guardian, 20th November 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More companies head to court as economy worsens – The Times

Posted November 20th, 2007 in Commercial Court, news by sally

“The Woolf reforms are facing their first ‘economic stress test’ as commercial court cases rise for the first time in six years.”

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The Times, 19th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Counter-terrorism officials rethink stance on Muslims – The Guardian

Posted November 20th, 2007 in Islam, news, terrorism by sally

“Counter-terrorism officials are rethinking their approach to tackling the radicalisation of Muslim youth, abandoning what they admit has been offensive and inappropriate language. They say the term ‘war on terror’ will no longer be heard from ministers. Instead, they will use less emotive language, emphasising the criminal nature of the plots and conspiracies. The government in future, they add, will talk of a ‘struggle’ against extremist ideology, rather than a ‘battle’.”

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The Guardian, 20th Novemeber 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk