Divorcees may have assets taken to fund an ex-spouse’s debts – The Times

Posted May 10th, 2007 in bankruptcy, divorce, news by sally

“Thousands of divorcees risk seeing their assets plundered to meet their former spouses’ debts after a landmark ruling that they are no longer protected from his or her creditors when they split.”

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The Times, 10th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judges are told to cut jail terms for thieves – The Times

Posted May 10th, 2007 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Thousands of petty criminals and thieves will avoid jail under Government plans proposed yesterday to ease the overcrowding crisis engulfing prisons.”

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The Times, 10th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lords backs Bar Council on latest Bill amendments – Legal Week

Posted May 9th, 2007 in complaints, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“The Bar Council has scored another victory in the House of Lords after peers yesterday (8 May) voted in favour of two further amendments to the Legal Services Bill.”

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Legal Week, 9th May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

MoJ criticised on first day of opening – The Lawyer

Posted May 9th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Criticism has been thrown at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) within hours of it opening its doors for the first time today (9 May).”

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The Lawyer, 9th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Single mother launches CSA test case – The Times

Posted May 9th, 2007 in child support, news by sally

“A single mother who blames the loss of her home on the incompetence of the Child Support Agency (CSA) brought a test compensation claim yesterday that could affect thousands of families.”

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The Times, 9th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The new Home Office: Protecting the public, securing our future – Home Office

Posted May 9th, 2007 in government departments, news by sally

“The division of the Home Office culminates an extraordinary programme of reform and change initiated by Home Secretary John Reid shortly after he took over running the department last year.”

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Home Office, 9th May 2007

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Clerks back CPD but shun pupil pay – The Lawyer

Posted May 9th, 2007 in barristers' clerks, news by sally

“The recent Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC) conference placed education at the top of the agenda as clerks look to increase professionalism.”

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The Lawyer, 8th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Barristers enticed to take English common law expertise overseas – The Lawyer

Posted May 9th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“Three of England’s high-profile barristers have decided to make the move to British Overseas Territories within the past month.”

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The Lawyer, 8th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Justice ministry faces jails crisis as Home Office splits in two – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2007 in government departments, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by sally

“Britain’s first Ministry of Justice emerges today out of the rubble of the “not fit for purpose” Home Office to face a mounting prison crisis with prisoner numbers in England and Wales hitting a new record.”

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The Guardian, 9th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government unit saves 11-year-old from forced marriage in Dhaka – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2007 in Bangladesh, forced marriages, news by sally

“The government’s forced marriage unit has rescued an 11-year-old British girl whose parents married her to a Bangladeshi man in Dhaka, it has emerged.”

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The Guardian, 9th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New rules on terror leaks urged – BBC News

Posted May 9th, 2007 in civil servants, news, police, terrorism by sally

“Officials and police should be subject to new rules covering media briefings on anti-terrorism investigations, human rights organisation Liberty has said.” 

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BBC News, 8th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Restructured Home Office splits – BBC News

Posted May 9th, 2007 in government departments, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“A restructured Home Office is to begin operating, with the Ministry of Justice taking control of prisons, probation and sentencing.” 

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BBC News, 8th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Indefinite jail terms forecast to treble in the next five years – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in news, sentencing by sally

“An explosion in the use by the courts of a new indeterminate sentence is predicted to nearly treble the number of prisoners serving an indefinite term in jail to a ‘crisis’ level of 25,000 in five years.”

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The Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Softer line on crime vetoed as jails fill up – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“A package of measures to head off a summer prison overcrowding crisis, including abolishing the option of custody for shoplifting offences, has been vetoed by Tony Blair, The Times has learnt.”

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The Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Teachers backed over Muslim wear – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2007 in education, human rights, Islam, news by sally

“Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer will tell headteachers common sense decisions stopping Muslim pupils wearing Islamic dress would not breach human rights.”

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BBC News, 6th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK justice ministry set for launch – Financial Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The official launch on Wednesday of a newly titled Ministry of Justice as part of the biggest reform of the Home Office in decades will mark the final Whitehall shake-up of the Blair premiership.”

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Financial Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.ft.com

How the law turns desperate people into criminals – The Independent

Posted May 8th, 2007 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“British courts regard euthanasia as murder and can impose a penalty of life imprisonment. Helping someone to commit suicide is also a criminal offence, punishable with a maximum 14-year jail sentence.”

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The Independent, 8th May 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office rejects jail corruption squads – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 8th, 2007 in corruption, news, prison officers by sally

“Proposals for a powerful anti-corruption unit to tackle widespread bribe-taking by prison officers have been rejected by the Home Office.”

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Daily Telegraph, 7th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judges ‘may be forced into lighter sentences’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 8th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news, sentencing by sally

“Criminals may receive lighter sentences as the result of a new ministry being launched tomorrow, according to England’s most senior judge.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

3,000 ‘freed early’ to ease prison crowding – The Observer

Posted May 8th, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“The government is considering plans for the early release of up to 3,000 prisoners, after being told by senior members of the judiciary and Prison Service that there is no more room in Britain’s overflowing jails. The news is likely to prompt fresh criticism that ministers failed to anticipate the overcrowding crisis.”

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The Observer, 6th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk