Category: public interest

Authors’ concerns after court rules writer can’t publish sex abuse memoir – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 17th, 2014 in appeals, child abuse, damages, freedom of expression, injunctions, misuse of private information, negligence, news, public interest, sexual offences by tracey

‘Leading authors have expressed their “grave concern” at a court ruling which has prevented a writer from publishing a book dealing with the sexual abuse he suffered as a child. The author’s ex-wife has obtained a temporary injunction stopping the memoir’s release until the issue has been decided at trial. She argued that reading it would cause their 11 year-old son, who suffers from a number of disabilities, severe psychological harm.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The need to reform whistleblowing laws – OUP Blog

Posted October 13th, 2014 in bills, disclosure, employment, employment tribunals, news, public interest, unfair dismissal, whistleblowers by sally

‘“Why didn’t anyone in the know say something about it?” That’s the natural reaction of the public when some shocking new scandal – financial wrongdoing, patient neglect, child abuse – comes to light. The question highlights the role of the whistleblower. He or she can play a vital role in ensuring that something is done about activity which is illegal or dangerous. But the price which the whistleblower pays may be high – ostracism by colleagues, victimisation by the employer, dismissal, informal blacklisting by other employers who fear taking on a “troublemaker”.’

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OUP Blog, 11th October 2014

Source: www.blog.oup.com

Bullied man uses video from sunglasses to mount private court case – The Guardian

Posted October 8th, 2014 in harassment, news, private prosecutions, public interest, public order, threatening behaviour, video recordings by sally

‘A student who gathered video evidence of himself being harassed and abused on a pair of specially adapted sunglasses has been allowed to carry out a private prosecution of his tormentor.’

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The Guardian, 7th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

European Convention on Human Rights: What has it ever done for us? – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2014 in armed forces, children, compensation, cross-examination, disabled persons, DNA, domestic violence, education, elderly, families, health, hospitals, human rights, jurisdiction, learning difficulties, libraries, local government, news, police, political parties, privacy, proportionality, public interest, rape, suicide, torture, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘As the Tories attempt to dilute the treaty’s authority in the UK, James Cusick takes a look at the difference it has made.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MP refers Sunday Mirror to police and press regulator over sex sting – The Guardian

Posted September 29th, 2014 in codes of practice, complaints, entrapment, inquiries, media, news, ombudsmen, parliament, police, privacy, public interest by tracey

‘One of the Conservative MPs who was contacted by a Sunday Mirror reporter posing as a woman interested in sex is to write to the Metropolitan police over the tabloid sting. Mark Pritchard said he would contact Scotland Yard and make a formal complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) over accusations of entrapment.’

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The Guardian, 29th September 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

When Is Whistleblowing in the Public Interest? – No. 5 Chambers

Posted September 25th, 2014 in appeals, employment tribunals, news, public interest, whistleblowers by sally

‘Jack Feeny explores the new law in relation to protected disclosures following the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 19th September 2014

Source: www.no5.com

Proposed Legislative Changes To Judicial Review: The Current Position – No. 5 Chambers

Posted September 24th, 2014 in bills, costs, criminal justice, human rights, judicial review, news, public interest by sally

‘The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which introduces significant changes to judicial review, is making rapid progress through Parliament. The House of Lords Committee stage completed on 30 July 2014 and all that remains now is the House of Lords report stage due at the end of October, with royal assent expected by the end of the year. Whilst there are indications that certain members of the Lords disagree with some of the provisions and some may yet be amended or frustrated, the current version of the Bill retains the significant provisions on judicial review.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 18th September 2014

Source: www.no5.com

Data protection and journalism – ICO publishes guidance – Panopticon

Posted September 8th, 2014 in codes of practice, confidentiality, data protection, disclosure, freedom of expression, interpretation, media, news, privacy, public interest by sally

‘The Information Commissioner has today published his keenly anticipated guidance on ‘Data Protection and Journalism: A Guide for the Media’. The guidance has been published following a lengthy consultative process and in response to a recommendation made in the Leveson report.’

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Panopticon, 4th September 2014

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Parents who lose objectivity – Education Law Blog

Posted September 1st, 2014 in anonymity, bullying, contracts, damages, fees, media, news, public interest, racism, school children by sally

‘It is not often that private law disputes between schools and parents are pursued to trial and judgment in the High Court, but St Christopher School (Letchworth) Ltd v Schymanski and Rao [2014] EWHC 2573 (QB) is one of those cases.’

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Education Law Blog, 28th August 2014

Source: www.education11kbw.com

What’s in store for family migrants after the Court of Appeal decision in MM? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 20th, 2014 in appeals, families, human rights, immigration, news, public interest, remuneration by tracey

‘Since 28 July the Home Office has resumed processing applications that were on hold pending the Court of Appeal decision in MM. In that case, the Court of Appeal held the minimum income threshold and associated documentary requirements set out in Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE to the Immigration Rules to be lawful.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 19th August 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Accountant’s reports safe from public exposure after FoI ruling – Legal Futures

Posted August 20th, 2014 in accountants, disclosure, documents, freedom of information, Law Society, news, public interest, Solicitors Regulation Authority by tracey

‘The Law Society’s freedom of information adjudicator has rejected a bid to open up public access to accountant’s reports submitted to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

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Legal Futures, 20th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

M v Times Newspapers Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Posted August 11th, 2014 in anonymity, child abuse, confidentiality, disclosure, freedom of expression, human rights, injunctions, law reports, media, privacy, public interest by sally

M v Times Newspapers Ltd and others [2014] EWCA Civ 1132; [2014] WLR (D) 371

‘The decision of a court to allow publication of a report which might lead to the identification of a person who had been arrested but not charged with any offence and was not a party to criminal proceedings would not be interfered with unless the court, in carrying out the evaluative exercise of balancing the competing public interest of freedom of expression in a report of court proceedings against the person’s right to private and family life, had erred in principle or reached a conclusion which was plainly wrong.’

WLR Daily, 1st August 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

RSPCA prosecute family over cat’s long hair – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 11th, 2014 in animal cruelty, charities, complaints, Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

‘Richard and Samantha Byrnes express their relief after the Crown Prosecution Service steps in and orders the RSPCA to halt an animal cruelty case against them.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Appeal court backs publication of arrest names – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 6th, 2014 in anonymity, appeals, disclosure, human rights, injunctions, media, news, privacy, public interest, sexual grooming, sexual offences, Supreme Court by sally

‘A man arrested but never charged over sexual offences has failed to persuade the Court of Appeal that newspapers should be barred from identifying him.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th August 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Regina (Maries) v Merton London Borough Council – WLR Daily

Posted August 4th, 2014 in appeals, appropriation, judicial review, law reports, local government, public interest by sally

Regina (Maries) v Merton London Borough Council [2014] EWHC 2689 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 357

‘In exercising the power to appropriate land under section 122(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, the statutory question that had to be determined was whether the land remained, or was no longer, required for a particular purpose, meaning no longer needed in the public interest of the locality for that purpose. That was a question for the local authority and not the court, subject to principles of Wednesbury reasonableness.’

WLR Daily, 31st August 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

The death of privacy – The Guardian

Posted August 4th, 2014 in bills, data protection, electronic mail, freedom of expression, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, media, news, police, privacy, public interest, telecommunications by sally

‘Google knows what you’re looking for. Facebook knows what you like. Sharing is the norm, and secrecy is out. But what is the psychological and cultural fallout from the end of privacy?’

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The Guardian, 3rd August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Serious procedural faults in the appointment of judges: an urgent matter of public interest – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted July 9th, 2014 in judiciary, news, professional conduct, public interest by sally

‘As part of the current debate on identifying the best values of British culture and society, the proper workings of the British legal system, would surely have to occupy a prominent place. After all, it is the judiciary that would enhance the sense of wellbeing of its citizen every time that justice is felt to have been established.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 9th July 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Met must respond to spy allegations in undercover police case, court rules – The Guardian

Posted July 2nd, 2014 in compensation, damages, disclosure, environmental protection, news, police, psychiatric damage, public interest, women by sally

‘The Metropolitan police cannot use its policy of “neither confirm nor deny” in response to damages claims brought by women who claim they were tricked into forming relationships with undercover officers.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

You cannot be serious! Peers call ‘out’ on Government’s judicial review reforms – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 2nd, 2014 in bills, consultations, costs, disclosure, judicial review, judiciary, news, parliament, protective costs orders, public interest, rule of law by sally

‘Last night saw the House of Lords’ first reaction to the Government’s proposed changes to judicial review as the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill had its second reading. Already dissected at some length in this blog, the proposals have been roundly criticised by both the senior judiciary and the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Consultations responses, including from JUSTICE, expressed concern that the measures appear, by design or coincidence, to undermine the rule of law, inhibit transparency and shield the Government from judicial scrutiny. Two key concerns arise from the Government proposals: restricting access for individuals without substantial means and limiting the courts’ discretion to do justice in the public interest. Yesterday’s debate was robust and eloquent, with former Law Lords joined by bishops and backbenchers alike to condemn the new measures.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st July 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Phone hacking: it was right to charge Rebekah Brooks, says Keir Starmer – The Guardian

Posted June 30th, 2014 in conspiracy, Crown Prosecution Service, interception, media, news, privacy, professional conduct, prosecutions, public interest, telecommunications by sally

‘Prosecutors were right to charge Rebekah Brooks and other News of the World executives over conspiracy to hack phones as the trials have helped determine who knew about widespread malpractice at the newspaper, Sir Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions, has said.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk