Category: public interest

Prince Charles and the curious case of the Black Spider Letters – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 24th, 2012 in constitutional law, freedom of information, news, public interest, royal family, tribunals by sally

“Litigation relating to information rights can sometimes seem very dry and obscure, entailing lengthy analysis of the merits of public authorities disclosing or withholding information which is highly specialised or obtuse, and of little real interest to the general population. But this case – the case of the ‘Black Spider Letters’ – really is a fascinating one, involving an examination not just of the legislative provisions relating to the disclosure of information, but also a consideration of the existence and extent of constitutional conventions pertaining to the role of the monarchy in government. At the same time, it has the potential to generate such controversy as to make for perfect tabloid fodder. It has been the subject of international news coverage. And it’s not over yet.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd October

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Azelle Rodney Inquiry lawyers can see surveillance film footage – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 17th, 2012 in disclosure, evidence, homicide, inquiries, news, police, public interest, public interest immunity, video recordings by sally

“R (on the application of the Metropolitan Police Service) v the Chairman of the Inquiry into the Death of Azelle Rodney and Interested Parties [2012] EWHA 2783 (Admin).

The public inquiry into the death of Azelle Rodney, which commenced in 2010, was still under way when it was interrupted by the present dispute. It concerned the issue whether police surveillance footage taken from the air, showing Azelle Rodney’s movements in the two hours before his death, should be disclosed to the legal team representing his mother at the Inquiry.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

New report heavily critical of secret justice plans ahead of controversial Bill – Amnesty International

Posted October 15th, 2012 in bills, closed material, disclosure, human rights, public interest, reports, trials by sally

“The government’s plans for a substantial extension of the use of secret evidence in the justice system have been heavily criticised in a new Amnesty International report published today”

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Full report

Amnesty International, 15th October 2012

Source: www.amnesty.org.uk

 

 

Scientists to get extra protection from libel – The Independent

Posted October 12th, 2012 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Scientists and academics are to be given extra protection from bullying corporations that use Britain’s libel laws to suppress legitimate criticism and debate, the Government has indicated.”

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The Independent, 12th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jimmy Savile abuse allegations: next legal steps – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2012 in BBC, child abuse, criminal justice, news, public interest, rape, sexual offences, time limits by sally

“Police should investigate whether anyone else should be charged in relation to rape and sexual abuse allegations.”

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The Guardian, 3rd October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP invites responses to proposed new guidance on driving offences – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 27th, 2012 in consultations, Crown Prosecution Service, dangerous driving, emergency services, fire services, news, police, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, has today launched a public consultation on guidance about the most serious driving offences, including death by careless or dangerous driving.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 27th September 2012

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Foreign Office fights move to publish secret immigration blacklist – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 27th, 2012 in appeals, disclosure, human rights, immigration, international relations, news, public interest, race discrimination by sally

“The government has launched an appeal against a ruling that it must publish a secret blacklist of 44 countries whose nationals face tougher immigration measures when applying to come to Britain.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th September 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police should face fewer dangerous driving prosecutions, says CPS – The Guardian

Posted September 27th, 2012 in consultations, Crown Prosecution Service, dangerous driving, emergency services, fire services, news, police, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“Fewer prosecutions should be brought against police, fire brigade and ambulance staff who commit driving offences while responding to emergencies, according to draft guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service on Thursday.”

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The Guardian, 27th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge imposes reporting restrictions in Dale Cregan case – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2012 in bias, contempt of court, media, murder, news, police, public interest, reporting restrictions by sally

“Court makes order postponing reports under section 4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 due to ‘very real risk of prejudice’.”

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The Guardian, 24th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

When indefinite becomes arbitrary: James, Wells and Lee v UK – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 24th, 2012 in EC law, human rights, imprisonment, news, parole, public interest, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

“As Andrew Tickell noted in his post on Wednesday the European Court of Human Rights this week ruled that the UK violated the Article 5(1) ECHR rights of three prisoners sentenced to indeterminate prison sentences for public protection, where reasonable provision for their rehabilitation was not made.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th September 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

A Chagossian double bill: an environmental information contest, and a touch of Wikileaks – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 21st, 2012 in Diego Garcia, disclosure, government departments, judicial review, news, public interest by sally

“The manoevres by which the Chagossians were evicted from their islands in the Indian Ocean, the late 1960s and early 1970s, so to enable the US to operate an air base on Diego Garcia, do not show the UK Foreign Office in its best light. Indeed, after a severe rebuke from the courts in 2000, the FCO accepted that the original law underlying their departure was unlawful, and agreed to investigate their possible resettlement on some of their islands. The first of these new cases is an environmental information appeal concerning the next phase of the story – how the FCO decided that it was not feasible to resettle the islanders in 2002-2004.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 20th September 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

DPP statement on Tom Daley case and social media prosecutions – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 20th, 2012 in freedom of expression, internet, malicious communications, media, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, has said:

‘On 30 July 2012 Daniel Thomas, a semi-professional footballer, posted a homophobic message on the social networking site, Twitter. This related to the Olympic divers Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield. This became available to his ‘followers’. Someone else distributed it more widely and it made its way into some media outlets. Mr Thomas was arrested and interviewed. The matter was then referred to CPS Wales to consider whether Mr Thomas should be charged with a criminal offence.'”

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Crown Prosecutions Service, 20th September 2012

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

HRH the Prince of Wales: advocacy of an ordinary man – Panopticon

Posted September 19th, 2012 in disclosure, freedom of information, government departments, news, public interest, royal family, tribunals by sally

“The Upper Tribunal’s judgment in Evans v IC and Others (Seven Government Departments) [2012] UKUT 313 (AAC) (Mr Justice Walker, Professor John Angel and Suzanne Cosgrave), handed down yesterday, has received extensive media coverage – unsurprisingly so, given the subject matter (Prince Charles’ correspondence with government departments) and the requester (Rob Evans of the Guardian). The judgment is stupendously long (65 pages, plus 3 open annexes). Here are the salient points.”

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Panopticon, 19th September 2012

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

DPP launches final guidelines for prosecutors on cases affecting the media following public consultation – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 17th, 2012 in media, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“Following a public consultation, Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has today published final guidelines on the approach prosecutors should take when assessing the public interest in cases affecting the media.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 13th September 2012

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

CPS publishes advice on prosecuting journalists over illicit newsgathering – The Guardian

Posted September 14th, 2012 in freedom of expression, media, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“The Crown Prosecution Service has published its final guidelines on the prosecution of journalists over illicit newsgathering methods, with so-called ‘fishing expeditions’ to face closer scrutiny.”

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The Guardian, 13th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy protection: have the courts been led astray? – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2012 in freedom of expression, injunctions, news, notification, privacy, public interest by sally

“Self-interested tabloids enjoy reporting on the existence of an injunction. We have seen what this unfettered power can lead to.”

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The Guardian, 6th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sun had public interest in publishing Steve McClaren affair story, says judge – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2012 in injunctions, media, news, privacy, public interest by sally

“A high court judge has outlined his reasons for rejecting a privacy injunction sought by former England manager Steve McClaren against the Sun over an extramarital affair.”

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The Guardian, 5th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tony Nicklinson’s family back call to carry on legal fight with new claimant – The Guardian

Posted September 3rd, 2012 in assisted suicide, euthanasia, evidence, news, public interest, Supreme Court by sally

“Lawyers of man with locked-in syndrome who died after losing legal bid to end his life say much of their evidence was not heard.”

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The Guardian, 1st September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Newspapers and the law – this is not about Prince Harry’s bum – Legal Week

Posted August 24th, 2012 in freedom of expression, media, news, privacy, public interest, royal family by sally

“So there you have it. We spend a whole year discussing press ethics and then, for the sake of a peek at Prince Harry’s bum, half the world seems ready to say that the editor of The Sun can make up his own ethics.”

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Legal Week, 24th August 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

How the Prince Harry affair saw red-tops deal with a new regime – The Independent

Posted August 24th, 2012 in freedom of expression, media, news, privacy, public interest, royal family by sally

“Where editors would once have cried ‘publish and be damned’, this time they bowed to warnings.”

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The Independent, 24th August 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk