Ex-judge Sir Peter Gross to head human rights law review – BBC News
‘Former Court of Appeal judge Sir Peter Gross has been appointed to lead an independent review of the Human Rights Act.’
BBC News, 7th December 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: statute law revision
Government urged to fix ‘disastrous state’ of rape prosecutions – The Guardian
‘An alliance of women’s organisations is calling for radical reforms to address the “disastrous state” of rape investigations and prosecutions, including a ministerial lead, a commission on juries and a ban on the use of sexual history evidence.’
The Guardian, 30th November 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Civil law, religion and marriage in the United Kingdom: a long read – Law & Religion UK
‘This began as a handout for the Cardiff LLM in Canon Law: it’s about the law on the formation of marriage – “weddings law” – rather than matrimonial law more generally.’
Law & Religion UK, 11th November 2020
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
Law Commission begins project on Corporate Criminal Liability – Law Commission
‘The Government has asked the Law Commission to investigate the laws around corporate criminal liability and provide options to reform them.’
Law Commission, 3rd November 2020
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Search warrants reform to help law enforcement investigate crime – Law Commission
‘Reforms that would reduce the number of unlawful search warrants being issued and help law enforcement to investigate crime and collect evidence (especially that stored electronically) have today [7 October 2020] been recommended by the Law Commission, the Government’s independent law reform body.’
Law Commission, 7th October 2020
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Theodore Konstadinides, Lee Marsons and Maurice Sunkin: Reviewing Judicial Review: The constitutional importance of the Independent Review of Administrative Law 2020 – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Last year, the Government committed itself to establishing a Commission on the Constitution, Democracy and Rights, which would consider reform of the UK’s constitutional order, including judicial review and the Human Rights Act 1998. Instead, on 30 July 2020, the Government launched an ostensibly narrower Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL) to examine the need for reforms of judicial review in particular. This is to be conducted by an advisory panel of experts led by Lord Faulks QC. Any options for reform put forward by the Review will be considered by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC MP and by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove MP. Both the report of the Review and the Government’s response will be published by the end of 2020 or shortly thereafter.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 24th September 2020
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Law Commission’s consultation on marriage reforms – Law Society’s Gazette
‘When most couples start planning a wedding, they excitedly think about the day itself – what they will wear, who they will invite and of course, where they want to get married.’
Law Society's Gazette, 24th September 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Misogyny ‘should become a hate crime in England and Wales’ – The Guardian
‘Misogyny should be made a hate crime in England and Wales, according to the independent body that recommends legal changes, as part of an overhaul of legislation.’
The Guardian, 23rd September 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Reforms to confiscation regime to recover £8 million more per year – Law Commission
‘Proposals to reform the confiscation regime could help recover an extra £8 million per year from convicted criminals, by more accurately and efficiently determining a defendant’s criminal proceeds and more effectively enforcing confiscation orders. The proposals are outlined in a consultation paper published today [17 September 2020] by the Law Commission of England and Wales.’
Law Commission, 17th September 2020
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Call for parliament to review assisted dying law in England and Wales – The Guardian
‘Relatives of people who have brought legal cases on assisted dying are for the first time making a joint appeal for an inquiry into the current law in England and Wales, saying there is an overwhelming case for change.’
The Guardian, 25th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Self-ID for transgender people ‘unlikely’ to get ministers’ support – BBC News
‘Ministers are unlikely to back a major reform to the Gender Recognition Act, it is understood, amid fresh uncertainty over when the government will actually announce its plans.’
BBC News, 14th July 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Extremism body examines new hate crime – BBC News
‘The government’s adviser on extremism is investigating whether it’s possible to ban behaviour that leads people to hate each other.’
BBC News, 10th June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“What next for the Construction Act?” – Rupert Choat for Building Magazine – Atkin Chambers
‘The latest consultation on the Construction Act reached its second stage last month, with the government’s long overdue publication of responses to its consultation on the legislation. When the 1996 act was amended in 2011, the government proposed reviewing it after three years. However, it was six years before consultation with the industry even began. A summary of the responses to that consultation was due two years ago but, presumably owing to Brexit, was not published until this February.’
Atkin Chambers, 12th May 2020
Source: www.atkinchambers.com
SRA: Legal Services Act regime “struggling to remain relevant” – Legal Futures
‘The rate of change in the legal market makes it “increasingly difficult” for the regulatory framework laid down by the Legal Services Act to remain relevant, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned.’
Legal Futures, 20th April 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Law Commissions call for single, consistent legislative framework for elections – Local Government Lawyer
‘Electoral legislation that originates from the Victorian era is “out-dated, confusing and no longer fit for purpose”, the Law Commissions of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission have said in a report calling for the adoption of a single, consistent legislative framework.’
Local Government Lawyer, 17th March 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Cybercrime laws need urgent reform to protect UK, says report – The Guardian
‘Britain’s cyber-defences are being endangered by the outdated Computer Misuse Act, which prevents investigators from dealing effectively with online threats while over-punishing immature defendants, according to a legal report.’
The Guardian, 22nd January 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Criminalising the possession of “terrorist propaganda”: a human rights analysis – UK Human Rights Blog
‘The Home Office is proposing to legislate for a new criminal offence relating to the “possession of the most serious material glorifying or encouraging terrorism”.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 21st January 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Leasehold reform plans branded ‘nothing more than tinkering’ – The Guardian
‘The Law Commission has set out a range of proposals which it said will make it cheaper for Britain’s 4 million leaseholders to buy their freehold or extend their lease. However, the reforms were immediately branded by campaigners as “nothing more than tinkering”.’
The Guardian, 9th January 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Call for law change over increase in homophobic hate crimes in London – BBC News
‘Homophobic hate crimes in London have increased by 55% in five years, prompting calls for changes to the law. Latest figures show there were 3,111 hate crimes based on sexual orientation in the 12 months up to October. Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, called for new laws and tougher sentencing for homophobic attacks.’
BBC News, 10th January 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
