UN highlights role of legal aid cuts in “immiseration” of millions – Legal Futures

‘The decimation of legal aid has contributed to “the systematic immiseration of millions across Great Britain”, the UN’s expert on poverty and human rights said yesterday.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court refuses employed lawyer pupillage exemption – Legal Futures

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in barristers, news, pupillage by sally

‘The High Court has a rejected a challenge to a decision by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) refusing to grant an exemption from the first non-practising stage of pupillage.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendment) Bill introduced to Parliament – Law Commission

‘The Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendment) Bill has been introduced into Parliament. This short technical Bill is necessary to pave the way for the main Sentencing Code Bill to be introduced as a consolidation Bill. Once passed, the Sentencing Code will introduce a “clean sweep” of the old sentencing law so that anyone convicted once the Code is in force would automatically be sentenced under the current law.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/

Home Secretary speech on keeping our country safe – Home Office

‘Home Secretary Sajid Javid spoke on security, the threat from terrorism and the importance of international collaboration.’

Full speech

Home Office, 20th May 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Youth gang members receive life sentences after vicious attack on rival – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Four young men, three of them teenagers, received life sentences today (21 May 2109) after a Snapchat video and a conversation between offenders in the back of a police van helped secure their conviction for the murder of a 16-year-old boy.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 21st May 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Chancellor of the High Court talks about the future on visit to Germany – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘On a two-day visit to Germany, the Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Geoffrey Vos, met with judges, lawyers and officials in Bavaria and Berlin to discuss Lawtech and the work of the Business and Property Courts. He spoke at the Palace of Justice in Munich on the position of English law and UK jurisdiction after Brexit to an audience of 120 judges, lawyers and business people, all members of the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany and the Munich Juridical Society.’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 21st May 2019

Accountancy body wins right to regulate oaths – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Chartered accountancy regulator the ICAEW has received a crumb of comfort from the lord chancellor in its long-running campaign to become a regulator of reserved legal activities. David Gauke revealed today that he has decided to grant an application for the ICAEW to become an approved regulator and licensing authority in relation to the administration of oaths.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sex offender banned from wearing shorts on a train after series of incidents – Daily Telegraph

‘A sex offender has been banned from wearing shorts on trains after series of incidents against women.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cadent handed record £44m penalty after customers left without gas – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in compensation, detention, duty of care, energy, inquiries, news by sally

‘Ofgem takes action after tower block residents had no supplies for up to five months.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Victims of rape and violence being left in dark about attackers’ whereabouts by authorities – The Independent

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in news, notification, probation, rape, sexual offences, statistics, victims, violence by sally

‘Victims of rape and violence are being “let down” and left in the dark about their attackers’ whereabouts, a report has found. The service provided by the National Probation Service (NPS) was “poor”, HM Inspectorate of Probation said in the wake of criticism over “black cab rapist” John Worboys case.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UN backs demand for Britain to relinquish Chagos islands – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in armed forces, Chagos Islands, colonies, news, United Nations by sally

‘Britain suffered an embarrassing diplomatic defeat on Wednesday when the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to hand the disputed Chagos islands back to Mauritius.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Oxbridge can force old professors to retire in order to boost diversity, tribunal ruling suggests – Daily Telegraph

‘Oxford and Cambridge universities can force old professors to retire in order to boost diversity, a tribunal ruling suggests.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Broadcasters in legal bind over reporting on Tory crisis during election – The Guardian

‘Strict broadcasting laws place restrictions on coverage of politics during voting periods.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Disgraced army colonel jailed after instructing women on how to abuse their children over webcam – The Independent

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in armed forces, child abuse, children, internet, news, sentencing by sally

‘A former British army officer who instructed women on how to abuse their children so he could watch via webcam has been jailed.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Manchester police defend prosecution of two mentally ill people – The Guardian

‘A police force has defended its decision to prosecute two mentally ill women who were charged after they caused traffic jams when trying to kill themselves.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

M25 killer Kenneth Noye to be freed from prison – BBC News

Posted May 23rd, 2019 in early release, murder, news, parole, recidivists, rehabilitation, road traffic by sally

‘M25 road-rage killer Kenneth Noye is to be released from prison, the Parole Board has confirmed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Number of UK child slavery cases up by nearly 800% in two years, figures show – The Independent

‘Child slavery cases in the UK have surged by nearly 800 per cent in just two years, new figures show. Data published in the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme’s annual report show there were 475 police operations into child slavery in the UK last month, compared with 53 in April 2017.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court modernisation “undermining access to justice”, lawyers tell MPs – Legal Futures

‘Criminal and civil lawyers have spelt out to MPs on the justice select committee a catalogue of ways in which court modernisation is undermining access to justice.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Secret ‘Torture Loophole’ Raises Serious Questions For Government, MP David Davis And Barrister Say – Rights Info

‘The government must be asked “serious questions” on how a secret policy allowing ministers to approve actions that could lead to torture was signed off, a leading QC and Tory MP have said.’

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Rights Info, 20th May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

New APIL chief: Falling PI damages “an affront to justice” – Litigation Futures

‘Trends in personal injury claims since LASPO, with damages falling, are an “affront to justice”, the new president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has claimed.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 21st May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com