Man sentenced for threatening to blow up G4S vans – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A 20-year-old has today (29 September) been sent to a young offenders’ institution for two years for blackmailing his employer by threatening to blow up their vans.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 29th September 2017

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Jealous ex has sentence increased after causing GBH – Attorney General’s Office

Posted October 5th, 2017 in appeals, grievous bodily harm, press releases, sentencing by sally

‘Graham Gawley has had his prison sentence increased after Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP referred it to the Court of Appeal.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 4th October 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

EVENT: JUSTICE – Human Rights Law Conference 2017

Posted October 5th, 2017 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘One of the highlights of the human rights lawyer’s CPD calendar, the JUSTICE Annual Human Rights Conference offers a key opportunity to update your legal knowledge and gain valuable insight into the human rights issues of the year.’

Date: 13th October 2017, 9.00am-5.00pm

Location: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

Britain accused of unlawfully deporting Afghan asylum seekers – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2017 in asylum, deportation, illegality, international law, news, reports by sally

‘Britain and other European countries have been accused of breaching international law, as it emerged that the number of asylum seekers forced to return to Afghanistan has tripled at a time when civilian casualties in the country are at a record high.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court to hear challenge to GCHQ bulk hacking of phones and computers – The Guardian

‘A challenge to GCHQ’s use of non-specific warrants to authorise the bulk hacking of smartphones, computers and networks in the UK is starting at the court of appeal.
The case, brought by the campaign group Privacy International (PI), is the latest twist in a protracted battle about both the legality of bulk surveillance and the primacy of civil courts over an intelligence tribunal that operates partly in secret.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ex-boyfriend of murdered antiques dealer is jailed for forging her will – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 5th, 2017 in forgery, news, non-molestation orders, sentencing, wills by sally

‘An antiques dealer murdered on her driveway had sought a non-molestation order weeks before her death against her ex-boyfriend who was jailed on Wednesday for faking her will, a court heard.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 4th October 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Kevin Nunes murder: Staffordshire Police ‘mishandled’ paid witness – BBC News

‘”Significant failures” by Staffordshire Police over a gangland killing led to the unsafe convictions of five men, a police watchdog report has found.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police must do more to stop sexual abuse by officers, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2017 in news, police, reports, sexual offences by sally

‘Police forces are not doing enough to stop their officers carrying out sexual abuse, the official watchdog has said. The finding by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) comes despite previous interventions from the watchdog and high-profile cases of police officers committing sexual abuse.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS patients going blind and missing cancer treatments due to hospital failings, report finds – The Independent

Posted October 5th, 2017 in health, hospitals, news, quality assurance, reports by sally

‘Patients in Cornwall died after waiting too long for heart treatment, while others were left to go blind, according to a damning report. Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found patients waiting too long for treatment and suffering harm as a result, operations being cancelled, including for cancer, patients with sepsis not receiving antibiotics in time and a sewage problem in a bathroom not being dealt with for more than three years.’

Full Story

The Independent, 5th October 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Aaron Barley jailed for life for Stourbridge stabbings – BBC News

Posted October 5th, 2017 in murder, news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

‘A homeless man who “destroyed a family” by stabbing to death a mother and son who had helped him has been jailed for life with a minimum of 30 years.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 4th, 2017 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

High Court (Administrative Court)

High Court (Commercial Court)

High Court (Family Division)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Source: www.bailii.org

Judge criticises ‘deeply disturbing’ practices at defunct Asons – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 4th, 2017 in costs, insurance, law firms, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The now-defunct Asons Solicitors has been ordered to meet the costs of insurance company LV=, after a court found that the law firm made ‘gross’ and ‘deeply disturbing’ failures in a personal injury case it was handling.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 3rd October 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law tightened to target terrorists’ use of the internet –

Posted October 4th, 2017 in internet, news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

‘Counter-terrorism laws are to be updated to make sure those who repeatedly view terrorist content online face up to 15 years in jail.’

Full Story

Home Office, 3rd October 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Merris Amos: Red Herrings and Reductions: Human Rights and the EU (Withdrawal) Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 4th, 2017 in bills, EC law, human rights, news by sally

‘When Parliament resumes next week, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill will be entering its Committee stage in the House of Commons. Whilst a variety of issues were raised during the Second Reading debates, the treatment of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights caused particular concern. The purpose of this post is to clarify the status granted by the Bill to the human rights protected by the Charter after exit day, and to consider how the human rights protected by the Charter might continue to enjoy effective protection when retained EU law is converted into domestic law.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 4th October 2017

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

BSB seeks views on updating some of the rules governing barrister training and qualification – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 4th, 2017 in barristers, consultations, inns of court, legal education, news by sally

‘As part of its ongoing Future Bar Training (FBT) programme, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched a new consultation on a number of aspects of the way in which barristers train and qualify.’

Full Story

Bar Standards Board, 3rd October 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

No ‘crock of gold’ but Lidington promises legal aid review will look at case for change – Legal Voice

Posted October 4th, 2017 in legal aid, news by sally

‘The government will ‘soon’ launch its long-awaited post-legislative review of legal aid, the lord chancellor announced during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.’

Full Story

Legal Voice, 4th October 2017

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Ofcom chief defends decision to cap spectrum auction – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 4th, 2017 in competition, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Ofcom chief executive Sharon White has defended the telecoms regulator’s decision to put a limit on the amount of mobile spectrum an operator can control, after legal action was launched by two companies.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 3rd October 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims – Part II – 4 KBW

Posted October 4th, 2017 in civil procedure rules, debts, news, pre-action conduct by sally

‘On 1st October 2017, the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims, (the “Protocol”) is to come into force. This raises the question: what is a ‘debt’? For this Protocol, the only ‘guidance’ provided is on the Information Sheet (Annex 1), “you have received this [notice] because a business believes that you owe it money”. None of the draft or consultation papers provide further guidance or seek to define the term ‘debt’ under English law.’

Full Story

4 KBW, 22nd September 2017

Source: www.4kbw.net

BSB training plans could curb role of Inns – including compulsory dinners – and end 12-month term for pupillages – Legal Futures

Posted October 4th, 2017 in barristers, consultations, inns of court, legal education, news by sally

‘A drastic reduction in the role of the Inns of Court in the training of barristers – to the point where barristers would not have to be members of one – and an end to the required period of 12 months for pupillages are on the table as the Bar Standards Board (BSB) takes the next step in its Future Bar Training initiative.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Grooming victim fear over Coronation Street courtroom error – BBC News

Posted October 4th, 2017 in anonymity, media, news, sexual grooming, victims by sally

‘Child sexual exploitation victims may fear coming forward after a courtroom sketch of a grooming victim was shown in Coronation Street, it is feared.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk