Police say they are becoming emergency mental health services – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2016 in budgets, mental health, news, police by sally

‘Police say they are being relied on as an emergency mental health service and that cuts in psychiatric provision are probably to blame, the Guardian has learned.

Full story

The Guardian, 9th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New bill of costs set to become compulsory from October 2017 – Litigation Futures

Posted October 10th, 2016 in civil procedure rules, costs, news by sally

‘The new format bill of costs is set to become compulsory in a year’s time after the rule committee decoupled it from mandatory use of the J-Codes, it has emerged.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 6th October 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Top law firm accused of ‘taking the p—‘ after telling lawyers to charge clients for time spent on toilet – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 10th, 2016 in fees, law firms, news by sally

‘Lawyers at a top international firm were told to charge clients even when they were taking toilet breaks – because they would still be thinking about work.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A provider of free Wi-Fi can be ordered to impose controls to stop copyright infringement – Technology Law Update

Posted October 10th, 2016 in copyright, EC law, internet, news by sally

‘A case brought by Sony Music over illegal music downloads using a free WiFi service has led to a surprisingly restrictive conclusion from the EU court. The court ruled that a Berlin business-owner Tobias McFadden, who provided an unprotected free Wi-Fi network to the public,

– is not responsible for copyright infringement by a user of the WiFi, but
– can be required to take steps to control misuse of the service and ordered to pay associated costs.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 7th October 2016

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Ex-BBC DJ Chris Denning jailed for child sex offences – BBC News

Posted October 10th, 2016 in child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘Former BBC DJ Chris Denning has been jailed for 13 years after admitting abusing 11 boys as young as eight.’

Full story

BBC News, 7th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Time, distance & suitability – Nearly Legal

Posted October 10th, 2016 in children, domestic violence, families, housing, local government, news by sally

‘Tower Hamlets owed Ms B, and her four children then aged 10, 8, 3 and 2, the full housing duty. She had moved to the borough to stay at a refuge in September 2013, following long term domestic violence, and the children had begun school in the borough in October 2013. One of the children had a diagnosis of severe ADHD.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 9th October 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Judge bans freemasonry emblem from gravestone of senior mason – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 10th, 2016 in burials and cremation, Christianity, Church of England, news by sally

‘A judge has banned a family from having the Freemasons square and compass emblem etched into the gravestone of a Freemason who died after devoting much of his life to the organization.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Phone thief who snatched 21 phones in an hour is jailed – BBC News

Posted October 10th, 2016 in news, sentencing, theft by sally

‘The police have released footage of two mobile phone thieves who went on an hour long mobile-phone-snatching raid through London.’

Full story

BBC News, 7th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sexting between children not automatically a crime, says CPS – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2016 in children, harassment, hate crime, internet, news, prosecutions, sexual offences by sally

‘Internet users who post derogatory hashtags or humiliating Photoshopped images could face prosecution under new legal guidelines.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Proportion of female judges in UK among lowest in Europe – The Guardian

Posted October 7th, 2016 in judiciary, news, statistics, women by sally

‘The UK has one of the lowest proportions of female judges on its benches, according to a comparative study of judicial systems across Europe. The report by the Council of Europe, published on Thursday, shows that the systems with the lowest percentage of women among professional judges were Azerbaijan (11%), Armenia (23%), Northern Ireland (23%), Scotland (23%), England & Wales (30%) and Ireland (33%). The Europe-wide average was 51%.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law Briefing Paper: ‘Parliament and the Rule of Law in the Context of Brexit’ – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law published a new Briefing Paper on 29 September 2016. Titled “Parliament and the Rule of Law in the Context of Brexit”, it aims to inform the work of Parliament by setting out preliminary rule of law issues relating to Brexit.’

Full paper

UK Constitutional Law Association, 5th October 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Developments in the oversight of British Troops abroad – the Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The oversight of the conduct of British soldiers in Iraq has been subject of two recent developments. The first is political, as Prime Minister Theresa May has renewed criticism of investigations into allegations of criminal behaviour of British troops. The second is legal, with the Court of Appeal offering clarification as to the role of the ECHR in conflicts abroad. However, comments by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon have since thrown into doubt the future role of the ECHR in conflicts abroad.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 5th October 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Duplication in inquests – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 7th, 2016 in aircraft, disclosure, EC law, inquests, news by sally

‘The Divisional Court in R(Secretary of State) v Her Majesty’s Chief Coroner for Norfolk (British Airline Pilots intervening) made some potentially noteworthy comments regarding the coronial role and the need to avoid duplicating previous investigations.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 7th October 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Material Contribution – Carder v University Of Exeter (2016) – Zenith PI

Posted October 7th, 2016 in asbestos, damages, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Albert Victor Carder v University Of Exeter [2016] EWCA Civ 790. The Court of Appeal held that an asbestosis sufferer was entitled to recover damages from an employer who had contributed 2.3% of his overall exposure to asbestos dust. The contribution, whilst undoubtedly very small, had materially contributed to the respondent’s medical condition and was not de minimis.’

Full story

Zenith PI, 5th October 2016

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Surrogacy Law Update – October 2016 – Family Law Week

Posted October 7th, 2016 in news, surrogacy by sally

‘Andrew Powell, barrister, 4 Paper Buildings, reviews the latest important judgments concerning surrogacy law.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 6th October 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Teaching assistant had sex with pupil who was ‘attracted to him because he looked like Zayn Malik’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 7th, 2016 in child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual grooming by sally

‘A teaching assistant who claimed pupils found him attractive because he “looks like Zayn Malik” has been jailed for five years over sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CPS to pay six-figure sum to man over wrongful conviction – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has agreed to pay more than £100,000 in compensation to a man who spent six years in prison after being wrongly convicted of perverting the course of justice in a gangland murder investigation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sir Cliff Richard lodges papers suing BBC and police – BBC News

Posted October 7th, 2016 in BBC, Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, sexual offences by sally

‘Singer Sir Cliff Richard is suing the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after being investigated over allegations of historical sexual assault. Legal papers were filed at the High Court in London on Thursday. They list Sir Cliff as a claimant, and the BBC and chief constable of South Yorkshire Police as defendants.’

Full story

BBC News, 6th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cherie Booth: Challenge to buy-to-let tax ‘not over yet’ despite judicial review failure – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 7th, 2016 in interest, judicial review, mortgages, news, taxation by sally

‘Campaigners led by Cherie Booth QC said that they would continue their fight against the changes to taxation of buy-to-let income after their application to launch a judicial review of the new law was turned down.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court challenge over award of helpline contract to G4S fails – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 6th, 2016 in contracting out, contracts, equality, law centres, news, telecommunications by sally

‘The Law Centres Network (LCN) has lost its bid to prevent G4S being awarded a government contract to run the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) helpline.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 6th October 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk