Benefit sanctions lead claimants to suicide, crime and destitution, warns damning report – The Independent

Posted May 25th, 2016 in benefits, delay, local government, mental health, news, sanctions, self-harm, suicide by sally

‘Benefit sanctions are “devastating” for claimants and can lead to destitution, crime, suicide, and throw up barriers to employment, a wide-ranging report probing the effects of removing payments from Salford’s residents has claimed.’

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The Independent, 25th May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Expats lose Supreme Court bid for EU referendum vote – BBC News

‘Two Britons living abroad have lost their Supreme Court battle over the right to vote in June’s EU referendum.’

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BBC News, 24th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Modern slavery’ family jailed for Cardiff forced labour – BBC News

Posted May 25th, 2016 in assault, conspiracy, forced labour, kidnapping, news, sentencing by sally

‘Three family members have been jailed for forcing a man to do heavy labour for tiny amounts in Cardiff.’

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BBC News, 24th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Theresa May agrees to review of snooper’s charter powers – The Guardian

‘Labour has edged closer to supporting the “snooper’s charter” after the home secretary, Theresa May, agreed to order an independent review of proposed state surveillance powers.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Act – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 24th, 2016 in housing, legislation, planning by sally

Housing and Planning Act 2016

Jackson: fixed costs grid is “starting point for debate” – Litigation Futures

Posted May 24th, 2016 in civil justice, costs, judges, negligence, news, personal injuries, speeches by sally

‘Lord Justice Jackson has sought to calm fears raised by the “grid of fixed costs” he proposed in January this year for all civil claims worth up to £250,000.’

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Litigation Futures, 24th May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 24th, 2016 in legislation by sally

The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 13, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23 and 24 and Transitional and Transitory Provisions (Modification)) Order 2016

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Pensions Guidance) Regulations 2016

The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016

The Banking Act 2009 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2016

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Competition watchdog objects to Land Registry sell-off – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2016 in competition, consultations, data protection, land registration, news by sally

‘The competition watchdog has objected to government plans to privatise the Land Registry, warning that allowing a private firm to take possession of property ownership information could cause problems for other businesses.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Take allergies seriously or face jail’ says CPS after curry house owner convicted of manslaughter – Daily Telegraph

‘Food businesses have been warned by the CPS to take allergies seriously or face jail, after a restaurateur was imprisoned for six years for killing a customer by selling him a curry.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Surrogacy laws for single parents to change after court ruling – BBC News

‘Surrogacy laws which prevent single people from claiming parental rights are set to change following a ruling by the Family Division of the High Court.’

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BBC News, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Christie’s fined £3,000 for putting banned elephant tusk up for sale – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 24th, 2016 in auctioneers, costs, fines, news by sally

‘World-famous Christie’s Auction House were fined £3,250 today after putting a banned elephant tusk up for sale on their website.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

British Muslim convert jailed over plan to take children to Isis in Syria – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2016 in children, news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

‘A British Muslim who wanted bring up her children under Islamic State in Syria has been jailed for two and a half years.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Juries could enter virtual crime scenes following research – BBC News

Posted May 24th, 2016 in computer programs, criminal procedure, evidence, juries, news by sally

‘Virtual reality technology used in the gaming industry could be adapted to recreate crime scenes for juries, researchers have claimed.’

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BBC News, 24th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mau Mau rebellion victims claim parliament was misled over torture – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2016 in colonies, compensation, Kenya, news, parliament, torture, victims by sally

‘The UK’s parliament was misled over the brutal tactics used to suppress the 1950s Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya, the high court has heard.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The new era promised by the Care Act is yet to arrive – The Guardian

‘One year after the act came into force, the momentum behind the changes risks being lost.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Revealed: How copyright law is being misused to remove material from the internet – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in complaints, copyright, defamation, fraud, freedom of expression, internet, news by sally

‘Writing a bad review online has always run a small risk of opening yourself up to a defamation claim. But few would expect to be told that they had to delete their review or face a lawsuit over another part of the law: copyright infringement.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Civil Justice Council decides against new housing court – Litigation Futures

‘The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has decided not to back a new housing court to deal with all property disputes, despite support for the move among lawyers in the sector.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Confidential Communication With Lawyers Is A Human Right, Even For Prisoners – RightsInfo

‘Part of being in prison is that your rights and freedom are restricted. But prisoners do retain some rights – this was re-confirmed by the highest UK court 15 years ago today.’

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RightsInfo, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in legislation by sally

The Housing (Right to Buy) (Designated Rural Areas and Designated Regions) (England) Order 2016

The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions Designation Order 2016

The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Commencement No. 10 and Saving Provisions) Order 2016

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

UK competition authorities to be given ‘more powers’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in auditors, bills, competition, consultations, EC law, enforcement, news by sally

‘Competition authorities in the UK are to be given new powers to combat anti-competitive behaviour, according to plans set out in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th May 2016

Source: www.out-law.com