Police accused of concealing role of undercover officers from judges – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in evidence, inquiries, investigatory powers, news, police by sally

‘Police have been accused of concealing the involvement of two undercover officers in a long-running legal case from judges in the UK’s highest court.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leicester ‘cannabis mum’ guilty of killing daughter in crash – BBC News

‘A mother who smoked cannabis before killing her daughter and her son’s girlfriend in a car crash has been found guilty of causing their deaths.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bannisters that never were – Nearly Legal

‘You wait for 4 years for another case on bannisters and the Defective Premises Act 1972 and then two come along at once…

Sternbaum v Dhesi [2016] EWCA Civ 155

Dodd v Raebarn Estates Ltd & Ors [2016] EWHC 262 (QB)

Both can be dealt with fairly quickly and together, as the courts follow the same lines. Both cases involved falls on stairs, very sadly in Dodd, a fatal fall. In each case, there was no bannister to the staircase. Both claims were on appeal from being dismissed at first instance.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 20th March 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

YouTube prankster Danh Van Le jailed for nine months for bomb hoax – The Independent

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in bomb hoaxing, internet, news, sentencing by sally

‘The co-founder of a YouTube “prankster” channel has been arrested for scaring the public with bomb hoaxes and staging mock burglaries.’

Full story

The Independent, 21st March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man jailed for deliberately dousing wife in white spirt and setting her on fire after argument – The Independent

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been jailed after being convicted of deliberately setting his wife on fire, killing her.’

Full story

The Independent, 21st March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Righting wrong writs. High Court enforcement – Nearly Legal

‘This has been a bit of an epic. First, the problem of High Court Enforcement Officers using form N293A to obtain writs of possession against tenants was raised by us in November 2015, then the scale of that use became clear by January 2016, and there were updates in February. Now, the coup de grace (which, if I am entirely honest, I’ve known was coming for a while).’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 21st March 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

How did one man’s claims spark a major child abuse inquiry? – BBC News

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in child abuse, conspiracy, inquiries, murder, news, police by sally

‘The claims were horrifying. Politicians, generals and spies had tortured and sexually abused children in apartments, hotels, and army bases. Three boys had been murdered.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Only one in 14 crime victims offered ‘restorative justice’ scheme – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in news, reports, restorative justice, victims by sally

‘Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Newlove warns quality of the programmes which offer victims the chance to confront offenders are still a ‘concern”

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Thomas Orchard trial: jury discharged as judge halts proceedings – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in death in custody, juries, news, police, retrials, trials by sally

‘A jury considering verdicts in the trial of a police custody sergeant and two detention officers accused of killing a church caretaker who died after being restrained has been discharged.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abuse victims should be ‘believed’, says College of Policing – BBC News

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in codes of practice, news, police, victims by sally

‘Police in England and Wales need to further encourage sexual abuse victims to come forward, the College of Policing has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

House of Lords votes to let lone child refugees come to Britain – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in bills, children, immigration, news, parliament, refugees by sally

‘The government has been defeated in the Lords as peers voted to allow 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees into the country.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hatton Garden heist ringleader Brian Reader jailed – BBC News

Posted March 21st, 2016 in burglary, gangs, news, sentencing by sally

‘The ringleader of the £14m Hatton Garden heist in London has been jailed for more than six years.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Former PCSO who raped child jailed for 11 years – The Guardian

‘A former police community support officer has been jailed for 11 years and four months after admitting raping a child and a bestiality offence.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge rules on Madonna custody dispute – BBC News

‘Madonna has been granted permission to end the British legal action over the custody of her 15-year-old son, Rocco.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Clayton Williams convicted of PC Dave Phillips’s manslaughter – BBC News

‘A car thief has been found guilty of the manslaughter of a policeman by running him over in a stolen pick-up truck during a chase.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Last living suspect in VIP paedophile ring inquiry will not face charges – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2016 in child abuse, complaints, inquiries, murder, news, parliament, police by sally

‘The last living suspect at the centre of a police investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring that was accused of killing three children has been told he will face no charges. Harvey Proctor, the former Conservative MP, was given the news on Monday afternoon following a conversation between his solicitors and a senior Met officer.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Personal data and politicians’ names – Panopticon

‘Can the name of a local councillor who has defaulted on Council tax properly be withheld from disclosure under the exemption for personal data in s.40 FOIA? That was the issue for the Upper Tribunal (“UT”) in Haslam v (1) Information Commissioner (2) Bolton Council [2016] UKUT 0139 (AAC), 10 March 2016. Mr Haslam, a journalist on the Bolton News, had submitted a FOIA request to Bolton Council for disclosure of names of councillors who had received reminders for non-payment of Council tax since May 2011. The Council refused to name names, citing the exemption in s.40 FOIA. The Information Commissioner and First-Tier Tribunal (“FTT”) upheld the Council’s decision. The UT (Judge Markus QC) has now reversed the FTT’s decision, and held that the name of the individual councillor concerned should be released.’

Full story

Panopticon, 18th March 2016

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Lammy Review of BAME representation in the Criminal Justice System: call for evidence – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 21st, 2016 in criminal justice, diversity, equality, evidence, press releases by sally

‘In January 2016 the Prime Minister invited David Lammy MP to find out why official figures show that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups appear to be over-represented at most stages of the criminal justice system, and what can be done about it. This is an independent review. It aims to make sure that everyone is treated equally, whatever their ethnicity.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 21st March 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

High Court rejects Clifford’s attempt to slash costs through “inadequate” Calderbank offer – Litigation Futures

Posted March 21st, 2016 in costs, damages, news, part 36 offers, privacy, proportionality, striking out by sally

‘The High Court has rejected jailed publicist Max Clifford’s attempt to limit his costs to only £5,000 in a privacy claim by making an “inadequate” Calderbank offer.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 21st March 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Barristers oppose plans for more flexible CPD regime – Legal Futures

‘Plans by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to introduce a more flexible, outcomes-focused CPD scheme have met with widespread opposition from barristers.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 21st March 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk