Bar regulator launches consultation on the Professional Statement threshold standard and competences, seeks input from all – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 17th, 2016 in barristers, consultations, professional conduct by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched its consultation on the Professional Statement threshold standard and competences.’

Full consultation

Bar Standards Board, 14th March 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Jackson takes hard line on firm’s late court document – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 17th, 2016 in appeals, default judgments, delay, documents, judges, law firms, news by sally

‘Lord Justice Jackson has upheld a £211,000 claim won by default after the defendant missed their final chance to submit a court document.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Family Law Week’s Budget Briefing. March 2016 – Family Law Week

Posted March 17th, 2016 in budgets, families, news, taxation by sally

‘Matt Boggis of Creaseys Chartered Accountants and tax advisers explains the Budget changes of most relevance to family lawyers.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 16th March 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Michael Gove announces plans for ‘reform prisons’ – The Guardian

Posted March 17th, 2016 in bills, news, prisons by sally

‘A new bill is to pave the way for “reform prisons” modelled on academy schools, with league tables and provision for failing jails to be taken over by more successful prisons, the justice secretary, Michael Gove, has told MPs.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met Police decision to drop Tower Hamlets electoral fraud investigation branded ‘utter disgrace’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 17th, 2016 in corruption, elections, evidence, fraud, local government, London, news, police by sally

‘Scotland Yard has dropped its investigation into electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets after finding “insufficient evidence that criminal offences had been committed”. Detectives launched the probe after Lutfur Rahman, the borough’s former mayor, was found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices by a judge following a High Court hearing.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Goddard Inquiry: Focus on CofE handling of abuse claims – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2016 in child abuse, Church of England, inquiries, news, victims by sally

‘A public inquiry is to consider whether there was interference by the Church of England in the case of jailed former Bishop of Lewes Peter Ball.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Poppers ‘not part of legal highs ban’ – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2016 in drug abuse, drug offences, homosexuality, legislation, news by sally

‘Government drugs advisers have said “poppers” – used by many gay men to enhance sexual experience – will not be covered by a ban on “legal highs”. The Psychoactive Substances Act, which comes into force in the UK next month, makes it illegal to supply drugs which have a direct effect on mental processes, unless the drug is exempted. Ministers had indicated that poppers would be included in the ban. But advisers say poppers have only a “peripheral” effect on the brain.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers defeat trade union funding reforms – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2016 in bills, news, parliament, political parties, trade unions by sally

‘The government has been heavily defeated in the House of Lords over trade union reforms Labour fears will cost it millions of pounds in funding. Ministers want to require Labour-affiliated union members to “opt in” to paying a levy to the party. But peers voted by 320 to 172 to apply the changes to new members only and with a 12-month transition period.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court ruling on teenager who refused to live with her family ‘because they were not strict enough Muslims’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 17th, 2016 in children, families, homelessness, Islam, local government, news, young persons by sally

‘A teenager who did not want to live with her family because “they were not strict enough Muslims” after being returned from the Syrian border, should have been provided with accommodation and support by the local authority, the High Court has said.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Shami Chakrabarti on 14 years of fighting the power: ‘The leviathan is far from defeated’ – The Guardian

Posted March 17th, 2016 in barristers, charities, human rights, news by sally

‘After years of speaking out on human rights, the Liberty director is stepping down. She describes why repeated attacks on freedom from governments of left and right – and the bullying tactics of their wannabe Malcolm Tuckers – haven’t dented her optimism.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Plans to ban e-cigarettes in public places defeated – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 17th, 2016 in bills, children, news, smoking, Wales by sally

‘Plans to ban e-cigarettes for the first time in the UK in public places where children are present have been defeated.
The landmark vote by the Welsh Assembly aimed to restrict the use of nicotine inhaling devices in public places such as schools, restaurants and on public transport.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cerys Edwards death: CPS could press criminal charges against driver – The Guardian

Posted March 17th, 2016 in children, dangerous driving, news, personal injuries, prosecutions, sentencing by sally

‘Prosecutor reviewing whether motorist should face new charges after girl dies nine years after crash left her paralysed.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man given vasectomy by mistake after complaining about waiting times – Daily Telegraph

‘A hospital doctor who gave a man a vasectomy by mistake after he complaint about waiting for another procedure has admitted misconduct charges.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sentencing Council launches new revised definitive guideline for sentencing dangerous dog offences – Sentencing Council

Posted March 17th, 2016 in community service, dogs, fines, news, sentencing by sally

‘The Sentencing Council has published a revised guideline for judges and magistrates on the sentencing of dangerous dog offences. The new guideline, which has been issued following a public consultation, will come into effect on 1 July 2016.’

Full guideline

Sentencing Council, 17th March 2016

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Man jailed for trying to rape two-year-old girl – The Independent

Posted March 16th, 2016 in child abuse, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A man who tried to rape a toddler and sexually assaulted two other children has been jailed for 14 years.’

Full story

The Independent, 16th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges feel undervalued, says retired court of appeal member – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2016 in judges, judiciary, news, remuneration by sally

‘Judges feel unappreciated, demoralised and resent cuts to their pay, according to a recently retired member of the court of appeal.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rapist Luke Grender locked up as ‘lenient’ sentence reviewed – BBC News

‘A teenager rapist has had his suspended sentence replaced by a three-year term in a young offenders institution after the case was referred back to the Court of Appeal.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Battlelines drawn as shaken baby syndrome controversy set to run – The Guardian

‘Shaken baby syndrome is back in the news. Monday’s BBC Panorama programme focused on this most contentious of subjects and was itself prompted by the General Medical Council’s prosecution of Dr Waney Squier, a consultant neuropathologist who used to give evidence against those charged with injuring their baby but now provides expert evidence in their defence. On Friday she was found guilty by the GMC of giving “expert opinion evidence outside your field of expertise” in several cases that came before the criminal or family courts, and could be struck off the medical register as a result.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Investigatory Powers Bill: May defends surveillance powers – BBC News

‘Home Secretary Theresa May has defended controversial new surveillance powers as MPs debated them for the first time.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Goddard inquiry to hold preliminary hearing on abuse linked to church – The Guardian

‘The Wednesday in an investigation into the track record of Anglican churches in England and Wales in preventing exploitation, dealing with perpetrators and helping survivors to overcome trauma and obtain justice.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk