Further shots fired in the long-running battle between credit hire companies and insurers… Zenith PI Blog

Posted February 8th, 2016 in appeals, consumer credit, contracts, damages, insurance, news by sally

‘Credit hire litigation is rife with technical arguments which have been accused of being “layers of artificiality” (by Judge Mackie in W v Veolia Environmental Services (UK) Plc [2011] EWHC 2020 (QB), [2012] 1 All E.R. (Comm) 667).’

Full story

Zenith PI Blog, 8th February 2016

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Update to Sexual offences definitive guideline – Sentencing Council

Posted February 8th, 2016 in codes of practice, news, sentencing, sexual offences, young offenders by sally

‘The sentencing guideline on the sentencing of sexual offences has been updated to take account of legislative changes to sections 48, 49, and 50 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The changes relate to a change in terminology and now use the term “sexual exploitation of a child” to replace references to “child prostitution” and “child pornography”. The changes are on pages 89 to 94 of the guideline.’

Full guideline

Sentencing Council, 5th February 2016

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

PM calls for rethink of treatment of pregnant women in prison – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 8th, 2016 in children, pilot schemes, pregnancy, press releases, prisons, statistics, women by sally

‘Treatment of pregnant women and female prisoners with babies to be reformed including tagging, problem-solving courts and alternative resettlement units.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 8th February 2016

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

Profession gets to work on Jackson’s vision of a contingent legal aid fund – Litigation Futures

‘The Bar Council, Law Society and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) have already begun talks on forming a working party that will take forward Lord Justice Jackson’s call for a contingent legal aid fund (CLAF), it has emerged.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 5th February 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge complains of “too many swindlers” after wrongly questioning status of solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted February 8th, 2016 in appeals, bias, internet, judges, landlord & tenant, Law Society, news, solicitors by sally

‘A judge who wrongly questioned the status of a solicitor after doing his own research on the Law Society’s website, has been criticised by the Court of Appeal.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 5th February 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Speech by Lord Justice Jackson – The Case for a CLAF – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Lord Justice Jackson gave the keynote speech at the Solicitors’ Costs Conference on 2 February 2016.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 4th February 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

BSB publishes its response to the CMA legal services market study’s statement of scope – Bar Standards Board

Posted February 8th, 2016 in barristers, competition, legal services, licensing, news by sally

‘The BSB is pleased to make public its response to the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA’s) “Statement of Scope” for its legal services market study.’

Full response

Bar Standards Board, 5th February 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Lowestoft man jailed for raping 12-year-old he met online – BBC News

Posted February 8th, 2016 in child abuse, internet, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A man who raped a 12-year-old girl he had groomed on social media has been jailed for eight years.’

Full story

BBC News, 6th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs to use Human Rights Act to claim anonymity if arrested by police – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 8th, 2016 in anonymity, disclosure, human rights, inquiries, media, news, parliament, police, privacy by sally

‘MPs will use human rights laws this week to prevent politicians being named the House of Commons after their arrest.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lord Bramall inquiry: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe called to account by MPs – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 8th, 2016 in armed forces, child abuse, inquiries, news, police, select committees by sally

‘Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Britain’s most senior police officer, will explain his conduct over the beleaguered child sex abuse inquiry for the first time later this month after being called to give evidence to MPs.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rapes linked to online dating up by more than 450% in five years – The Independent

Posted February 8th, 2016 in internet, national crime agency, news, rape, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘The number of rape allegations linked to online dating websites has increased sixfold in five years, according to Britain’s leading crime-fighting body.’

Full story

The Independent, 8th February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lord Brittan abuse inquiry ‘fully justified’, review finds – BBC News

‘The Metropolitan Police investigation of a rape allegation against the late Lord Brittan was “fully justified”, a review has concluded.’.

Full story

BBC News, 7th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisons which release most criminals who reoffend will be named and shamed, David Cameron pledges – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 8th, 2016 in news, prisons, recidivists by sally

‘David Cameron also wants to create six “reform prisons” whose governors would be given more freedom to implement reforms and control spending.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Criminals with UK children cannot be automatically deported, says EU court – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in children, criminal records, deportation, EC law, families, news by sally

‘The EU’s top court has told the home secretary, Theresa May, she cannot deport a Moroccan mother with a British-born son simply because she has a criminal record.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Examination of child witnesses not in violation of Article 6 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 5th, 2016 in children, cross-examination, human rights, news, witnesses by sally

‘Mark William Patrick MacLennan v Her Majesty’s Advocate, [2015] HCJAC 128. The High Court has refused an appeal under Article 6 on the lack of effective cross-examination of child witness, but has provided interesting commentary on how such investigations could be better handled in future to meet Strasbourg standards.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Bedroom tax challenge success – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 5th, 2016 in appeals, benefits, disability discrimination, domestic violence, housing, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has given its judgment in a conjoined appeal of two of the latest challenges to the bedroom tax/removal of spare room subsidy (delete as you see fit), holding that it was unlawfully discriminatory in its application to 1.A female victim of serious domestic violence living in a home significantly adapted (including the provision of a “safe room”) to ensure her safety in the face of threats from her former partner; and 2. A severely disabled 15 year old boy cared for by his grandmother and her partner, who required a carer to stay in their home two nights per week.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

GQ publisher fined for contempt of court over Rebekah Brooks article – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in contempt of court, fines, interception, media, news by sally

‘The publisher of GQ magazine has been fined £10,000 after being found in contempt of court over an article that seriously risked prejudicing the phone-hacking trial of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theresa May feared creating police commissioner ‘monster’ – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2016 in crime, elections, local government, news, police by sally

‘Home Secretary Theresa May has admitted fearing she had created a “monster” by setting up police and crime commissioners in England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Torture victims face two-year delays in UK asylum claims – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in asylum, delay, news, torture by sally

‘Torture victims who claim asylum in Britain are facing delays of more than two years before their cases are resolved, according to a report by the official immigration and borders watchdog.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dismissed NHS whistleblower who exposed safety concerns handed £1.22m – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in damages, health & safety, hospitals, news, unfair dismissal, whistleblowers by sally

‘An NHS whistleblower who was unfairly sacked after exposing concerns about patient safety has been awarded £1.22m in damages by a hospital trust.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk