Flaws in Home Office security forcing staff to rely on incomplete intelligence – The Guardian

Posted December 3rd, 2015 in computer programs, immigration, news, passports, reports, terrorism, visas by sally

‘A security database used to identify potential terrorists entering the UK is breaking down twice a week forcing frontline staff to rely on incomplete intelligence, an official report has revealed. Independent auditors found that the warnings index system, which was supposed to be dismantled more than 12 years ago, is so unstable that it regularly collapses. The e-borders system which was supposed to replace it in 2011 will not be implemented before 2019 at a cost of more than £1bn, the National Audit Office report has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 3rd December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Woman who refused treatment after losing ‘sparkle’ dies – BBC News

Posted December 3rd, 2015 in anonymity, consent, health, medical treatment, news by sally

‘A woman who rejected life-saving kidney treatment, saying she felt she had lost her “sparkle” and did not want to get old, has died, it has emerged.’

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BBC News, 3rd December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jailed Libor trader Tom Hayes denied fair trial, says lawyer – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in appeals, banking, codes of practice, conspiracy, fines, fraud, juries, news, standards by sally

‘Th judge who sentenced a former trader to 14 years in jail for conspiracy to rig Libor blocked the defence from presenting key evidence about a banking industry that routinely flouted rules, the court of appeal has heard.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prior disclosures do not undermine patent filings made on the same day, rules High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in disclosure, news, patents, time limits by sally

‘Disclosure of information relevant to an invention does not mean the invention cannot be patented as long as the patent application is filed later the same day, the High Court has ruled.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st December 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Unhappy customer sues Apple after honeymoon photos are wiped from phone – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in compensation, costs, negligence, news, photography, telecommunications by sally

‘An Apple customer has won a “monumental victory” over the tech company after his photos were wiped.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge questions ‘astonishing’ £1.3m for consultancy fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court has sent a strong signal to law firms ‘sub-contracting’ disclosure work to third parties.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Prisons to introduce tests for legal highs in bid to reduce violence – The Guardian

‘Ministers claim the introduction of new drug tests able to detect legal highs such as spice and black mamba will prove a “gamechanger” in curbing the rising tide of violence in jails across England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judges will need to get to grips with AI, says Lord Neuberger – Litigation Futures

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in artificial intelligence, computer programs, judges, judiciary, news by sally

‘Judges will have to learn how to use artificial intelligence (AI), the president of the Supreme Court has said, but there is “little point” in them worrying about the possibility of being replaced by it.’

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Litigation Futures, 30th November 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Dyson advert sucks, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, statistics by sally

‘Advertising Standards Authority upholds complaint by Gtech over press and YouTube campaign, saying tests “did not reflect normal conditions”.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

When to call it a day… – Nearly Legal

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in asylum, health, housing, immigration, judicial review, news, pre-action conduct by sally

‘The risks of a client deciding to go it alone at the last stage of judicial review proceedings.’

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Nearly Legal, 30th November 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Judge’s anger at being ‘unable to protect public’ from serial drink-driver who is a ‘death in waiting’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in alcohol abuse, criminal justice, dangerous driving, judges, news, sentencing by sally

‘Birmingham judge bemoans sentencing powers that leave him unable to impose a ‘sentence that is deserved’ in case of ‘deadly’ drink-driver.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bride-to-be used fake email addresses to win £25,000 wedding competition – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in advertising, compensation, complaints, electronic mail, marriage, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘A bride-to-be tried to win a competition for a £25,000 wedding by using thousands of fake email addresses to secure the highest vote.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stonehenge druid King Arthur resurrects remains battle – BBC News

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in burials and cremation, interpretation, judicial review, monuments, news by sally

‘A senior druid has vowed to seek a judicial review over a government decision allowing ancient human remains from Stonehenge to be kept in a museum.’

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BBC News, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Second transgender prisoner found dead in male jail – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in attempts, codes of practice, death in custody, gender, murder, news, prisons, suicide, women by sally

‘A transgender woman has become the second trans prisoner in the space of a month to apparently take their own life while serving time in a male jail in England.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court grants woman right to die after ‘losing her sparkle’ – The Guardian

‘Woman known as C is described as “impulsive and self-centred” but competent enough to refuse dialysis after destroying kidneys in suicide attempt.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Appeal judges back legal aid residence test – Legal Voice

Posted December 1st, 2015 in appeals, civil justice, domicile, human rights, legal aid, news, ultra vires by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has unanimously ruled that the government’s proposed residence test for civil legal aid is lawful, overturning a judgment by the High Court last year which found the measure to be discriminatory and unlawful. The test, if implemented, will restrict public funding for legal representation in civil cases to individuals who can prove that they are lawfully resident in the UK and have been so for a 12 month period at some time in the past.’

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Legal Voice, 1st December 2015

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Resolving disputes over arbitration jurisdiction ‘good case management’ by English courts, experts say – OUT-LAW.com

‘By stepping in to resolve a dispute over the tribunal’s jurisdiction rather than leave the question to the tribunal, the English courts have in fact reinforced their commitment to support this form of dispute resolution.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st December 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

What’s all the fuss about the Lord’s prayer? Emma Fenelon – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 1st, 2015 in advertising, Church of England, equality, freedom of expression, news by sally

‘“I find your lack of faith disturbing” (Darth Vader). Digital Cinema Media (DCM), the media agency that supplies adverts to 80% of UK cinemas caused consternation last week when it announced its refusal to show a 60-second advert by the Church of England encouraging people to pray. The ad would have been guaranteed a sizable audience had it been permitted to air as planned before the upcoming Star Wars: the Force Awakens, advance ticket sales for which have broken all known records.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Ministers eye making legal regulators independent from professional bodies – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 1st, 2015 in barristers, consultations, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Government will consult by Spring 2016 on making legal services regulators independent from their representative bodies, ministers have said. The Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills said in a 25-page paper, A better deal: boosting competition to bring down bills for families and firms, said the consultation would also cover the removal of barriers so that it becomes easier for alternative business structures, such as supermarkets and estate agents, to offer legal services like conveyancing, probate and litigation in England and Wales.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th November 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

LSB joins solicitors in questioning government’s criminal advocacy plans – Legal Futures

Posted December 1st, 2015 in advocacy, consultations, criminal justice, Legal Services Board, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has joined solicitors in questioning government plans to introduce additional regulation of criminal advocacy.’

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Legal Futures, 1st December 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk