FGM: reporting of cases among children becomes mandatory – The Guardian

‘A duty on all teachers, doctors, nurses and social workers to report child cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police will come into force next week.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Woman killed partner and child ‘to ward off vampires’ – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2015 in attempted murder, attempts, domestic violence, mental health, murder, news by sally

‘A woman killed her partner and their four-year-old daughter to prevent the world being taken over by vampires, a court has heard.’

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the Guardian, 20th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ban media from naming sex abuse suspects before charge, says top lawyer – The Guardian

‘A former top prosecutor has said parliament should pass a law banning the media from naming suspects in sex abuse cases until they are charged.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Whether the right to reside test complies with EU law when applied to ‘family benefits’ – Garden Court Chambers Blog

Posted October 21st, 2015 in benefits, EC law, families, immigration, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Desmond Rutledge considers the Advocate General’s Opinion (C-308/14) on the EU Commission’s action against the United Kingdom’s use of the right to reside test.’

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Garden Court Chambers Blog, 20th October 2015

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Slovakian jailed for raping teenager ‘while high on glue-like substance’ – Daily Telegraph

‘Court hears Zdenko Turtak, a 22-year-old Slovakian Roma, clubbed his victim 18 times with a rock and left her for dead in the Beeston area of Leeds.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Criticism of JR process ‘unfounded’, legal charity claims – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Perceptions that judicial review is an ineffective drain on the public purse and frequently abused by claimants are ‘at best misleading and at worst false’, according to a legal charity’s study of 502 cases.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th October 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court of Appeal considers damages for privacy breaches – data protection to follow suit? – Panopticon

Posted October 21st, 2015 in appeals, compensation, damages, data protection, interception, media, news, privacy by sally

‘This week, the Court of Appeal is grappling with a difficult and important question: how do you value an invasion of privacy? In other words, where someone has suffered a breach of their privacy rights, how do you go about determining the compensation they should receive?’

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Panopticon, 20th October 2015

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Charity Commission and terrorism suspect campaigners Cage in high court – The Guardian

‘The right to fund unpopular causes is at the heart of a key case heard in the high court on Wednesday, in a legal battle that pits controversial campaigners Cage against the charity regulator.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jackson: drop ‘oppressive’ exemption to my rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 21st, 2015 in bankruptcy, civil justice, civil procedure rules, costs, insolvency, news by sally

‘Lord Justice Jackson has urged the government to ditch one of the final exemptions to his civil justice reforms.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th October 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Austerity and Public Law: Jed Meers: The Localism-and-Austerity Hybrid: The Case of Discretionary Housing Payments – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 21st, 2015 in benefits, bills, budgets, housing, local government, news, rent by sally

‘In 2001, a small scale form of discretionary support was introduced to assist those on housing benefit who were unable to afford their rent: discretionary housing payments (DHPs). The numbers of awards were modest, reaching approximately 2,000 in 2002/3, and representing just £21million of expenditure per annum as recently as 2008/9 (source). This same scheme – administered by Local Authorities – now makes more than 390,000 awards per annum and the July budget of 2015 has allocated £800million for their use across the course of this Parliament.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st October 2015

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

The Sun’s ‘cleavage week’ ads escape ban – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2015 in advertising, complaints, jurisdiction, media, news, ombudsmen, photography, women by sally

‘A competition in the Sun inviting readers to submit a photo of their cleavage for the chance to win £1,000 has escaped a ban from the advertising watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New laws to allow spies to hack people’s smartphones and computers – Daily Telegraph

‘The investigatory powers bill will give greater powers to MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, according to reports.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st October 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lady Hale joins chorus of concerns over criminal courts charge – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2015 in courts, criminal courts charge, fees, guilty pleas, judges, news, speeches by sally

‘The deputy president of the supreme court, Lady Hale, has become the latest judge to question whether the newly imposed criminal courts charge encourages defendants to plead guilty.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sameena Imam trial: brothers found guilty of murdering cash and carry manager – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2015 in conspiracy, murder, news by sally

‘Two brothers murdered a cash and carry manager by pressing a tea towel soaked with chloroform over her mouth and administering a “bizarre” combination of toxic chemicals including arsenic and mercury.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Take-up of barrister entities is “increasing significantly” – Legal Futures

Posted October 20th, 2015 in barristers, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

‘Barristers have been slow to adopt new entity models, but take-up is “increasing significantly” since the application process became more streamlined, according to the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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Legal Futures, 20th October 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Britain’s most dangerous prisoners to get meditation lessons – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2015 in mental health, news, prisons, rehabilitation, violent offenders by sally

‘Prison staff are to teach meditation to Britain’s most dangerous criminals in an attempt to aid their rehabilitation and quell their violent impulses.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Woman GP who caned tycoon lover in ’50 Shades of Grey sex game’ cleared of assault – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2015 in assault, consent, news by sally

‘Elvira Blakemore, whose lover called 999 after being left bleeding after spanking session, is acquitted by jury at Croydon Crown Court after only 15 minutes.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th October 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government accused of trying to water down Freedom of Information Act – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2015 in freedom of information, legislation, media, news by sally

‘The government has been accused of a “cynical and dangerous” attempt to water down important freedom of information legislation in a campaign uniting journalists and supporters of press freedom launched on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

£150m legal bill for troops just doing their duty – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2015 in armed forces, bills, costs, human rights, judicial review, law firms, news, time limits, treaties, war by sally

‘Ministers draw up plans to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights next time the Armed Forces are sent into combat.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th October 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Why can’t I return underwear? The questions all law students get asked – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2015 in legal education, news by sally

‘Regardless of how long you’ve been studying it, your friends and family will assume you’re an expert on every aspect of the law.’

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The Guardian, 16th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk