Probation changes linked to murders – BBC News

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in contracting out, murder, news, probation, trade unions by sally

‘Changes to the way offenders are supervised in England and Wales may have contributed to two murders, says the probation officers’ union.’

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BBC News, 2nd December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ofcom rejects Royal Mail’s competition concerns – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in competition, news, ombudsmen, postal service by sally

‘Britain’s postal regulator Ofcom will not overhaul rules for direct mail delivery competition, dealing a blow to Royal Mail which has complained that rival offers will undermine its ability to deliver a nationwide service.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ched Evans rape debate: Ofcom to investigate BBC DJ’s comments – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2014 in complaints, media, news, rape by sally

‘The UK media regulator has launched an investigation into comments made by BBC Radio Norfolk DJ Nick Conrad during a discussion about convicted rapist Ched Evans.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Doctor Myles Bradbury jailed for abusing young patients – BBC News

‘A paedophile doctor who abused young cancer patients has been sentenced to 22 years in jail. Myles Bradbury, 41, of Herringswell, Suffolk, admitted abusing 18 children in his care at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, between 2009 and 2013.’

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BBC News, 1st December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Libyan Rendition, Human Rights Week 2014 and the Naked Rambler – Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Libyan Rendition, Human Rights Week 2014 and the Naked Rambler – Human Rights Roundup.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Better late than never: MoJ finally publishes report on litigants in person – Legal Futures

Posted December 1st, 2014 in litigants in person, Ministry of Justice, news, reports by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has finally published a report it commissioned on litigants in person (LiPs) – more than a year after it was submitted. The report examined the experiences of LiPs in private law family cases before the legal aid cuts in April 2013, to assess their impact and help shape future policy.’

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Legal Futures, 28th November 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Non-accidental Injury and Re-balancing the Burden of Proof – Family Law Week

Posted December 1st, 2014 in burden of proof, care orders, child abuse, child neglect, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Dr John Fox, barrister of Lamb Building, reviews some recent cases which may suggest a re-consideration of the burden of proof in cases of alleged non-accidental injury.’

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Family Law Week, 27th November 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Ascertaining Children’s Wishes and Feelings – Family Law Week

Posted December 1st, 2014 in care orders, children, family courts, news by sally

‘Paul Bishop, an independent social worker and formerly a Children’s Guardian, draws on 20 years’ experience of interviewing children involved in family proceedings.’

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Family Law Week, 28th November 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Begging prosecutions increase dramatically across England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2014 in news, prosecutions, vagrancy by sally

‘Prosecutions for begging have rocketed across England and Wales over the past year with dramatic increases recorded in many police force areas. The number of cases brought to court under the 1824 Vagrancy Act has surged by 70%, prompting concerns that cuts to support services and benefits are pushing more people to resort to begging.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Boris Johnson to seek control of CPS and court system in London – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson wants to secure control of the courts and the prosecution service, a move which would put London’s mayor in charge of the criminal justice system in the capital, the Guardian has learned. The plan would see control wrested from Whitehall and the devolution of the most important pillars of the justice system.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Right to rent’ checks start in West Midlands – BBC News

Posted December 1st, 2014 in fines, immigration, landlord & tenant, news, passports by sally

‘Landlords in the West Midlands who fail to check whether prospective tenants are in the country legally will face a £3,000 fine, under a new rule expected to be rolled out across the UK.’

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BBC News, 1st December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police watchdog has carried out six investigations into commissioners – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2014 in complaints, expenses, news, police by sally

‘The policing watchdog for England and Wales has carried out six investigations into police and crime commissioners since they took up their posts two years ago.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jamie Cooper-Hohn wins £337m in High Court divorce case – BBC News

Posted November 28th, 2014 in divorce, financial dispute resolution, news by sally

‘The American wife of a London financier has been awarded £337m by a High Court judge in a divorce case.’

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BBC News, 27th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge attacks social workers for “grossly overstating” case in evidence – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 28th, 2014 in bias, care orders, child abuse, evidence, news, social services by sally

‘A judge has sharply criticised social workers for giving “visibly biased” evidence when a local authority applied for a final care order in relation to a three-year-old boy with a view to placing him for adoption.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th November 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

13 men guilty of enforced prostitution and rape of vulnerable girls in Bristol – The Guardian

Posted November 28th, 2014 in child abuse, news, prostitution, rape, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘Thirteen men, all of Somali origin, have been convicted of the systematic sexual abuse of vulnerable girls as young as 13 in Bristol and officers are investigating claims against 49 other suspects.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Dog sat on my accelerator’ speeding driver is jailed – BBC News

‘A driver who claimed his excessive speed during a police chase was due to his dog sitting on the accelerator pedal has been jailed for 13 months.’

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BBC News, 27th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme Court agrees to hear case on breach of unless order – Litigation Futures

‘The Supreme Court is to consider the consequences of failing to comply with an unless order for a second time, it has emerged.’

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Litigation Futures, 28th November 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Music bodies launch legal challenge against new UK private copying rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 28th, 2014 in artistic works, compensation, copyright, EC law, judicial review, licensing, news by sally

‘A number of UK music industry bodies have launched a legal challenge against newly introduced UK rules that enable consumers to make private copies of lawfully acquired copyrighted material without be held as copyright infringers.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th November 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Andrew Mitchell loses Plebgate libel trial – The Guardian

Posted November 28th, 2014 in closed circuit television, costs, defamation, news, parliament, police by sally

‘Andrew Mitchell, the Tory MP and former cabinet minister at the centre of the Plebgate row lost his high court libel trial on Thursday in a ruling which sees him facing a legal bill of millions of pounds and leaves his political career in tatters.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison numbers could push 100,000 by end of decade – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 28th, 2014 in Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, sexual offences, statistics, violent offenders by sally

‘Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, defends revised figures showing an expected surge in the number behind bars.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th November 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk