Woman left partially blinded in appalling assault by father-in-law who believed she had had affair – The Independent

Posted June 12th, 2014 in families, grievous bodily harm, news, personal injuries, sentencing by sally

‘A father-in-law has been jailed after inflicting appalling and severe injuries on a family member, almost blinding her, after flying into a crazed revenge attack over adultery that he believed that she had committed.’

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The Independent, 11th June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ombudsman finds Bedfordshire man failed by council and health service – BBC News

‘Health and social care officials have been criticised for letting a severely mentally ill patient live in “squalor”.’

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BBC News, 12th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Phone hacking trial: After eight months, jury today begins sifting the mountain of evidence – The Independent

‘They are the two words the jury in the phone hacking trial may have waited months to hear. At 3.15pm in court 12 of the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Saunders said: “And finally.”’

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The Independent, 12th June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Secret’ terror trial ruling due at Old Bailey – BBC News

‘The Court of Appeal is to rule on whether a trial of two terrorist suspects can be heard in secret.’

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BBC News, 12th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Currency market rigging could become criminal offence – The Guardian

Posted June 12th, 2014 in crime, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Rigging the foreign exchange, bond and commodity markets could become a criminal offence, the government will warn the City on Thursday as part of its latest effort to clean up the financial markets after a wave of scandals and allegations relating to key benchmarks.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Get informed – New Law Journal

Posted June 11th, 2014 in divorce, financial advice, mortgages, news by sally

‘Natasha Phillips underlines the importance of mortgage capacity assessments in divorce proceedings.’

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New Law Journal, 6th June 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

A new test to determine who is fit for trial – Law Commission

‘How do we determine whether someone accused of a crime is physically and mentally fit to participate in a criminal trial? And what do we do if they are not? These are the questions being examined today as the Law Commission brings together leading experts in criminal law and mental health to exchange views at a consultation event at Leeds University.’

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Law Commission, 11th June 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Unfit To Plead in the Magistrates’ and Youth Courts? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted June 11th, 2014 in fitness to plead, magistrates, news, youth courts by sally

‘Miranda Bevan on the Law Commission’s review of the law on unfitness to plead in England and Wales.’

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Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 6th June 2014

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Analysis Post-Re B-S: The Fallacy of ‘Better than Good Enough Care’ – Family Law Week

Posted June 11th, 2014 in care orders, children, news by sally

‘Paul Hart, barrister, 15 Winckley Square Chambers, considers whether the courts are asking the right question when determining the capability of parents to care for their children.’

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Family Law Week, 10th June 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Work capability assessment system at ‘virtual collapse’, says judge – The Guardian

Posted June 11th, 2014 in benefits, disabled persons, legal aid, news, tribunals by sally

‘The outgoing head of the tribunal which hears appeals relating to social security benefits has said that the work capability assessment (WCA) has undergone “virtual collapse” and accused the Department for Work and Pensions of being overly optimistic about the pace at which fit-for-work tests were being carried out.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

“Virtually impossible” for solicitors to claim success fees in cases involving children – Litigation Futures

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee is to investigate claims that the Jackson reforms have made it “virtually impossible” for solicitors to claim success fees in cases involving children, it has emerged.’

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Litigation Futures, 11th June 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Corrupt police face 14 years in jail under new law – Daily Telegraph

‘New offence will introduce new tougher penalty for dishonest police in wake of Stephen Lawrence revelations.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th June 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

IPPC say South Wales Police let down woman in hammer attack – BBC News

‘A woman attacked by her partner with a claw hammer was put at “serious risk” by South Wales Police, despite her reporting him to them, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has said.

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BBC News, 11th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge backs birth control for parents with many children taken into care – The Guardian

Posted June 11th, 2014 in care orders, children, contraception, judges, news, social services by sally

‘The most senior family judge in England and Wales has supported the provision of contraception to parents who have large numbers of children taken into care.’

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The Guardian, 10th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lack of legal aid derails contact proceedings – The Guardian

‘The President of the Family Division has adjourned contact proceedings by an unrepresented father pending the Ministry of Justice or any other responsible body to come up with the solution to the problem of one parent suffering an injustice due to the withdrawal of legal aid.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th June 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Why are special courts that can help drug users at risk of being scrapped? – The Guardian

Posted June 10th, 2014 in courts, crime, drug abuse, magistrates, news by sally

‘Launched as a pilot programme a decade ago, dedicated drug courts were widely promoted as one of the best hopes of halting addiction-fuelled crime. According to supporters, however, specialist courts are now in danger of being disbanded through lack of official support. The West London drugs court, in Hammersmith, sits only half a day a week and is no longer staffed exclusively by specially trained magistrates.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Orchid View care home scandal review ‘not enough’ – BBC News

Posted June 10th, 2014 in care homes, elderly, inquiries, news, reports by sally

‘A man whose mother died at a scandal-hit care home has said a serious case review has not gone far enough and the private care home sector has failed.’

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BBC News, 9th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Commission: lack of government support led us to drop injury fraud project –

‘The Law Commission has said that lack of support from the Ministry of Justice was behind its decision not to include the law on fraud by personal injury victims in its latest reform programme.’


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Litigation Futures, 10th June 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

State immunity does not avail Saudi Prince – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Rosalind English posted in January 2014 on Jones v. the United Kingdom, in which the Strasbourg Court decided that the inability of four men to bring torture compensation claims against Saudi Arabia in UK courts did not breach Article 6(1) of the Convention (access to court). The Court held that a grant of state immunity reflected generally recognised rules of public international law and so there had been no violation.’


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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th June 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Magistrate court fines ‘may rise 300%’ under new plans – BBC News

Posted June 10th, 2014 in fines, magistrates, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Maximum fines imposed by magistrates are set to rise dramatically under new proposals for England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 10th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk