Man jailed for four years for assault on disabled pensioner Alan Barnes – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2015 in assault, DNA, drug abuse, news, robbery, sentencing by sally

‘A drug addict whose attack on a disabled pensioner caused outrage around the world should use his four-year jail sentence to “do some thinking”, his victim has said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tobacco display ban extended to all shops – BBC News

Posted April 7th, 2015 in advertising, consumer protection, news, small businesses, smoking by sally

‘A ban on showing tobacco products at the point of sale in small shops across the UK has come into force.’

Full story

BBC News, 6th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tenant wins battle to stop Westminster council moving her out of London – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2015 in appeals, homelessness, housing, local government, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘A single mother of five children has won a protracted legal battle and prevented Westminster council from removing her family to Milton Keynes.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Drug drivers believe it is more acceptable than drink driving, according to Government study – the Independent

Posted April 7th, 2015 in careless driving, drug abuse, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘People who take drugs before getting behind the wheel of a car believe it is a “much more acceptable” thing to do than driving while drunk, according to a Government study.’

Full story

The Independent, 6th April 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Warning over Islamic radicalisation in England’s prisons

Posted April 7th, 2015 in gangs, Islam, news, prisons, reports, terrorism by sally

‘Staff shortages are making it harder to tackle Islamic radicalisation in England’s prisons, the former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office has warned.’

Full story

BBC News, 7th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Shared parental leave rules come into force in UK amid small business fear – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2015 in adoption, employment, maternity leave, news, parental rights, paternity leave by sally

‘New rules heralding Scandinavian-style shared parental leave of up to 50 weeks come into force this weekend as concerns continue that many employers are not ready for the “complicated and challenging” changes.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law changed so nuclear waste dumps can be forced on local communities – The Guardian

‘Nuclear waste dumps can be imposed on local communities without their support under a new law rushed through in the final hours of parliament.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crackdown begins on nuisance texts and phone calls – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2015 in consultations, fines, news, nuisance, telecommunications by sally

‘The spam text message will be familiar to most people. “Our records indicate you had a non-fault accident in the last three years and are in line for receiving compensation. Reply YES for more info. Reply NO to opt out.”’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Christian NHS worker appeals ruling she ‘bullied’ Muslim colleague by praying for her – Daily Telegraph

‘Lawyers for Victoria Wasteney lodge appeal against tribunal, claiming human rights were breached when she was disciplined after claims she tried to convert Enya Nawaz.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Half a million more people summoned to court over unpaid council tax, after benefits scrapped – The Independent

Posted April 7th, 2015 in benefits, council tax, crime, debts, news, social security by sally

‘Half a million more people were summoned to court last year over unpaid council tax, after benefits protecting low-income families from paying it were scrapped.’

Full story

The Independent, 6th April 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family court gives guardianship of black child to white foster carer – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2015 in fostering, guardianship, news by sally

‘A white British foster carer who has looked after a two-year-old boy of black African heritage since he was less than six months old has been named his “special guardian” by the family court.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Strangeways: Britain’s Toughest Prison Riot – BBC Two

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in news, prisons, violent disorder by sally

‘Twenty-five years after the biggest riot in British penal history, this film brings together the ringleaders of the trouble with the prison guards they battled with over three weeks of anarchy that brought Strangeways to its knees.’

iPlayer

BBC Two, 1st April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mutuals’ Deferred Shares Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in insurance, legislation, shareholders by sally

Mutuals’ Deferred Shares Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Pleadings and putting to proof – an update – Park Square Barristers

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in appeals, fraud, insurance, news, road traffic, striking out by sally

‘An appeal case from the High Court has clarified the position post-Hussain v Amin Charters in respect of road traffic insurers putting claimants to proof due to concerns about fraud.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 31st March 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Easter Break

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in news by sally

There will be no posts over the Easter weekend (Friday 3rd April – Monday 6th April inclusive) during which time the Library will be closed. We will resume posting on Tuesday 7th April.

free+vintage+digital+stamp_many+easter+bunnies

Streamlined forensic reporting – Park Square Barristers

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in evidence, forensic science, news, reports by sally

‘With ever-increasing cutbacks to our legal system, it’s of little surprise that the expensive area of forensic science has been targeted for cost reduction. As such, the introduction of streamlined forensic reporting (SFR) tries to introduce a more cost-effective response to the discovery of forensic material which might link a person to a crime scene.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 26th March 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Prisoner ‘absconder policy’ is ruled unlawful by High Court – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in fugitive offenders, illegality, news, parole, prisons by sally

‘A government policy to ban inmates with a history of absconding from being transferred to open prisons has been declared unlawful by senior judges.’

Full story

BBC News, 1st April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Montgomery Rules following the demise of Sidaway – No. 5 Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in appeals, birth, consent, hospitals, negligence, news, Scotland, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court decision in the case of Montgomery v. Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11, 11 March 2015 sounds the death knell for Sidaway. The Supreme Court comprised of 7 Law Lords has now unequivocally said that Sidaway should not be followed in medical cases where consent is in issue. Allowing the appeal from the Scottish courts by a woman whose baby suffered shoulder dystocia in labour, the Supreme Court held that women have a right to information about ‘any material risk’ in order to make autonomous decisions about how to give birth.’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 30th March 2015

Source: www.no5.com

The Care Act 2014: Charging for Care and Support – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in costs, disabled persons, elderly, news, social services by sally

‘This paper considers the key changes introduced by the Care Act 2014 (“the Act”) in
relation to charging for care and support, including deferred payments. (It does not
set out each element of the charging scheme, much of which is unchanged).’

Full story (PDF)

Doughty Street Chambers, March 2015

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

Benefit figures arising from cannabis plant confiscation – Park Square Barristers

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in benefits, confiscation, drug offences, news, proceeds of crime by sally

‘Ascribing benefit figures to immature plants is an increasingly common feature of cannabis plant confiscation proceedings.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 19th March 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk