Law Society Sharia wills guidance “cannot change the law”, justice minister says – Legal Futures

‘The government has refused to be drawn into the row over controversial advice from the Law Society on Sharia-compliant wills, but insisted that it “does not, and cannot, change the law”.’

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Legal Futures, 28th July 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Domestic violence could become a specific offence, David Cameron says – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 28th, 2014 in criminal justice, domestic violence, news, police, prosecutions by sally

‘The Prime Minister says he will consider a new offence for those who attack their partners that will take into account a pattern of abuse.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dave Lee Travis to face retrial that includes new count of indecent assault – The Guardian

Posted July 28th, 2014 in news, retrials, sexual offences by sally

‘Former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis is to face a retrial for charges of sexual assault and indecent assault as well as a new count of indecent assault, a court heard today.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supreme Court set to rule on rights of trafficked Nigerian girl – The Independent

‘The UK’s highest court will rule on a landmark decision of whether illegal immigrants should be deprived of fundamental workers’ rights, following the appeal of a Nigerian national who was trafficked into the UK. Judges from the Supreme Court, including Britain’s most senior female judge Lady Hale, will deliver the verdict on Wednesday in a case which could set an important precedent for the rights of workers found to be treated as modern-day slaves.’

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The Independent, 27th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Alcohol abuse in pregnancy could become a crime, legal papers claim – The Guardian

‘An unprecedented court hearing to decide on the right of a child whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy to receive compensation could pave the way to the criminalisation of pregnant women’s behaviour, according to legal papers lodged with the judge.

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The Guardian, 26th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquiry launched into social care after Mikaeel Kular beaten to death by mother – Daily Telegraph

‘Three year old was beaten to death by his mother just weeks after social workers stopped monitoring his family’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge allegedly falls asleep during child rape trial – The Guardian

‘An investigation has been launched following claims a judge fell asleep in court, causing a child rape trial to be halted.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More women judges will improve law’: Britain’s only female Supreme Court judge calls for more diversity – The Independent

Posted July 28th, 2014 in diversity, judiciary, legal profession, news, statistics, Supreme Court, women by sally

‘Britain’s only female Supreme Court judge says there needs to be more gender equality shown across Britain’s legal system and that by appointing more female judges the quality of justice could be greatly improved.’

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The Independent, 27th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DPP to examine treatment of witnesses after abuse victim’s death – The Guardian

‘The director of public prosecutions (DPP) said she recognised the “real issue” over whether victims and witnesses are treated fairly after the death of a sex abuse victim sparked calls for reform.’

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The Guardian, 27th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Private nuisance – Article 6 and the costs conundrum – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 25th, 2014 in costs, human rights, insurance, news, nuisance, protective costs orders by sally

‘Coventry v. Lawrence [2014] UKSC 13, 23 July 2014, read judgment and Austin v. Miller Argent [2014] EWCA Civ 1012, 21 July 2014. Two important cases in the last few days showing how difficult it is to find a fair way to litigate private nuisance cases. Most of these claims have a modest financial value, but may raise complex factual and expert issues, even before you get to the law. The first case I shall deal with, Coventry, shows the iniquities of the recently departed system. The second, Austin, the dangers of the new.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd July 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lords agree ‘fundamental dishonesty’ clause – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 25th, 2014 in bills, compensation, fraud, fundamental dishonesty, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Peers have agreed to a clause in proposed legislation that gives courts the power to dismiss personal injury claims where the claimant has been “fundamentally dishonest”.’

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Law Society’s Gazette. 24th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Children: Public Law Update (July 2014) – Family Law Week

Posted July 25th, 2014 in care orders, case management, children, DNA, families, jurisdiction, news by sally

‘John Tughan, barrister, of 4 Paper Buildings reviews recent important judgments in public law children cases.’

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Family Law Week, 24th July 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Catholic Church defrocks 52 priests for sex abuse – BBC News

Posted July 25th, 2014 in child abuse, clergy, disciplinary procedures, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The Catholic Church in England and Wales has defrocked 52 priests for sexual abuse since 2001. The National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) also said 465 sexual assault claims were made against clergy members between 2003 and 2012.’

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BBC News, 24th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police to investigate Cyril Smith child abuse cover-up claims – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2014 in child abuse, news, police, sexual offences by sally

‘A criminal investigation is to be launched into an alleged cover-up of child abuse at a school linked to Sir Cyril Smith.The Liberal Democrat politician, who died in 2010, is alleged to have used his status to sexually abuse young boys with impunity at Knowl View School in Rochdale.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police chiefs were aware six years ago that undercover unit ‘had lost moral compass’ – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2014 in families, firearms, news, police, spying, victims by sally

‘The Scotland Yard undercover unit that gathered intelligence on 18 grieving families was known by police chiefs six years ago to have been so out of control it had “lost [its] moral compass” and become a “force within a force”.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More than 30 criminal cases involving ‘Fake Sheikh’ to be reviewed in light of Tulisa trial – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 25th, 2014 in Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, perjury, prosecutions by sally

‘ More than 30 criminal cases that relied on evidence given by undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood are being reviewed in light of the collapse of the Tulisa Contostavlos drugs trial.
The Crown Prosecution Service is looking again at the cases -as well as three that are still going on – after a judge ended the pop singer’s trial because there were “strong grounds” to believe the Sun reporter had lied in court and manipulated evidence.’

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Daily Telegraph, 24th July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Chicken factory probe ordered by health secretary – BBC News

Posted July 25th, 2014 in environmental health, food hygiene, news by sally

‘An investigation into allegations of hygiene failings at poultry processing factories has been ordered by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.’

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BBC News, 25th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Knife in bra killer Katie Jenkins jailed for manslaughter – BBC News

Posted July 24th, 2014 in guilty pleas, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman who stabbed a businessman in the neck in his car has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years.’

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BBC News, 24th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Economy Act copyright regime shelved by UK government – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 24th, 2014 in copyright, enforcement, intellectual property, internet, news by sally

‘Work on a new online copyright enforcement regime under the Digital Economy Act (DEA) has been shelved now that rights holders and internet service providers (ISPs) have voluntarily agreed a framework for educating alleged infringers about the harm of piracy, the UK government has confirmed.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th July 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Ex-NoW journalist Dan Evans gets suspended sentence over hacking – The Guardian

‘A former journalist at the News of the World who admitted listening to more than 1,000 hacked voicemail messages has been spared jail because of what the judge said was his “unique” role in giving the prosecution evidence in the trial of Andy Coulson, Rebekah Brooks and others.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk