Council defeats High Court challenge to consultation on adult care cuts – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a legal challenge to Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council’s consultation on its proposal to cut its adult social care budget for 2015/16.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 20th February 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Southwark gatekeeping: All of the wrong – NearlyLegal

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in homelessness, housing, judicial review, local government, news, public interest by sally

‘Courtesy of Hansen Palomares Solicitors comes news of this settled Judicial Review of LB Southwark’s gatekeeping practices on homeless applications. It appears, to put it mildly, that Southwark have had a range of what should have been obviously unlawful policies on homeless applications, and even put them into leaflets and their website.’

Full story

NearlyLegal, 22nd February 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Marriage tax allowance: how does it work? – The Guardian

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in civil partnerships, income tax, married persons, news, remuneration, taxation by sally

‘Registration has opened for the new marriage tax allowance – a Conservative policy which will allow some couples to share part of their annual income tax allowance.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law firms need to rethink approach under ‘fundamentally dishonest’ rule, barristers warn – Litigation Futures

‘Claimant solicitors have been warned that they need to review their retainers and advise clients about the implications of the new ‘fundamentally dishonest’ rule being introduced shortly.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 23rd February 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Law in Tesco (not Tesco law) – The Future of Law

‘Family proceedings involving children where neither parent had legal representation, increased by 30% in the family court in 2013-14, revealed the National Audit Office last year in a report on legal aid.’

Full story

The Future of Law, 20th February 2015

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

Two convicted murderers could be first same-sex couple to wed in a British prison – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in homosexuality, marriage, murder, news, prisons by sally

‘Two convicted murderers are set to wed in prison on Monday, in what is believed to the first gay wedding in a British jail.’

Full story

The Independent, 20th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How abuse trial exposed dark secret at top music schools – The Guardian

‘It was the trial of Michael Brewer in 2013 that exposed the dark secret of abuse at some of the UK’s most prestigious music schools. Brewer, a former head of music at Chetham’s in Manchester, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a pupil who was 14 at the time. His victim, Frances Andrade, a gifted violinist, killed herself after giving evidence against him, before he was sentenced to six years in jail.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More bereaved families to get legal aid at inquests if state was involved in death – The Guardian

‘More bereaved families will be entitled to legal aid at inquests after a high court judge ruled that official guidance on whether to provide support was “misleading and inaccurate”.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law chief marks Magna Carta with fierce attack on Cameron – The Independent

‘Britain’s chief criminal barrister will tear into David Cameron and past governments for treating public law “with contempt”, at a lavish £1,750-a-ticket government-backed conference tomorrow marking the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barry George in protest over compensation rules – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in compensation, demonstrations, miscarriage of justice, murder, news by sally

‘Barry George, the man wrongfully convicted of the murder of Jill Dando, has told the BBC that a decision not to award him compensation is “a mockery of justice”.’

Full story

BBC News, 23rd February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Too many deaths in custody are preventable but staff lack mental health expertise, says human rights body – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in death in custody, human rights, inquiries, mental health, news, prisons, statistics, suicide by sally

‘Hundreds of deaths in psychiatric units, prisons and police cells between 2010 and 2013 were avoidable and were caused by repeated “basic errors” by staff ignorant of mental-health risks, human rights advocates have said.’

Full story

The Independent, 23rd February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Husband jailed for 15 years after trying to kill nurse – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in attempted murder, attempts, domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of attempting to murder his wife as she worked in an intensive care unit.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Top UK music teacher Philip Pickett jailed for 11 years over sex attacks in sound-proof Guildhall practice rooms – The Independent

‘A former Guildhall School of Music teacher who lured his female pupils into soundproof practice rooms before he raped and abused them has been jailed for 11 years.’

Full story

The Independent, 20th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bring in blame-free divorces and rights for cohabitants, says law body – The Guardian

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in children, cohabitation, dispute resolution, divorce, equality, news by sally

‘Blame-free divorces and fairer property rights for cohabiting couples should be introduced as a matter of urgency, a leading family law organisation has urged.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court intermediary numbers to double – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in budgets, courts, evidence, news, victims, witnesses by sally

‘The government has pledged to double the number of experts who help vulnerable witnesses and victims in courts in England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges to rule on police requests for journalists’ phone records – Daily Telegraph

‘Police to be told they need to obtain the permission of a judge if they want to obtain details of a journalist’s phone calls or emails.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Danny Alexander calls for corporate tax evasion crackdown – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in codes of practice, corporation tax, fines, news, prosecutions, tax evasion by sally

‘Companies that fail to prevent tax evasion could face penalties as part of plans announced by Danny Alexander.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Number of jailed mothers is a ‘litany of despair’ – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in children, domestic violence, drug abuse, families, mental health, news, prisons, sentencing, women by sally

‘The number of women imprisoned in Britain every year represents a “litany of despair”, Nick Clegg will say tomorrow, in a tacit admission that the coalition has failed to tackle high rates of female incarceration.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

HSBC should face UK criminal charges, says former public prosecutor – The Guardian

‘HSBC’s Swiss arm is potentially open to a range of criminal charges in Britain because there is “credible evidence” that it has had a role in enabling tax evasion, according to a former director of public prosecutions.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 20th, 2015 in legislation by sally

SI 2015/240 – The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Code of Practice for Powers of Entry and Description of Relevant Persons) Order 2015

SI 2015/235 – The Public Processions (Electronic Communication of Notices) (Northern Ireland) Order 2015

SI 2015/234 – The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015

SI 2015/233 – The Health Service Medicines (Control of Prices and Supply of Information) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

SI 2015/202 – The Social Security (Penalty as Alternative to Prosecution) (Maximum Amount) Order 2015
Continue reading…