We’ve got too many inquiries. I demand an inquiry – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 9th, 2015 in child abuse, inquiries, Iraq, local government, news by sally

‘Whether it’s Chilcot or child abuse, ministers have made the task too big to be useful.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

British jihadist Imran Khawaja jailed for 12 years – BBC News

Posted February 9th, 2015 in Islam, news, photography, sentencing, terrorism by sally

‘A British jihadist who travelled to Syria then faked his own death to try to return to the UK undetected has been given a 12-year custodial sentence.’

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BBC News, 6th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Punish hate crime on social media with internet asbos, say MPs – The Guardian

‘Social media users who persistently spread racial hatred online should be given “internet asbos” blocking them from sites such as Facebook and Twitter, according to an MPs’ report that examines the rising levels of antisemitism in Britain.’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lithuanian fraudster used ‘clever’ scam to steal £32,000 from John Lewis – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 9th, 2015 in fraud, news, sentencing by sally

‘Judge condemns Laima Butke’s devious con and jails her for 19-months, saying she hurt “decent company” John Lewis.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Asbestos NHS costs decision due from Supreme Court – BBC News

Posted February 9th, 2015 in appeals, asbestos, bills, costs, insurance, local government, news, Supreme Court, Wales by sally

‘Firms in Wales whose staff are treated for asbestos-related illnesses are to learn if they must reimburse the NHS.’

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BBC News, 9th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court guidelines for rape victims ‘are not working’, as study finds aggressive cross-examination and intimidating encounters are still common – The Independent

‘Victims of rape and sexual violence are not being properly protected during trials and should be dealt with in special courts, according to a new study to be published tomorrow. Guidelines meant to highlight the vulnerability of victims and special measures, such as allowing evidence to be given behind screens, “are not having their intended effect”, researchers at Bath University’s Institute for Policy Research warn.’

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The Independent, 8th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victims of Rotherham abuse scandal complained about killed PC, lawyer says – The Guardian

Posted February 9th, 2015 in child abuse, complaints, news, police, professional conduct by sally

‘A specialist child abuse lawyer has said two victims of the Rotherham scandal had complained to him about a police officer who has since been killed in a car crash.’

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The Guardian, 8th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Law and Rape – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted February 6th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, victims, women by sally

‘Convictions for rape in the UK are described as “shockingly low”. Why does the law appear to be failing to protect women? Clive Anderson discusses what needs to be done to improve the situation with the Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders, Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Martin Hewitt and two leading lawyers working in the area.’

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BBC Unreliable Evidence, 28th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Advocate general: Employment Appeal Tribunal was wrong in ‘Woolworths’ collective redundancy case – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 6th, 2015 in consultations, EC law, news, redundancy, tribunals by sally

‘UK rules limiting collective consultation requirements to cases where an employer was proposing 20 or more redundancies “at one establishment” are compatible with EU law, according to an adviser to the EU’s highest court.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th February 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’ : judging judicial decision-making – Lecture by Lord Neuberger

Posted February 6th, 2015 in bias, judgments, judiciary, news, reasons by sally

‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’: judging judicial decision-making (PDF)

Lecture by Lord Neuberger

F A Mann Lecture 2015

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Conditional Fee Agreements – Zenith PI Blog

Posted February 6th, 2015 in contracts, fees, insurance, news, solicitors by sally

‘On 27th January 2015, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in the case of Cox v Woodlands Manor Care Home Ltd (unreported – approved judgment is awaited) bringing home the importance of CFAs being compliant with the Cancellation of Contracts etc. Regulations 2008 and dealing with the situation where there might be legal expenses insurance cover in the background and how this might affect any CFA entered into.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 5th February 2015

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

D v UK exception remains exceptional in medical treatment cases under Article 3 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 6th, 2015 in human rights, immigration, medical treatment, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has confirmed that foreign nationals may be removed from the UK even where their lives will be drastically shortened due to a lack of healthcare in their home states. Removal in those circumstances does not breach Articles 3 or 8 ECHR except in the most exceptional cases.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 5th February 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Human Rights at the Crossroads? – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted February 6th, 2015 in constitutional law, elections, human rights, news, parliament, Supreme Court, treaties, veto by sally

‘Clive Anderson and guests get behind the political rhetoric to debate the potential impact on the rights of British citizens if the Government carries out a proposal to scrap the Human Rights Act and replace it with a “more British” Bill of Rights.’

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BBC Unreliable Evidence, 24th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Michael and others (Appellants) v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police and another (Respondents) – Supreme Court

Posted February 6th, 2015 in domestic violence, duty of care, human rights, law reports, negligence, police by sally

Michael and others (Appellants) v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police and another (Respondents) [2015] UKSC 2 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 28th January 2015

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

GCHQ intelligence sharing ‘was unlawful’, tribunal rules – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2015 in human rights, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

‘UK agency GCHQ’s sharing of intelligence gathered by US mass surveillance programmes was unlawful, a tribunal has ruled.’

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BBC News, 6th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunal tells council to disclose redactions from housing viability assessment – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 6th, 2015 in disclosure, housing, local government, news, planning, tribunals by sally

‘The First-tier Tribunal has ordered a London council to disclose redacted information in a viability assessment that led to the authority allowing a developer to vary the amount of affordable housing on a major site.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th February 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Man jailed for drunkenly setting off fireworks by mistake and burning down family home – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 6th, 2015 in arson, guilty pleas, news, sentencing by sally

‘Daniel Ellis sentenced to 34 months after ‘staggering’ home and putting lighter to firework fuse that wrecked family house in North Wales’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BBC licence fee: decriminalisation of non-payment pushed back until 2017 – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2015 in BBC, bills, fees, licensing, news by sally

‘The government has been defeated in the House of Lords after peers voted for an amendment backed by former BBC chairman Lord Grade preventing decriminalisation of non-payment of the licence fee before 2017.’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The revenge of retaliatory eviction law – NearlyLegal

Posted February 6th, 2015 in bills, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘After the Teather ‘revenge eviction’ member’s bill was talked out by a couple of Tory MPs, (Chope and Davis), the question was would the proposals survive in another form before the election.’

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NearlyLegal, 5th February 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Gary Glitter found guilty of child sex offences – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2015 in child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Former Glam rock star Gary Glitter faces spending the remainder of his life in prison after being found guilty of a series of child sex offences on three young girls, aged between 8 and 13.’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk