No rational basis for denying all prisoners the vote, concludes joint Parliamentary Committee – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 19th, 2013 in bills, elections, human rights, news, prisons, reports by sally

‘The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill today published its report.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Scientology, University Unrest and Right to Die – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This week, the Church of Scientology registered a win of sorts in the Supreme Court, while London’s biggest university said no to occupational student protests just as others were contemplating the possibility of gender-segregated talks  Meanwhile, the Home Secretary puts forward her answer to modern day slavery, while the Joint Committee on Human Rights puts pressure on Chris Grayling regarding the proposed legal aid reforms.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Mike Gordon: Constitutional Reform under the Coalition Government – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted December 19th, 2013 in constitutional reform, news, parliamentary papers by sally

‘The Government’s response to the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee’s (PCRC) report Do we need a constitutional convention for the UK? is in many ways a rather unremarkable document (Cm 8749, November 2013). The PCRC’s report (Fourth Report of Session 2012-13, HC 371) was published on 28th March 2013, and concluded that there was “a need to consider both how the increasingly devolved parts of the Union interact with each other, and what we, as residents of the UK, want the Union to look like going forward”. As a result the PCRC suggested that the Government “consider, among other options, preparations for a UK-wide constitutional convention, including decisions about its form and organisation, and the process of calling for evidence”, which would be held in the aftermath, and regardless of the result, of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.’

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UK Constitutional Law Group, 18th December 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org/blog

ICO fines payday loans company £175,000 over spam messaging – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 19th, 2013 in advertising, consumer credit, data protection, fines, news, telecommunications by sally

‘A payday loans company has been fined £175,000 by the Information Commissioner’s
Office (ICO) after the watchdog found it to be in serious breach of UK privacy
laws.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th December 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

UK copyright reforms to take effect in April 2014 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 19th, 2013 in copyright, news, regulations by sally

‘Changes to UK copyright law will come into force on 6 April 2014, the Government has announced.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th December 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Vote of no confidence in Society leadership passes – Legal Voice

Posted December 19th, 2013 in Law Society, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘A vote of no confidence in the Law Society’s leadership over its handling of the criminal legal aid reforms has today been passed by 52% at a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Society.’

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Legal Voice, 17th December 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Sentencing sexual offenders – a lost opportunity? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 19th, 2013 in news, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The Sentencing Council has issued a new Guideline in relation to sexual offences this month. The aim: “to help ensure appropriate and consistent sentences for sex offenders”, says the accompanying press release.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 18th December 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Court of Appeal cites Mitchell to refuse relief – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 19th, 2013 in appeals, case management, costs, news, police, time limits, witnesses by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has cited the landmark Mitchell costs case for the first time to reject a defendant’s plea for relief from sanctions.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th December 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Children: Private Law Update (December 2013) – Family Law Week

Posted December 19th, 2013 in appeals, children, domestic violence, education, names, news, parental responsibility by sally

‘Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings considers a wide range of children private law issues which have recently come before the courts.’

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Family Law Week, 18th December 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Banking reforms become law after getting Royal Assent – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in banking, bills, crime, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Reforms to the UK banking sector aimed at making it more resilient after the 2008 financial crisis have become law. The Financial Services Bill was given Royal Assent on Wednesday after being approved by Parliament earlier.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Boston double murder: Mehmet Ozen jailed for life – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A landlord convicted of two murders after a row over rent has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK inquiry on rendition and torture to be handed to ISC – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2013 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, rendition, select committees, torture by sally

‘The stalled official inquiry into the UK’s involvement in rendition and torture in the years after 9/11 is to be handed to the controversial intelligence and security committee (ISC), the government will announce on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cannabis user who murdered his grandmother jailed for 24 years – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2013 in children, drug abuse, families, guilty pleas, murder, news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

‘A man who murdered his 84-year-old grandmother by stabbing her 50 times in her bed and then attempted to kill a nine-year-old boy has been told he must serve minimum of 24 years in prison.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Kadan Beaumont murder: Father jailed for life – BBC News

‘A father who claimed the family dog caused fatal injuries to his 11-month-old son has been jailed for life for his murder.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The old debate: punish prisoners, or rehabilitate them? – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 19th, 2013 in imprisonment, media, news, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

‘Debates over how to treat prisoners have gone on since imprisonment began: should the prison system leave inmates to fester in cold cells, with punishment and deterrence as the goal of incarceration? Or should it let them wander from classroom to games room, preaching rehabilitation into society as its main aim?’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

FGM inquiry launched to uncover reasons for lack of prosecution in UK – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2013 in child abuse, crime, female genital mutilation, inquiries, news, prosecutions by sally

‘A major inquiry has been launched into female genital mutilation (FGM) to uncover why there has not been a single prosecution in the UK since it was made a criminal offence, and to try to bring an end to the illegal practice.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theresa Villiers did not break ministerial code report finds – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in codes of practice, lobbying, ministers' powers and duties, news, reports, transport by sally

‘Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers did not breach the ministerial code over a meeting with a lobbyist, an internal No 10 report has found. She had faced allegations that, as a transport minister, she failed to declare a meeting with a representative of a firm seeking to build a railway depot in the Hertfordshire green belt. But a report by the Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heyward has cleared her.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Divorced wife ‘cheated out of millions after husband failed to reveal assets’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 19th, 2013 in appeals, divorce, evidence, financial provision, news by sally

‘A divorced wife claims her ex-husband misled her about the value of his computer software business to cheat her out of a multi-million-pound settlement. Alison Sharland, 46, says Charles, 53, convinced her to give up her claim to an equal share when they divorced.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

RSPCA hires former CPS lawyer to review its prosecutions policy – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 19th, 2013 in animal cruelty, charities, news, private prosecutions, solicitors by sally

‘The RSPCA has bowed to pressure from MPs and campaigners and hired a senior lawyer to carry out a £50,000 review into its controversial prosecutions policy.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins begins 35-year term for child sex offences – BBC News

‘Paedophile Lostprophets’ singer Ian Watkins is beginning a 35-year sentence for child sex offences, including attempted rape of a baby.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk