Rotherham child rapist jailed after fleeing to Cyprus – BBC News

‘A child sex offender who fled to Cyprus after committing “the most shocking and appalling crimes imaginable” has been jailed for 11 years and six months.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Call for QC reaccreditation as QASA challenge staggers on – Legal Futures

‘The possibility of introducing re-accreditation for QCs, meaning that silk would no longer be a permanent appointment, and a power to strip them of the rank in the event of misconduct, was floated last week.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 7th April 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Closure of Hartley’s Day Centre in Shrewsbury ‘unlawful’ – BBC News

‘A council’s decision to close a day centre without proper consultation was unlawful, judges have ruled.’

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BBC News, 4th April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A voice for victims of crime – The Guardian

‘Justice isn’t just about sentencing: it’s about encouraging victims to come forward in the first place. Labour’s planned law will help. By Keir Starmer.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Landlords are wrong and tenants right? The two sides of the eviction story – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2014 in landlord & tenant, news, rent, repairs, repossession by sally

‘Tenant evictions are a thorny subject. On one side tenants say they are often evicted illegally, without reason, and far too often. On the other, landlords complain that ousting troublesome tenants is expensive and time-consuming. We’ve looked at two evictions – one from a landlord’s point of view and the other from the tenant’s, and offered a guide to your rights – whichever side you are on.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Shocking justice gap for disabled prisoners – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘It is Prison Service policy that prisons provide a fair and equal service to all prisoners, including to those who are disabled. The purpose of this policy is to make sure that the Prison Service meets its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA). However, for many disabled prisoners, these obligations are not being met.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th April 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Elderly ‘suffer in silence’ under NHS care, says watchdog – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 7th, 2014 in care homes, complaints, elderly, hospitals, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Dame Julie Mellor, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, said elderly can be too frightened or polite to complain about inadequate care.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Vulnerable witness reforms proposed by Keir Starmer in new ‘victims’ law’ – BBC News

‘Radical changes to the way vulnerable witnesses are treated in court are being considered by the Labour Party.’

Full story

BBC News, 7th April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Landmark legal case to rule whether GP exam ‘discriminates’ against Asian and black doctors – The Independent

‘Hundreds of black and Asian doctors have had promising careers “halted” because of racial discrimination in the way GPs are examined, a leading doctor has claimed, before a landmark High Court hearing in which two pillars of the medical establishment will be accused of breaching equality laws.’

Full story

The Independent, 6th April 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prison officers’ failings contributed to vulnerable boy’s death, inquest rules – The Guardian

‘An inquest jury has found multiple failings by staff at a young offender institution contributed to the death of a 17-year-old boy, who had been bullied by other inmates.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mother jailed for child neglect after four-year-old son lived in squalor with 20 ferrets and 14 dogs – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 4th, 2014 in child neglect, news, sentencing by sally

‘Seriously ill youngster was discovered by chance when policeman was investigating missing dogs. Mother, 21, sent to prison for two years in “worst case” PC has ever seen.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

North Yorkshire Police refers itself to IPCC on Savile – BBC News

Posted April 4th, 2014 in child abuse, complaints, news, police, sexual offences by sally

‘North Yorkshire Police’s handling of abuse claims made against the late DJ Jimmy Savile is to be investigated by the police watchdog.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court calls for ‘love coach’ to help vulnerable man find happiness – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 4th, 2014 in Court of Protection, learning difficulties, news by sally

‘Man with learning difficulties should be coached on how to behave before he goes out in search of a partner, Court of Protection judge says.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abingdon police station voyeur jailed – BBC News

Posted April 4th, 2014 in news, sentencing, sexual offences prevention orders, theft by sally

‘A man who secretly filmed female police officers in changing rooms has been jailed.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Competition watchdog reduces London hospital sell-off requirement – OUT-Law.com

Posted April 4th, 2014 in competition, hospitals, news, public private partnerships by sally

‘Private hospital operator HCA must sell one or two of its central London hospitals, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said, after the watch-dog found evidence that HCA was charging more than competitors and overcharging for routine procedures, the Financial Times reports.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th April 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Plan to give adopted children new identities to stop birth parents finding them – Daily Telegraph

‘Social services ask High Court to give two young children new names and even cut links with other siblings to protect them from abusive parents.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

London litigators lament post-Mitchell “game playing” – Litigation Futures

Posted April 4th, 2014 in budgets, case management, costs, law firms, news by sally

‘The rigidity introduced by the Mitchell judgment has fractured co-operation between solicitors, while costs budgeting has driven up law firms’ costs, according to a survey of civil litigators.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 4th April 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Milly Dowler’s killer Levi Bellfield awarded £4,500 over prison attack – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 4th, 2014 in assault, compensation, news, prisons by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice is ‘hugely disappointed’ that the triple murderer will receive taxpayer funded compensation.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Traveller family jailed over kidnap and torture – BBC News

‘Eleven members of the same family who kidnapped and tortured a couple they falsely accused of murdering a widow have been jailed.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crackdown to stop bailiffs using aggressive tactics – BBC News

Posted April 4th, 2014 in bailiffs, debts, enforcement, news by sally

‘Sweeping changes to the way bailiffs can enforce the repayment of debts come into force on Sunday.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th April 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk