Decision to cut youth services by 70% was unlawful, says Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer
“A council acted unlawfully in 2012 when it cut youth services by more than 70% over a three-year period, the Court of Appeal has ruled.”
Local Government Lawyer, 7th November 2013
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Equal Treatment Bench Book – Judiciary of England and Wales
“The Equal Treatment Bench Book, a guide for judges, magistrates and all other judicial office-holders, has been revised and updated.”
Judiciary of England and Wales, 6th November 2013
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Consultation on new powers for the Forensic Science Regulator – Home Office
“A consultation on strengthening the powers of the Forensic Science Regulator has been launched today.”
Home Office, 8th November 2013
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
Riot (Damages) Act: independent review – Home Office
“This independent review by Neil Kinghan contains a series of recommendations to reform the Riot Damages Act following the riots in August 2011.”
Home Office, 8th November 2013
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
The “uneasy” co-existence of public interest immunity and closed material procedure – UK Human Rights Blog
“CF v Security Service and others and Mohamed v Foreign and Commonwealth Office and others [[2013] EWHC 3402 (QB). The High Court has today made the first court ruling on the use of the Justice and Security Act 2013 in a civil claim for damages.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 7th November 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Government to review legality of “intimidating” trade union leverage campaigns – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government is right to consider a review of the civil and criminal laws surrounding so-called ‘leverage campaigns’, with a view towards making it harder for trade unions to engage in ‘industrial intimidation’ during labour disputes, an expert has announced.”
OUT-LAW.com, 7th November 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Niqabs in the witness box: yes or no? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“Niqab-wearing defendants should be obliged to remove their veils before giving evidence say 90% of my colleagues in a poll conducted by the Bar Council for The Times (although personally I’d like to see what the participation rate was for that). Former justice secretary, Ken Clarke, agrees, likening wearing a full-face veil in the witness box to giving evidence ‘in a bag’. The Lord Chief Justice says that trial judges should be able to decide whether a defendant may give evidence wearing a face-veil or not, but promises to provide guidance.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 7th November 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (No. 8) Order 2013
The Transport Holding Company (Capital Debts) (Revocations) (England and Wales) Order 2013
The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Size Criteria) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013
The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2013
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Regina (Elosta) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Law Society and another intervening) – WLR Daily
“A person detained for examination under Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 had the right to consult a solicitor privately ‘in person, in writing or on the telephone’ before being interviewed.”
WLR Daily, 6th November 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Smith-Evans v Smailes – WLR Daily
Smith-Evans v Smailes: [2013] EWHC 3199 (Ch); [2013] WLR (D) 423
“Where the chairman of a creditors’ meeting summoned under section 257 of the Insolvency Act 1986 had reported the meeting’s approval of a proposed voluntary arrangement to the court, the only route of challenge was under section 262 of the 1986 Act. That was so even if the meeting itself had not approved the arrangement, because the chairman had exceeded the terms of proxies that he held so there had in fact not been a 75% majority in favour of approval.”
WLR Daily, 29th July 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Regina (JS and others) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Child Poverty Action Group and another intervening) – WLR Daily
“The ‘benefit cap’ set in the Benefit Cap (Housing Benefit) Regulations 2012, amending the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, did not unjustifiably discriminate against women and large families contrary to article 14 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.”
WLR Daily, 5th November 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Sneller v DAS Nederlandse Rechtsbijstand Verzekeringsmaatschappij NV – WLR Daily
“Article 4(1) of Council Directive 87/344 on legal expenses insurance precluded a legal expenses insurer, which stipulated in its insurance contracts that legal assistance would in principle be provided in-house, from also providing that the costs of legal assistance provided by a legal representative chosen by the insured would be covered only if the insurer took the view that the handling of the case had to be subcontracted to an external lawyer.”
WLR Daily, 7th November 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
High Court (Administrative Court)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Gulati & Ors v MGN Ltd [2013] EWHC 3392 (Ch) (06 November 2013)
High Court (Commercial Court)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council v Bunning [2013] EWHC 3390 (QB) (07 November 2013)
Source: www.bailii.org
Finance and Divorce November 2013 Update – Family Law Week
“Jessica Craigs, senior solicitor and David Salter, Joint Head of Family Law at Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the financial remedies and divorce news and cases published in October.”
Family Law Week, 7th November 2013
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Devon paedophile police officer Danny Bryant jailed – BBC News
“A paedophile policeman who abused boys for more than a decade has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.”
BBC News, 7th November 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Anger as Catholic orphanage abuse inquiry ends – BBC News
“Former residents of a Catholic orphanage who claim they suffered physical and sexual abuse have expressed anger at a police decision to end an inquiry into the allegations.”
BBC News, 7th November 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
RSPCA accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after Ledbury Hunt case collapses – Daily Telegraph
“The RSPCA has been accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after its latest case involving a hunt collapsed. The charity accused Will Goffe, 33, of hunting a fox with a hound while out with the Ledbury Hunt, near Malvern in Worcestershire. However, the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. It is the fourth failed RSPCA hunt prosecution this year.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th November 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Home Office fails to investigate vast majority of tip-offs about illegal immigrants – Daily Telegraph
“The Home Office investigates just six per cent of tip-offs from the public about suspected illegal immigrants, a new report has disclosed.
Nearly 49,000 reports were received over nine months about foreigners alleged to be living or working illegally in Britain, but officials looked into only 2,695 of them.”
Daily Telegraph, 8th November 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Publishers lodge appeal over ruling against judicial review of royal charter – The Guardian
“Industry takes case to court of appeal after high court rejected its application for an emergency injunction over new press regulator.”
The Guardian, 6th November 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk