Orchid View scandal: Whistle-blowing inquiry call – BBC News

“Ministers must launch an inquiry into how whistle-blowers are treated in the wake of the Orchid View care home scandal, MP Charlotte Leslie has said.”

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BBC News, 20th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Magistrates throw out plan to ditch Bible oath – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 21st, 2013 in Christianity, courts, evidence, magistrates, news, oaths, witnesses by sally

“Swearing on the Bible will continue to be a crucial part of giving evidence in court after magistrates threw out proposals to introduce a modernised oath.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal claims ‘could paralyse’ armed forces – BBC News

“A ‘sustained legal assault’ on British forces could have ‘catastrophic consequences’ for the safety of the nation, an influential right-leaning think tank has warned.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Private citizen wins right to prosecute Met police worker – The Independent

“Scotland Yard is facing fresh embarrassment after a citizen won the right to launch what is thought to be an unprecedented private prosecution of a police employee for perverting the course of justice.”

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The Independent, 18th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Why breaking up is getting even harder to do – BBC News

“Dozens of centres designed to help couples split up amicably are in danger of closure.”

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BBC News, 19th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Probation officers vote to strike in protest at privatisation – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2013 in contracting out, industrial action, news, probation, trade unions by sally

“Probation officers have voted by an overwhelming majority to go on strike in protest at government plans to privatise the service.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Towcester property swindle couple jailed – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2013 in fraud, news, sentencing, squatting by sally

“A married couple from Northamptonshire who posed as wealthy high fliers have been jailed for a multi-million pound property swindle.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police face legal challenge over secret files on protesters – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2013 in criminal records, database right, demonstrations, human rights, news, police, privacy by sally

“Police chiefs face a legal challenge over their policy of keeping secret files on thousands of political activists.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hospitals told to investigate all patient complaints in spite of possible lawsuits – The Guardian

“Hospitals will be banned from refusing to investigate complaints from patients harmed by poor care who may also sue for damages, after campaigners condemned the practice as an illegal and unfair denial of patients’ rights.”

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The Guardian, 20th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Christian woman to sue for right not to work on Sundays – The Independent

“A devout Christian woman is set to fight for her right not to work on Sunday this week when her case is heard at the Court of Appeal.”

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The Independent, 20th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK’s top prosecutor defends journalists who break law in public interest – The Guardian

“Britain’s most senior prosecutor has launched a robust defence of journalists who break the law pursuing investigations that have a genuine public interest. Legal guidelines had been drafted, he said, to protect reporters.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mother who admitted stealing 905 designer handbags is sentenced to jail – The Independent

Posted October 18th, 2013 in news, sentencing, theft by sally

“A woman who admitted stealing 905 designer handbags over the course of three years has been jailed for 18 months.”

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The Independent, 18th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jade Anderson dogs death: Court hears of ‘horrific’ scene – BBC News

Posted October 18th, 2013 in dogs, homicide, negligence, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

“The moment a policeman found a girl who had been mauled to death by four dogs was the most distressing sight of his life, a court has heard.

At Wigan Magistrates Court, 45-year-old Concannon was given a 16-week suspended jail term after admitting causing suffering to the four animals.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Orchid View inquest: Home riddled by ‘institutional abuse’ – BBC News

Posted October 18th, 2013 in care homes, elderly, inquests, news, whistleblowers by sally

“A care home where 19 residents died was riddled with ‘institutionalised abuse’, a coroner has said.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted October 18th, 2013 in parliamentary papers by sally

Government response to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s annual report 2012-2013,Cm 8736 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Lord Neuberger on “Justice in an age of austerity” – CrimeLine

“Justice – Tom Sargant memorial lecture 2013, 15th October 2013.”

Full speech

CrimeLine, 15th October 2013

Source: www.crimeline.info

Back to basics: why a public authority can’t be an HRA victim – UK Human Rights Blog

“David Mead looks at a case in which the Olympic Delivery Agency got an injunction against protesters: Olympic Delivery Authority v Persons Unknown. The ODA was a public authority, and the protesters were advancing defences under Articles 10 (freedom of expression) and 11 (freedom of association). Arnold J dismissed the defences on the basis that these rights needed to be balanced against the ODA’s rights to property under A1P1.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Adam Perry and Farrah Ahmed: Constitutional Conventions and Legitimate Expectations – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted October 18th, 2013 in constitutional law, news by sally

“Courts and commentators have sometimes said the administrative law doctrine of legitimate expectations is incoherent. They say that the various ways of acquiring a legitimate expectation do not hang together; nothing unifies them. For example, Lord Brown in Paponette v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago agreed with a commentator’s description of the doctrine of legitimate expectations as a mere ‘patchwork’ and ‘little more than a mechanism to dispense palm-tree justice’. Both Richard Clayton and Mark Elliott have in the past favoured the ‘disaggregation’ of the doctrine.”

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UK Constitutional Law Group, 18th October 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org/blog

High Court decision is a reminder of the dangers of a lengthy holding over period followingon lease expiry, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 18th, 2013 in landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

“A recent High Court decision should act as a reminder to both landlords and
tenants that the frequent practice of the tenant continuing in occupation of
commercial premises (holding over) after the expiry of some leases can lead to
unexpected consequences, an expert has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

UK Supreme Court judgment: R (Chester) v Justice Secretary, McGeoch v Lord President – Head of Legal

Posted October 18th, 2013 in elections, human rights, news, prisons, Supreme Court by sally

“It’s no surprise that the Supreme Court has today unanimously dismissed appeals by two prisoners who wanted various remedies under the Human Rights Act and EU law for being denied the vote in Parliamentary, local, Scottish Parliament and European elections. These cases were always weak.”

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Head of Legal, 16th October 2013

Source: www.headoflegal.com