Police inquiry clears officer over Taser incident in Brighton – The Guardian

“A police investigation into video footage that appeared to show an officer kicking a man moments after he was shot with a Taser gun has found no evidence of misconduct.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Modern slavery’ bill to tighten laws on human trafficking – The Guardian

Posted August 27th, 2013 in bills, news, prosecutions, statistics, trafficking in human beings by sally

“A ‘modern slavery’ bill that tightens the laws on human trafficking will be introduced in an attempt to eradicate an ‘evil in our midst’, Theresa May has announced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Two police and crime commissioners under investigation – BBC News

Posted August 27th, 2013 in barristers, complaints, employment, fraud, news, ombudsmen, police by sally

“Two police and crime commissioners are being investigated by the police watchdog after they were accused of falsifying their eligibility for the posts.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th August 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New lobbying bill will affect charities’ ability to campaign on political issues – The Guardian

Posted August 27th, 2013 in bills, budgets, charities, lobbying, news by sally

“The Electoral Commission, Britain’s elections watchdog, has concluded that government plans to curb political campaigning by charities before a general election are flawed and in part unworkable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New flood insurance tax ‘could breach EU law’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 27th, 2013 in competition, EC law, insurance, news, taxation by sally

“Plans to charge every household in the country £10.50 to cover the cost of insuring properties in flood risk areas amount to a ‘tax’ and represent poor value for money for the economy, government analysts have concluded. The new system, intended to help up to 500,000 housholders afford home insurance despite living in fear of floods, is also likely to breach European laws, officials have said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

NSA leaks: David Cameron’s response is intimidation, says world press body – The Guardian

“David Cameron has been told that the government’s attempt to destroy sensitive leaked documents about mass surveillance was ‘an act of intimidation’ that risks a chilling effect on press freedom. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has written to the prime minister over the government’s ‘deeply regrettable’ response to files leaked by the National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tougher sex offender restrictions sought by campaigners – BBC News

Posted August 27th, 2013 in bills, child abuse, news, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

“Charities and an MP are campaigning for tougher restrictions on sex offenders, saying the system is failing to stop grooming and exploitation of children.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th August 2013

Source:  www.bbc.co.uk

 

Muslim woman must remove burka in court, judge insists – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in courts, identification, Islam, news, women by sally

“A judge has refused to let a Muslim woman in a full-length burka enter a plea until she shows her face to the court.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hall -Chung, R. v [2007] EWCA Crim 3429 (26 July 2007)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Cherkley Campaign Ltd, R (on the application of) v Longshot Cherkley Court Ltd [2013] EWHC 2582 (Admin) (22 August 2013)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Data Power Systems Ltd & Ors v Safehosts (London) Ltd & Anor [2013] EWHC 2479 (Ch) (17 May 2013)

High Court (Family Division)

BS and ES (Children), Re (Placement Order Or Special Guardianship Order) [2013] EWHC 2607 (Fam) (22 August 2013)

Jones, Re (Alleged Contempt of Court) [2013] EWHC 2579 (Fam) (21 August 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Authorisation of Payments in International Commercial Surrogacy – A New Approach? – Family Law Week

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in assisted reproduction, news, remuneration, surrogacy by sally

“Ruth Cabeza, barrister, of Field Court Chambers considers two important judgments recently made by Mrs Justice Theis concerning payments under international commercial surrogacy agreements.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

A conventional approach – New Law Journal

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in children, international law, news, parental responsibility, treaties by sally

“David Williams QC provides an introduction to the 1996 Hague Convention.”

Full story

New Law Journal, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Press focus on “zero hours” terminology rather than substance unhelpful, says expert, as Government hints at tighter controls – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in codes of practice, contract of employment, employment, media, news by sally

“Broad references by the press to ‘zero hours’ employment contracts are unhelpful, as the term is used to refer to a wide variety of contracts that can be used for a number of legitimate business reasons, an expert has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

They paved Plantagenet ‘n put up a parking lot – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in burials and cremation, consultations, judicial review, news, royal family by sally

“The judge gave the Allliance permission to seek judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision about re-burial. But I question the result – does the Alliance really have a legal right to be consulted about where Richard III is to be re-buried?”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

ICO wrong to impose £250k fine on council for data breach, tribunal rules – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in appeals, data protection, fines, local government, news, tribunals, waste by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office should not have imposed a £250,000 fine on Scottish Borders Council for a data breach, the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has ruled.”

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Glitterlips’ drag queen jailed for benefits fraud – The Independent

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in benefits, fraud, news, sentencing, social security by sally

“A man who wrongly claimed £88,000 in benefits while performing as a high-heeled drag queen on stage has been jailed.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Football fans face prosecution for ‘online hooliganism’ – The Guardian

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in crime, internet, news, sport by sally

“Football fans who abuse players or fellow supporters online have been warned they could face prosecution, as lawyers and police unveiled a new policy for tackling hooliganism.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge blocks attempts to open luxury golf course on Green Belt land in Surrey – The Independent

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in environmental protection, hotels, news, planning, sport by sally

“A High Court judge has quashed planning permission for a golf course that had been marked for an ecologically sensitive Green Belt location despite there already being nearly 200 courses within 20 miles of the site.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The age of the jury – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in juries, news by sally

“Legislation tells us what the law is, but rarely reveals why. The Juries Act 1974, s 1 states every person shall be qualified to serve as a juror… if… he is [on the electoral register] and is not less than eighteen nor more than seventy years of age.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

OFT blasts carpet and furniture stores for misleading price cuts – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in consumer protection, news, sale of goods by sally

“Britain’s six biggest carpet, bed and furniture chains are being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading for exaggerating price cuts.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Activists barred from badger protest – The Independent

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in agriculture, animals, demonstrations, injunctions, news, trade unions by sally

“A High Court judge granted an injunction today that will allow people to protest peacefully against the controversial badger cull within the trial culling zones, but bar a handful of named hardcore activists from the area.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd August 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk