Suspected Jamaican rapist banned from UK for a decade as police employ new tactic – The Independent

Posted June 10th, 2013 in burden of proof, deportation, immigration, London, news, police, sexual offences by sally

“A suspected Jamaican sex-offender charged five times but never convicted for allegedly raping vulnerable women has been banned from Britain for a decade in a controversial new police tactic to target foreign criminals.”

Full story

The Independent, 7th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Five centuries of crime and punishment leave the Old Bailey in need of repairs – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 10th, 2013 in courts, historic buildings, news by sally

“For nearly 500 years the Old Bailey has been one of the world’s most famous criminal courts, hosting the trials of notorious killers like Dr Crippen, Ruth Ellis, Peter Sutcliffe and Ian Huntley.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK to expect more colonial-era compensation claims – The Guardian

Posted June 10th, 2013 in colonies, compensation, human rights, Kenya, news, torture by sally

“Following news of payments over Mau Mau insurgency, more claims likely from Kenya, Cyprus and other former colonies.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice calls for children to have evidence video recorded – Daily Telegraph

“Senior judges have called for children to be spared from the ‘damage’ of appearing in criminal trials, and instead have their evidence video recorded.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A fair split, or a ‘charter for cheats’? Supreme Court to rule in landmark divorce case – The Independent

“Millionaire businessmen will be able to ‘stick two fingers up’ at judges if the highest court in the land rules against a former wife in a high-profile divorce case this week, her lawyers said yesterday.”

Full story

The Independent, 9th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Student given community service for ‘extreme’ tweet about Lee Rigby murder – The Guardian

“Police arrested a student who complained to them about receiving threatening messages after she used Twitter to say that people wearing Help for Heroes T-shirts ‘deserve to be beheaded’ as news broke about the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, a court heard on Friday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Newham council’s decision to block betting shop goes before judge – The Guardian

Posted June 10th, 2013 in gambling, licensing, local government, news by sally

“The proliferation of betting shops in poorer areas has led to increasing crime and underage gambling, fuelled by high-speed, high stakes gambling machines, a court will hear on Monday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court increases sentences for trio jailed for sexually assaulting unconscious teen – The Guardian

Posted June 7th, 2013 in appeals, news, sentencing, sexual offences, video recordings by sally

“Three men to serve five and a half years after appeal judges rule original sentence for assault on 18-year-old was too lenient.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man sues over forensics live bullet conviction mix-up – BBC News

Posted June 7th, 2013 in evidence, firearms, forensic science, human rights, negligence, news by sally

“A man wrongfully convicted of possessing ammunition after forensics staff mixed
up his £3 keyring and a live bullet is suing the government.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Opemipo Jaji jailed for raping girl, 11, in Enfield park – BBC News

“A man has been jailed for life, and ordered to serve a minimum of eight years, for raping an 11-year-old girl.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted June 7th, 2013 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Olympic Airlines SA Pension & Life Insurance Scheme v Olympic Airlines SA [2013] EWCA Civ 643 (06 June 2013)

Lumos Skincare Ltd v Sweet Squared Ltd & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 590 (06 June 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Kola, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 1434 (Admin) (06 June 2013)

Aslam, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 1495 (Admin) (06 June 2013)

High Court Family Division)

A Council v M & Ors (Judgment 4: Foreign Adoption: Refusal of Recognition) [2013] EWHC 1501 (Fam) (06 June 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted June 7th, 2013 in legislation by sally

The Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (ICE Clear Europe Limited) Regulations 2013

The Duty to Participate in Education or Training (Alternative Ways of Working) Regulations 2013

The Dangerous Dogs (Fees) (England and Wales) Order 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted June 7th, 2013 in parliamentary papers by sally

Foreign involvement in the critical national infrastructure: the implications for national security,Cm 8629 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

 

Surveillance camera code of conduct comes into force – Home Office

“New guidance in place over police and local authority use of CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition.”

Full press release

Home Office, 4th June 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Not in my court – NearlyLegal

Posted June 7th, 2013 in covenants, forfeiture, housing, leases, news by sally

“Forfeiture is, for the most part, beloved by landlords and hated/feared by tenants. For what might be relatively minor breaches of covenant, you can lose your lease and the landlord make an enormous windfall. The legislative trend is (slowly) in favour of restricting (and possibly even abolishing) forfeiture as demonstrated by s.168, Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. By s.168, Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, a landlord may not serve a notice under s.146, Law of Property Act 1925, or otherwise exercise a right of re-entry (i.e. forfeiture) in respect of a breach of a covenant (other than one to pay rent – which is unaffected by s.146, see s.146(11); or service/administration charges, which are dealt with under s.81, Housing Act 1996), unless the breach has been admitted by the tenant or determined by a court, LVT or arbitral tribunal.”

Full story

NearlyLegal, 3rd June 2013

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

PCT: incredible alternatives – LegalVoice

Posted June 7th, 2013 in competition, criminal justice, law firms, legal aid, news, solicitors, tenders by sally

“Otterburn Consulting recently completed a survey to inform the Law Society’s response to the government’s consultation ‘Transforming legal aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system on price competitive tendering (PCT).’ The aim was to find out what the impact on firms would be, based on hard evidence and to evaluate whether the proposed system was likely to work in practice.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 7th June 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Bar Council faces probe over cab rank ‘interference’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 7th, 2013 in barristers, codes of practice, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board is to formally investigate whether the Bar Council breached rules to interfere in a controversial decision affecting the cab rank rule.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ofgem widens investigation into alleged rigging of gas and power markets – The Guardian

Posted June 7th, 2013 in competition, energy, inquiries, news, price fixing, whistleblowers by sally

“The energy watchdog, Ofgem, has widened its investigation into alleged manipulation of gas and power markets and warned that doubts over price-setting could lead to higher household bills.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met crackdown on foreign suspects raises fears justice will be denied – The Guardian

Posted June 7th, 2013 in crime, criminal justice, deportation, immigration, London, news, police, tribunals by sally

“Lawyers say police could ‘circumvent criminal justice’ by using intelligence in civil immigration courts to increase deportations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Soft’ sentences for knife crime despite Chris Grayling pledge – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 7th, 2013 in cautions, fines, news, offensive weapons, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by sally

“Knife-wielding criminals are being handed soft sentences by the courts despite a pledge by the Government to introduce tough new measures.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk