Police cautions to be reviewed by government – The Guardian
“The government is launching a review of the use of police cautions in England and Wales, amid fears that they are being used to punish serious offences that should be dealt with by the courts.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Craig Prescott: The Union, Constitutional Change and Constitutional Conventions (and English Regionalism?) – UK Constitutional Law Group
“Last week, the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee published their report, Do We Need A Constitutional Convention For the UK? (HC 2012-13 371). It is an interesting document, mainly because its very existence shows that the idea of a constitutional convention is becoming more mainstream within Westminster. But the report raises many questions, not all of which are fully answered. The central thrust of the report is that considering the raft of changes made to the constitution since 1997, particularly devolution, ‘it is time to conduct a comprehensive review so that the Union can work well in the future’ (para 111), and that this review should take the form of a ‘constitutional convention to look at the formal constitutional structure of the UK’.”
UK Constitutional Law Group, 3rd April 2013
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
New regulatory regime in place in financial services sector – OUT-LAW.com
“A new system of regulation will oversee businesses in the financial services sector after reforms to the previous regime took effect on Monday.”
OUT-LAW.com, 2nd April 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Google facing legal threat from six European countries over privacy – The Guardian
“Google could face fines from six European countries’ privacy regulators, including the UK and Germany, after refusing to reverse changes to its privacy policies made in March 2012.”
The Guardian, 2nd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
SAS sniper Danny Nightingale retrial to be challenged – BBC News
“Lawyers for an SAS sniper are to challenge whether it is in the public interest to retry him for illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition.”
BBC News, 2nd April 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Mick and Mairead Philpott convicted of manslaughter over Derby house fire – The Guardian
“The parents accused of killing six children in a house fire have been convicted of their manslaughter.”
The Guardian, 2nd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Improving the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime – Ministry of Justice
“This consultation sets out the Government’s plans to reform the Victims’ Code to give victims clearer entitlements from criminal justice agencies and to better tailor service to individual need. It is aimed at all criminal justice agencies, victims of crime and businesses.”
Ministry of Justice, 29th March 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
SSE fined record £10.5m by Ofgem over ‘prolonged and extensive’ mis-selling – The Guardian
“The utility giant SSE is to be fined £10.5m for ‘prolonged and extensive’ mis-selling in what will be the largest ever penalty imposed on an energy provider.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Undertaker who murdered wife and disposed of body given life sentence – The Independent
“An undertaker who was today found guilty of killing his wife in their bungalow and disposing of her body has been given a life sentence, of which he must serve a minimum of 17 years.”
The Independent, 2nd April 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Police officer guilty of selling seized drugs back to dealers for profit – The Guardian
“A corrupt detective has been found guilty of stealing large amounts of seized drugs and selling them back to drug dealers in a plot that made him and his brother around £600,000.”
The Guardian, 2nd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
High Court (Administrative Court)
Ighalo v The Solicitors Regulation Authority [2013] EWHC 661 (Admin) (26 March 2013)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
St Edmundsbury Borough Council & Anor v Reynolds & Ors [2013] EWHC 737 (QB) (28 March 2013)
High Court (Family Division)
LA v DG & Ors [2013] EWHC 734 (Fam) (01 February 2013)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Deutsche Bank AG & Ors v Unitech Global Ltd & Ors [2013] EWHC 471 (Comm) (28 February 2013)
Source: www.bailii.org
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Careers Guidance in Schools Regulations 2013
The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2013
The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 2013
The Localism Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013
The Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2013
The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2013
The Bank of England (Call Notice) (Benchmark Rate of Interest) Order 2013
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Part 8 Domestic Infringements) Order 2013
The Tax Credits Up-rating, etc. Regulations 2013
The Civil Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2013
The Recovery of Costs Insurance Premiums in Clinical Negligence Proceedings (No. 2) Regulations 2013
The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) (Amendment) Regulations 2013
The Scotland Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2013
The Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
No QOCS here: A Guide to the CPR Amendments you may have missed – Zenith Chambers
“In all of the furore surrounding LASPO and the very real concerns about funding, it seems that very little attention has been paid to the significant changes to the CPR which will come into force on 1st April 2013. This is not an article about funding, legal aid, CFAs, DBAs, or even QOCS. Instead it is intended to provide an overview and guidance on the amendments being made to the CPR.”
Full story (PDF)
Zenith Chambers, 28th March 2013
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
Police officer to sue garage owner after tripping on kerb – The Guardian
“Police Federation says PC Kelly Jones will press ahead with lawsuit after injuring leg and wrist at petrol station.”
The Guardian, 2nd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
One into Two will go – but only if it’s done reasonably and proportionately – Zenith Chambers
“The Supreme Court has allowed Camden’s appeal from the Court of Appeal ([2011] EWCA Civ 463) on the issue that two separate flats on the same floor of a hostel building could be considered as ‘accommodation available for occupation’ for the applicant, her school-age sister, and her father, who was in ill-health and needed his daughter to care for him.”
Full story (PDF)
Zenith Chambers, 28th March 2013
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
Bedroom Tax, Spare Room Subsidy, or Big Headache – any solutions? – Zenith Chambers
“The Regulations applying the Government’s ‘social sector under-occupancy penalty’ (a politically neutral description at least) are in force from 01/04/13. Broadly, social housing tenants of working age will see a deduction of 14% or 25% of the eligible rent component from their housing benefit, if the HB authority finds they have one or two spare bedrooms respectively.”
Full story (PDF)
Zenith Chambers, 28th March 2013
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
Fancy having a Judge in your living room? – Hardwicke Chambers
“Thanks to the English High Court, state policing of personal relationships in Britain is on the rise.”
Hardwicke Chambers, 22nd March 2013
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
Guaranteed support for victims of crime – Ministry of Justice
“Victims of crime will now be able to hold the criminal justice system to account for the support it provides and be backed by a clear set of entitlements thanks to a statutory new Victims Code, Victims’ Minister Helen Grant announced today.”
Ministry of Justice, 29th March 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Chancery traditional Probate: case update 2013 – 11 Stone Buildings
“Sidney Ross reports on two recent probate cases and highlights how they interpret existing case law. In Joshi and others v Mahida [2013] EWHC 486 (Ch) the judge followed Re Segelman in answering three questions to determine the testator’s intentions. Sidney also discusses whether ‘the rule of double portions’ applies in Kloosman v Aylen and others [2013] EWHC 435 (Ch).”
Full story (PDF)
11 Stone Buildings, March 2013
Source: www.11sb.com