Free press is ‘essential ingredient’ for society, says Lord Chief Justice – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 1st, 2012 in freedom of expression, inquiries, interception, judiciary, media, news by sally

“A free press is just as important as an independent judiciary, the Lord Chief Justice has declared.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th September 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

East Anglia and West Country brothel network pair jailed – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2012 in news, prostitution, sentencing by sally

“A couple who ran a network of brothels in East Anglia and the West Country have been jailed.”

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BBC News, 28th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK Border Agency starts tracking tip-offs about illegal immigrants – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 1st, 2012 in immigration, informers, news by sally

“Illegal immigrants could be tracked down and deported more easily under a new UK Border Agency scheme to manage tip-offs.”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Row over rape prosecutors: Emily Thornberry v Keir Starmer QC – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2012 in barristers, budgets, Crown Prosecution Service, news, victims by sally

“Labour MP claims rape victims could be deprived of expert legal support because of savings made in hiring specially trained barristers.”

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The Guardian, 28th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Florist jailed for smuggling £23.5m worth of cocaine in flower boxes – The Independent

Posted October 1st, 2012 in drug trafficking, news, sentencing by sally

“A florist owner who tried to smuggle cocaine worth £23.5 million into the country in boxes of flowers has been jailed for 18 years.”

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The Independent, 27th September 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge frees killer jailed after Number 10 protest – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2012 in early release, news, parole, sentencing, terrorism by sally

“The High Court has ordered the release of a man jailed in the run-up to the Olympics, because of terrorism-related convictions dating from the 1970s.”

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BBC News, 28th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judicial pensions: will judges take Chris Grayling to court? – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2012 in judicial review, judiciary, news, pensions by sally

“Judicial appointments will only go to second-rate lawyers if the lord chancellor fails to do a deal that satisfies judges.”

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The Guardian, 28th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Freedom of Information to include ministers’ private texts – BBC News

“Emails from private accounts and texts sent by the prime minister and cabinet members could be accessible under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).”

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BBC News, 30th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Private land wheel clamping banned – The Independent

Posted October 1st, 2012 in appeals, news, parking, police, wheel clamping by sally

“Cowboy wheel clampers will be outlawed from clamping vehicles on private land from tomorrow as new legislation comes into place.”

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The Independent, 30th September 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police figures show corruption cases against 49 Met officers – The Guardian

“Forty-nine Metropolitan police officers were suspended for corruption over a three-year period, with figures showing 15 cases were proven, 18 unproven and 16 ongoing.”

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The Guardian, 29th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prince Harry photos: Palace drops complaint – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2012 in complaints, media, news, privacy, royal family by sally

“Prince Harry will not pursue a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) over the publication of photographs of him naked in Las Vegas, St James’s Palace has said.”

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BBC News, 28th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 28th, 2012 in law reports by sally

High Court (Administrative Court)

Blue Line Taxis (Newcastle) Ltd v Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Council [2012] EWHC 2599 (Admin) (27 September 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

AAM (A Child) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWHC 2567 (QB) (27 September 2012)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Clark Electrical Ltd v JMD Developments (UK) Ltd [2012] EWHC 2627 (TCC) (28 September 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 28th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Electricity and Gas (Competitive Tenders for Smart Meter Communication Licences) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted September 28th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales annual report 2011-2012, Cm 8429 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Bar Council launches ‘BARCO’: Working with the Bar has never been easier – The Bar Council

Posted September 28th, 2012 in barristers, legal services, press releases by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, will this evening, at the Rolls Building, launch a unique new service. ‘BARCO’ provides a straightforward, easily accessible, client-focused facility, whilst maintaining the Bar’s high quality and cost effective services.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th September 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Cloud on the horizon for data-handling outsourcing – Information Commissioner’s Office

Posted September 28th, 2012 in data protection, internet, press releases by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published guidelines to businesses today to underline that companies remain responsible for how personal data is looked after, even if they pass it to cloud network providers.”

Full press release

Information Commissioner’s Office, 27th September 2012

www.ico.gov.uk

Service charges can form part of rent for VAT purposes where transactions “closely linked” – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 28th, 2012 in news, rent, service charges, VAT by sally

“Charges for cleaning and maintenance in respect of a commercial property lease may be treated as part of the rental of that property, and therefore exempt from value added tax (VAT), where the two charges are ‘closely linked’, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th September 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Will-writing should be reserved, super-regulator recommends – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 28th, 2012 in consumer protection, news, wills by sally

“Will-writing, estate administration and probate should only be carried out by regulated legal professionals to give greater protection to consumers, the Legal Services Board has proposed.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 27th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

 

Can the Court Protect Vulnerable Adults who have Capacity? – Family Law Week

Posted September 28th, 2012 in duress, jurisdiction, local government, mental health, news by sally

“Moira Sofaer, barrister and mediator, of Goldsmith Chambers, considers the protection afforded by the courts to vulnerable adults who are outside the ambit of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in the light of the Court of Appeal’s judgment in DL.”

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Family Law Week, 27th September 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Fitzwilliam Museum Chinese art thieves detained – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2012 in artistic works, news, sentencing, theft by sally

“A gang including a 16-year-old boy have been sentenced after stealing Chinese art worth up to £15m from a museum in an act of ‘cultural vandalism’.”

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BBC News, 27th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk