UK wildlife crime laws a ‘mess’, MPs say – The Guardian
“Conservation legislation is undermined as laws are ‘scattered across statutes’, badly in need of consolidation, says report.”
The Guardian, 18th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Criminals could avoid surveillance of their communications even under expanded regime, says Information Commissioner – OUT-LAW.com
“Serious criminals will be able to avoid details of their communications being monitored under an expanded intelligence gathering regime proposed by the Government, the UK’s data protection watchdog has warned.”
OUT-LAW.com, 17th October 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Extraordinary rendition, forced labour, and evidence obtained by torture – UK Human Rights Blog
“There are three cases, among the many decided by the Court in the past few weeks, which I would like to highlight. They deal with testimony potentially obtained through torture, forced labour and extraordinary rendition respectively.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 16th October 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Jimmy Savile – the final cost – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“The Metropolitan police, which is coordinating a nationwide investigation into allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile, has said that the claims against Savile date back to 1959 and could include more than 60 victims. In my view, this is likely to be a considerable underestimate, based upon the length of time Savile was active (roughly half a century) and the sheer number of children’s homes, hospitals, TV shows and other organisations connected with Savile, where he had access to children on an almost daily basis.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th October 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Housing Ombudsman consultation – NearlyLegal
“One of the less well-remarked upon changes in the Localism Act 2010 was a set of radical changes to the role of the Housing Ombudsman (the current incumbent being the lovely Mike Biles). In short, the HO takes over jurisdiction for local authority housing complaints; there is a filter mechanism before the HO can accept a complaint (it has to be referred by a Designated person: MP, Councillor, Tenants Panel). The former is to be welcomed – on one view, the HO now offers a far better, more modern, proactive service than the Local Government Ombudsman in our entrepreneurialised housing system; the latter is to be absolutely deprecated as being not just against the spirit of administrative justice but also as a mechanism for cost-saving in the face of proper redress of grievance/s. Whatever you think about ombudspersons – and a range of views are expressed – there is no doubt that they have consistently exposed various maladministrations across the housing sphere, and they don’t hold back; in addition, their purpose (unlike courts) is to make things better for future ‘customers’ so that there may well be an impact on service delivery from a single instance of maladministration (and not just in that organisation).”
NearlyLegal, 17th October 2012
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Demolition and construction of sports pavilion does not require EIA screening opinion, says High Court judge – OUT-LAW.com
“The demolition of an existing sports pavilion and the construction of a new one is not an urban development project and does not require a screening opinion to determine if an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is needed, a High Court judge has ruled.”
OUT-LAW.com, 17th October 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Jury fail to reach verdict in trial of man in Mark Duggan gun case – The Guardian
“A jury in the trial of the man accused of supplying a gun to Mark Duggan minutes before he was shot dead by police has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict.”
The Guardian, 17th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
One year after eviction, the saga of Dale Farm is far from over – The Guardian
“Around 80 Traveller families were removed from site 12 months ago after a decade long battle, but many are still close by.”
The Guardian, 17th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Shannon Matthews’ father bids to block case report – BBC News
“The father of Shannon Matthews has asked the High Court to block the release of a report he believes will ‘seriously compromise’ her.”
BBC News, 17th October 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Do lawyers scare you? – The Guardian
“Research shows that clients are reluctant to complain to lawyers when things go wrong and that the Legal Ombudsman needs to be clearer in its message.”
The Guardian, 17th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Barry George fights for compensation for Jill Dando murder conviction – Daily Telegraph
Barry George, who spent eight years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the murder of the TV presenter Jill Dando, today launched a test case bid to overturn a ‘defective’ decision denying him compensation.”
Daily Telegraph, 17th October 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
TNK-BP whistleblower wins case – The Guardian
“Oil firm loses attempt to extend gagging order preventing former logistics head disclosing documents alleging corruption.”
The Guardian, 16th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
SRA wins appeal for dishonesty strike-off – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Solicitors Regulation Authority has successfully appealed to the High Court to have a lawyer struck off the roll for dishonesty, overturning an ‘unduly lenient’ Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal verdict.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 16th October 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
MA v Camden & Ors [2012] EWCA Civ 1340 (16 October 2012)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Ezeemo & Ors v R. [2012] EWCA Crim 2064 (16 October 2012)
High Court (Chancery Division)
FW Farnsworth Ltd & Anor v Lacy & Ors [2012] EWHC 2830 (Ch) (16 October 2012)
Ojsc Tnk-BP Holding & Anor v Lazurenko [2012] EWHC 2781 (Ch) (16 October 2012)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Phaestos Ltd & Anor v Ho [2012] EWHC 2756 (QB) (16 October 2012)
Source: www.bailii.org
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Capital Allowances (Environmentally Beneficial Plant and Machinery) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2012
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 29 and Saving Provisions) Order 2012
The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2012
The Oxfordshire Learning Disability National Health Service Trust (Dissolution) Order 2012
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Statement by Home Secretary on extradition – Home Office
“Statement by Home Secretary Theresa May on extradition made on 16 October 2012.”
Home Office, 16th October 2012
Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Azelle Rodney Inquiry lawyers can see surveillance film footage – UK Human Rights Blog
“R (on the application of the Metropolitan Police Service) v the Chairman of the Inquiry into the Death of Azelle Rodney and Interested Parties [2012] EWHA 2783 (Admin).
The public inquiry into the death of Azelle Rodney, which commenced in 2010, was still under way when it was interrupted by the present dispute. It concerned the issue whether police surveillance footage taken from the air, showing Azelle Rodney’s movements in the two hours before his death, should be disclosed to the legal team representing his mother at the Inquiry.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 16th October 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
