Ken Clarke is right – the European court of human rights needs reform – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2011 in constitutional reform, courts, human rights, news by tracey

“There is ‘not the faintest chance’ of the government withdrawing from the European convention on human rights, Ken Clarke told the Commons on Tuesday. But that does not mean the justice secretary is happy about the court in Strasbourg that has ultimate responsibility for enforcing the convention.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bid to exempt Trafigura-type claims from reform fails – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 15th, 2011 in bills, civil justice, fees, human rights, legal aid, news by tracey

“Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs have rejected an amendment to legislation that would exempt claims brought by foreigners against UK multinationals from civil litigation reforms. The Public Bill Committee debated the amendment to the Legal Aid, Punishment of Offenders and Sentencing Bill, tabled by Labour MP Kate Green, yesterday.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 15th, 2011 in law reports by tracey

High Court (Chancery Division)

Westbrook Dolphin Square Ltd v Friends Provident Life and Pensions Ltd [2011] EWHC 2302 (Ch) (14 September 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

A & Ors v B & Anor [2011] EWHC 2345 (Comm) (15 September 2011)

Linsen International Ltd & Ors v Humpuss Sea Transport Pte Ltd & Ors [2011] EWHC 2339 (Comm) (14 September 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted September 15th, 2011 in parliamentary papers by tracey

Unauthorised tapping into or hacking of mobile communications: the Government response to the thirteenth report from the Home Affairs Committee session 2010-12 HC 907, Cm 8182

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Mirrlees Review recommends “radical” tax reform – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 15th, 2011 in income tax, national insurance, news, reports, stamp duty, taxation, VAT by tracey

“Stamp duty on property transactions is ‘inefficient and damaging’ and should be abolished, while VAT should be levied on financial services business and income tax merged with national insurance, an independent report on taxation in the UK has claimed.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 14th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Football club reports tabloids’ fan death coverage to press watchdog – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 15th, 2011 in complaints, media, news by tracey

“A Welsh football club has claimed that three national newspapers’ coverage on the death of a fan at a recent international match breached reporting rules.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 14th September 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Parents of Madeleine McCann and Hugh Grant named as participants in hacking inquiry – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 15th, 2011 in inquiries, interception, news, telecommunications by tracey

“The parents of Madeleine McCann, actor Hugh Grant and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling were named today as core participants in the first stage of the inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jeremy Hunt urges web firms to join anti-piracy drive – BBC News

Posted September 15th, 2011 in copyright, intellectual property, internet, legislation, news by tracey

“UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has delivered a hard-hitting speech, calling on net firms, advertisers and credit card companies to cut ties with websites that link to unlawful content.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers end deadlock over fixed term parliaments – BBC News

Posted September 15th, 2011 in bills, constitutional reform, news, parliament by tracey

“Ministers have narrowly won their parliamentary battle over plans to hold general elections every five years.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Couple sentenced to four years each for abuse of 14-month-old girl – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2011 in child cruelty, news, sentencing, young offenders by tracey

“A mother and her partner are starting custodial sentences for a catalogue of abuse that left a 14-month-old girl covered in injuries, with every fingernail blackened and bruised.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK supreme court’s jurisdiction in Scotland upheld by review panel – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2011 in constitutional law, news, reports, Scotland, Supreme Court by tracey

“An expert panel has upheld the right of the UK supreme court to overrule Scottish judges despite heated and vigorous attacks on its powers by Alex Salmond and his justice minister Kenny MacAskill.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man in al-Qa’ida arrest wins £20,000 payout – The Independent

Posted September 15th, 2011 in compensation, detention, news, terrorism, wrongful arrest by tracey

“A student who was wrongfully arrested on suspicion of being a terrorist after downloading an edited copy of The al-Qa’ida Training Manual for his PhD course, has been paid £20,000 in compensation by police.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Nurse held over hospital deaths is cleared to work despite drug theft – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 15th, 2011 in criminal damage, disciplinary procedures, medicines, news, nurses, theft by tracey

“A nurse who was accused of tampering with saline at a hospital can return to work despite admitting stealing opiate-based drugs, a regulatory body ruled yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Banned preacher wants to sue for unlawful imprisonment – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 15th, 2011 in deportation, detention, immigration, imprisonment, news by tracey

“A banned Islamic preacher who was allowed in to the UK because of a Home Office blunder is now suing the taxpayer for wrongful imprisonment.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 15th, 2011 in legislation by tracey

The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No.3) Order 2011

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (New Method of Instituting Proceedings) (Public Prosecutor Specification) Order 2011

The Insolvency (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Misuse of Drugs (Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Companies (Disclosure of Auditor Remuneration and Liability Limitation Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Overseas Companies (Execution of Documents and Registration of Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Tonnage Tax (Training Requirement) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011

The Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Investment Bank Special Administration (Scotland) Rules 2011

The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011

The Renewable Heat Incentive (Amendment to the Energy Act 2008) Regulations 2011

The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Jet Formation Display Teams) (No. 3) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2011

The Derelict Land Clearance Area (Highbarns, Hemel Hempstead) Order 2011

The Railway Byelaws Amendment Order 2011

The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No.3) Order 2011

The National Savings Bank (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

More offenders to face the consequences of their crimes: new Restorative Justice Register launched – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 14th, 2011 in press releases, recidivists, restorative justice by tracey

“More offenders are to face the consequences of their actions following today’s launch of the first-ever register of qualified restorative justice practitioners, funded by the Ministry of Justice and implemented by the Restorative Justice Council (RJC).”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 13th September 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Children as young as four reprimanded for racist behaviour – Daily Telegraph

“The equivalent of around 100 primary school pupils a day were reported to local authorities after using offensive language in lessons and the playground, it is claimed. In some cases, pupils were reprimanded for relatively trivial squabbles and employing insults such as ‘gaylord’ and ‘broccoli head’. Researchers said many children – some as young as four – are being reported despite being ‘unlikely to understand the meaning of these words’. Schools are obliged to report all ‘hate speech’ incidents to local authorities as part of the 2000 Race Relations Act.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lord Justice Jackson: legal aid should remain for clinical negligence – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 14th, 2011 in bills, budgets, legal aid, medical treatment, negligence, news by tracey

“Lord Justice Jackson spoke in strong terms last week to the Cambridge Law Faculty on the controversial topic of legal aid and legal costs reforms.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 13th September 2011

Source: www.http://ukhumanrightsblog.com

Kettled British woman takes case to European court of human rights – The Guardian

Posted September 14th, 2011 in demonstrations, detention, human rights, news, police by tracey

“A case that will decide the legality of the police containment tactic of kettling is to be heard at the European court of human rights in Strasbourg later.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Council ‘abusing law’ on travellers – The Independent

Posted September 14th, 2011 in housing, international law, local government, news, travellers by tracey

“A UN representative has accused a council of ‘violating international law’ over the clearance of the UK’s largest illegal travellers’ site.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk