Why lawyers can’t coach witnesses – The Guardian
“If lawyers are preparing David Cameron for his appearance before Lord Justice Leveson, they are on perilous ground.”
The Guardian, 8th May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Age-ratings call for music DVDs – BBC News
“In a bid to protect children from over-sexualised imagery, the government is to consult on whether music DVDs should have movie-style age ratings.”
BBC News, 9th May 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Home Office highlights gaps in online surveillance of criminals – The Guardian
“The rapidly changing nature of internet-based communications has left the security agencies and the police unable to legally track the online activities of terrorists and serious criminals in 25% of cases, the Home Office says.”
The Guardian, 8th May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Regulating porn: protecting children online – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“In the week that many parents will have to explain why a stripper was put through on Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) rather than a female impressionist, there has been much publicity on the idea of opt in pornography and whether this would be an effective way of protecting children from accessing indecent images online.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 8th May 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Rochdale grooming trial: Nine found guilty of child sex charges – BBC News
“Nine men have been convicted of being part of a child sexual exploitation ring in Greater Manchester.”
BBC News, 8th May 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Abu Qatada’s chances of success at Strasbourg are slim – The Guardian
“Despite controversy over the deadline, I doubt the European court will agree to hear Abu Qatada’s appeal.”
The Guardian, 8th May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
New fines for benefit cheats – The Independent
“Benefit cheats will be fined up to £2,000 without being taken to court under new powers from today, which the Government said will save the taxpayer around £42 million over the next three years.”
The Independent, 8th May 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Jeremy Clarkson cleared by Ofcom over Elephant Man comment – The Guardian
“Ofcom has cleared Jeremy Clarkson’s comparison of a Japanese car to the Elephant Man of breaching the broadcasting code, despite more than 40 complaints that it was offensive to people suffering from facial disfigurement.”
The Guardian, 8th May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Employment tribunals cannot apportion liability in discrimination claims where more than one party is at fault – OUT-LAW.com
“Employment tribunals do not have the jurisdiction to apportion liability for compensation in discrimination claims where more than one party is at fault, the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) has ruled.”
The Guardian, 8th May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Channel 4 under Ofcom investigation over Prometheus exclusive – The Guardian
“Channel 4 is under investigation by Ofcom over its exclusive airing of the film trailer for Ridley Scott’s sci-fi film Prometheus.”
The Guardian, 8th May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
East Yorkshire mother jailed for child cruelty – BBC News
“A woman who ‘blighted’ the lives of her children by subjecting them to five years of cruelty has been jailed.”
BBC News, 8th May 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Phone hacking: Andy Coulson wins leave to appeal over ruling on legal fees – The Guardian
“Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has won permission to appeal against a high court ruling that News International is not liable to pay his potential legal fees over the phone-hacking scandal.”
The Guardian,
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Are you fit for “fitness to plead”? – One Inner Temple Lane
“The concept of ‘fitness to plead’ is often a source of confusion. It is not solely a consideration of whether the defendant is actually capable of being arraigned on the indictment. The question to be addressed is whether a defendant is fit to enter a plea and stand trial. A person may have sufficient capacity to deny the allegation that is made and yet be unable to undergo the entire trial process. The defence should not overlook the possible benefits, where properly available, to a defendant of a finding of unfitness to plead. Where the issue of fitness to plead is raised it must be determined by a Judge. The defendant ought not to be arraigned before this issue is determined. If a defendant is found unfit to plead there is a further hearing before a jury to determine whether or not he did the act or acts alleged. If unsure, the defendant will be acquitted and so he will have the advantage of challenging the Crown’s evidence. If the finding is adverse to the defendant then the Judge has the power to make a hospital order (with or without restriction), a supervision order or an absolute discharge. The defendant can be diverted from the prison system in this way.”
One Inner Temple Lane, 1st May 2012
Source: www.1itl.com
The vexatious allegation – One Inner Temple Lane
“False reports to the police are rare. Most complaints are truthful and accurate and amount to a proper grievance. However, there are some that are either false or wild exaggerations of the truth. There are yet more that may well be true but amount only to such a trivial complaint that a reasonable person would not think it worthy of the attention of the authorities. The subject of such reporting has hitherto had limited redress in law. Unless the Crown were wiling to prosecute the accuser the chances of retribution were small. The case of Waxman has brought to notice an area of civil redress.”
One Inner Temple Lane, 1st May 2012
Source: www.1itl.com
Securing Commons – The Right and the Just? De-mystifying Commons Registration – Hardwicke Chambers
“In the recent decision in Taylor v Betterment Properties Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 250, the Court of Appeal has provided useful guidance on two questions arising under the Commons Registration Act 1965 and potentially of wider implication.”
Hardwicke Chambers, 2nd May 2012
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
