New reforms to help reduce reoffending – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in criminal records, news, recidivists, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

“New plans to support the rehabilitation of offenders and the reduction of reoffending were outlined today by Justice Minister Lord McNally.”

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Ministry of Justice, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Douglas Binet jailed for murdering and dismembering man – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A drug dealer has been jailed for life for murdering a father whose severed arms were found in a lake in Essex.”

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BBC News, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Why this case matters: R (KM) v Cambridgeshire County Council – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in budgets, community care, disabled persons, local government, news by sally

“The supreme court is about to hear another case that cuts to the heart of human dignity in care services.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid bill: government considers further concessions – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in bills, legal aid, news by sally

“Further concessions may be made by the government on controversial areas of the legal aid bill, the minister steering the legislation through parliament signalled on Thursday.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

#WithoutPrejudice podcast 18: Legal education – Human Rights left wing twaddle? – Assange extradition – Charon QC

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in extradition, human rights, legal education, podcasts by sally

“Our guests tonight are resident panelist Carl Gardner, Professor Gary Slapper Director of New York University in London and former ‘left wing’ Tory MP Jerry Hayes, a practising barrister specialising in the more serious criminal cases.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 3rd February 2012

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.

The legislation gap: does slow and steady really win the race? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in bills, news, parliament, statutory interpretation by sally

“An analysis by the Times (‘Legislation gap makes light work for MPs’, 27 January) has revealed that MPs have spent a mere 24% of their time in the last four months considering government legislation. During the same period in the previous year, the figure was 62%.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk/

Kenneth Clarke to ‘wipe slate clean’ for hundreds of thousands of ex-offenders – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in criminal records, employment, news, rehabilitation by sally

“The justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, is to ‘wipe the slate clean’ for hundreds of thousands of offenders by dramatically shortening the period during which they are obliged to tell potential employers about their criminal past.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Custody deaths review announced after BBC investigation – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in death in custody, news, police by sally

“A watchdog has announced a review of the way it deals with deaths in police custody following a BBC investigation.”

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BBC News, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Divorced fathers to get more contact with their children – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in children, contact orders, divorce, news by sally

“Fathers will get improved contact with their children following divorce, amid plans to rewrite the law governing custody disputes.”

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The Guardian,3rd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Justice Secretary warning on longer jail terms – The Independent

Posted February 3rd, 2012 in news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

“Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke risked the ire of some of his own party’s backbenchers today by claiming that sending more people to prison for longer sentences in order to cut re-offending ‘does not work’.”

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The Independent, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law centres warn on legal aid cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in law centres, legal aid, news by sally

“Law centres will close, leaving ‘many thousands’ of the poor and marginalised without access to justice if the government’s legal aid cuts are implemented, peers have warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The solar panel challenge – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in consultations, energy, judicial review, news by sally

“The government’s attempt to move forward the date for a reduction in subsidies for households with solar panel installations is concerning, both in legal terms and for the future of renewable energy. The Court of Appeal’s judgment on 25 January 2012 reassuringly blocked the government’s endeavours, but with the intention of the government to appeal to the Supreme Court, the legal battle continues.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Compromise Agreements (Automatic Enrolment) (Description of Person) Order 2012

The Automatic Enrolment (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Teenager jailed for breaching new gang injunction – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in gangs, injunctions, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“A teenager from north London has become the first in England or Wales to be jailed for breaching a new gang injunction.”

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BBC News, 1st February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Society outlines initiatives to reinforce access to justice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in legal aid, news, pro bono work by sally

“The Law Society vice-president has outlined initiatives to bolster access to justice following the government’s proposed legal aid reforms – but stressed that Chancery Lane has not given up its opposition to the cuts.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the French Republic relating to Joint Radiographic/Hydrodynamics Facilities, Cm 8289 (PDF)

Protocol Amending the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the State of Qatar for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains, Cm 8285 (PDF)

International Convention On the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001, Cm 8284 (PDF)

National Security Through Technology: Technology, Equipment, and Support for UK Defence and Security, Cm 8278 (PDF)

Equipment, Support, and Technology for UK Defence and Security: A Consultation Paper, Cm 8277 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Armstrong, R v [2012] EWCA Crim 83 (01 February 2012)

OB v The Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2012] EWCA Crim 67 (01 February 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Hawksford Trustees Jersey Ltd v Stella Global UK Ltd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 55 (01 February 2012)

Coogan v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 48 (01 February 2012)

Tiffin v Lester Aldridge LLP [2012] EWCA Civ 35 (01 February 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

IBM United Kingdom Pensions Trust Ltd v Metcalfe & Ors [2012] EWHC 125 (Ch) (01 February 2012)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Standard Life Assurance Ltd v Ace European Group & Ors [2012] EWHC 104 (Comm) (01 February 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Bury equal pay case: Council settles with dinner ladies – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in equal pay, local government, news by sally

“Nearly 1,000 female workers, including dinner ladies, cleaners and carers, are to receive five years’ back pay after an equality dispute with Bury Council.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)) v Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change – WLR Daily

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in electricity lines, energy, judicial review, law reports by sally

Regina (Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)) v Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change [2012] EWHC 46 (Admin); [2012] WLR (D) 16

“Following the grant of a consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended) in respect of any operation or change of use that constituted development, a direction made by the Secretary of State under section 90(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that planning permission for that and any ancillary development should be deemed to be granted was not a ‘determination under the planning Acts’ for the purposes of engaging the duty to act in accordance with the applicable development plan under section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.”

WLR Daily, 31st January 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Revenue and Customs Commissioners v GKN Group – WLR Daily

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in appeals, civil procedure rules, corporation tax, law reports by sally

Revenue and Customs Commissioners v GKN Group [2012] EWCA Civ 57; [2012] WLR (D) 15

“On an application for an interim payment under CPR r 25.7(1)(c) a claimant had to satisfy the court on a balance of probabilities that, on the material available to the court, he would succeed at trial in obtaining judgment from the defendant for a substantial amount of money. It was not sufficient to show that it was likely that he would succeed.”

WLR Daily, 31st January 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk