MPs’ expenses: Margaret Moran ‘not fit to stand trial’, court told – The Guardian

Posted December 16th, 2011 in expenses, false accounting, fitness to plead, mental health, news, parliament by sally

“Judge to decide on whether former Labour MP accused of falsely claiming £80,000 expenses should face trial.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New police professional body – Home Office

Posted December 16th, 2011 in police, press releases by sally

“A new police professional body that supports police officers at all ranks and civilian policing professionals will be set up next year.”

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Home Office, 15th December 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Theresa May to create new policing body – The Independent

Posted December 16th, 2011 in news, police by sally

“A new professional body for policing which will represent the entire service will be created, the Home Secretary said today. Theresa May said the body ‘will develop policing as a single profession’ and ‘act only in the public interest’, adding that she also saw the need for a chiefs’ council.”

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The Independent, 15th December 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

 

Wayne Fox loses appeal after Tirion Lewis attack – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2011 in appeals, assault, kidnapping, news, sentencing by sally

“A man who kidnapped and savagely assaulted his girlfriend, leaving her in a coma, has had an appeal against his indeterminate sentence turned down.”

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BBC News, 15th December 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Assisted suicide: GMC to publish guidance – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2011 in assisted suicide, complaints, disciplinary procedures, doctors, news by sally

“Guidance on how to deal with complaints against doctors who may have assisted in suicides will be published by the General Medical Council.”

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BBC News, 16th December 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Boy, 15, who battered mother to death detained for at least five years – The Guardian

“James Gethen, now 16, was given an indeterminate detention order by a judge at Leeds crown court, who heard he had significant psychiatric problems at the time he killed his mother Ann, 39. Gethen was told he must serve at least five years before he is considered for release.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Revenue suspends its inquiry into tax office whistleblower – The Guardian

Posted December 16th, 2011 in disciplinary procedures, news, solicitors, tax avoidance, whistleblowers by sally

“Officials at Revenue and Customs are reconsidering disciplinary procedures against a whistleblower whose information has led to two inquiries into allegations that City corporations were let off billions of pounds in tax penalties. A Whitehall source said tax officials had suspended a ‘fact-finding’ investigation into Osita Mba, a tax solicitor, in the wake of criticism from MPs and the public.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Council ordered to put the brakes on ‘nightlife tax’ – The Independent

Posted December 16th, 2011 in judicial review, local government, news, parking by sally

“Theatre-goers, restaurateurs and night workers throughout London’s West End were celebrating yesterday after plans to introduce evening and weekend parking charges were shelved until after the Olympic Games. The proposed charges, dubbed a ‘tax on nightlife’, had infuriated impresarios and business owners alike. They have been temporarily dropped after a High Court judge said they risked damaging local businesses.”

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The Independent, 16th December 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

 

Court blow to solar power subsidy cut – The Independent

Posted December 16th, 2011 in energy, environmental protection, judicial review, news by sally

“Government plans to slash solar power subsidies were dealt a blow yesterday, after a High Court judge ordered an urgent hearing into the move. Mr Justice Mitting ordered a judicial review to be held next week into the Government’s decision to halve so-called feed-in-tariff solar power subsidies after hearing an application by Friends of the Earth.”

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The Independent, 16th December 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

 

MPs’ expenses: jailed trio ordered to pay back legal costs – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 16th, 2011 in costs, expenses, false accounting, news, parliament, repayment by sally

“Three former Labour MPs who were jailed for fiddling their expenses have been ordered to pay back a total of £125,000 – less than half of the money spent on their court cases.”

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Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Imogen Thomas speaks of ‘nightmare’ as she is cleared of blackmail accusations – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 16th, 2011 in blackmail, injunctions, media, news, privacy by sally

“The Big Brother contestant won an eight-month legal battle when the High Court in London heard Manchester United player Giggs, 38, now accepts she never wanted to reveal private details.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th December 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Will the Family Drug and Alcohol Court survive? – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2011 in alcohol abuse, children, courts, drug abuse, family courts, news, social services by sally

“The court gets results – but funding cuts put it under threat.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

At last, Strasbourg heeds our supreme court – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2011 in hearsay evidence, human rights, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Today’s al-Khawaja judgment shows the European Court of Human Rights is listening to UK judgesToday’s al-Khawaja judgment shows the European Court of Human Rights is listening to UK judges.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rio Ferdinand settles privacy dispute with Sunday Mirror – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2011 in freedom of expression, media, news, privacy by sally

“Footballer Rio Ferdinand has ended his privacy battle with the Sunday Mirror over a ‘kiss and tell’ story published by the tabloid after reaching an eleventh-hour agreement.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Terror asset-freezing laws ‘intrusive and humiliating’ – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2011 in freezing injunctions, legislation, news, reports, terrorism by sally

“Asset-freezing powers that are exercised under counter-terrorism legislation are ‘an intrusive and humiliating experience’ for a number of British citizens, the government’s independent reviewer of anti-terror laws has warned in a report.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

European court backs British judges over hearsay evidence – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2011 in appeals, hearsay evidence, human rights, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Hearsay evidence can be used as the sole means of securing a criminal conviction where no other evidence is available, the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted December 15th, 2011 in parliamentary papers by sally

European Union Finances 2011: statement on the 2011 EU Budget and measures to counter fraud and financial mismanagement, Cm 8232 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Private Whitehall emails ‘are covered by info laws’ – BBC News

“Ministers and Whitehall officials have been warned not to try to hide sensitive government information by using private emails and text messages.”

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BBC News, 15th December 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted December 15th, 2011 in legislation by sally

The Local Government (Discretionary Payments) (Injury Allowances) Regulations 2011

The Eels (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) (Amendment No. 7) Order 2011

The Finance Act 2011, Section 49(6) (Appointed Day) Order 2011

The General Chiropractic Council (Registration) (Amendment and Repayment) Rules Order of Council 2011

The Traffic Management Act 2004 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) (England) (Amendment) Order 2011

The Gas Transporter (Modification of Licence Conditions) Regulations 2011

The Incidental Flooding and Coastal Erosion (England) Order 2011

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011

The Regulated Covered Bonds (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Social Security (Contribution Conditions for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance) Regulations 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 15th, 2011 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

RO, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 2910 (22 November 2011)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Rahmatullah v Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 1540 (14 December 2011)

Spaceright Europe Ltd v Baillavoine & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 1565 (14 December 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Norman v Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service [2011] EWHC 3305 (QB) (14 December 2011)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Chief Constable of Dorset, R (on the application of) v Police Appeals Tribunal [2011] EWHC 3366 (Admin) (14 December 2011)

High Court (Family Division)

Z & Anor v C & Anor [2011] EWHC 3181 (Fam) (02 December 2011)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Astrazeneca UK Ltd v International Business Machines Corporation [2011] EWHC 3373 (TCC) (14 December 2011)

Alstom Power Ltd. v Somi Impianti S.R.L. [2011] EWHC 3157 (TCC) (21 November 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org