The legal aid bill must be cut. Here’s how – The Guardian
“Legal aid became bloated and inefficient. What’s needed is a better network of law centres and Citizens Advice Bureaux.”
The Guardian, 13th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Unmarried couples should have inheritance rights, say law advisers – Daily Telegraph
“Unmarried couples who live together for five years will automatically take their partner’s entire estate if they die without a will, under proposals from the Government’s law advisers.”
Daily Telegraph, 14th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
PC Hannah Quince guilty of illicit police computer search – BBC News
“A policewoman who searched the force computer to look through confidential files on behalf of her boyfriend has been found guilty of misconduct.”
BBC News, 13th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Government may expand definition of domestic violence – BBC News
“The government is launching a consultation on whether the definition of domestic violence should be widened.”
BBC News, 14th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Criminals could be made to wear ‘sobriety tags’ – The Independent
“It is the latest accessory modelled by actress Lindsay Lohan and soon the ‘sobriety bracelet’ could adorn the ankles of British criminals too, under proposals being considered by Scotland Yard’s Commissioner.”
The Independent, 14th December 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Civil servants fear FoI ruling over private emails and text messages – The Guardian
“Ministers, civil servants and government advisers are bracing themselves for an information commission ruling this week declaring that emails sent within government from private accounts are subject to freedom of information legislation and therefore can be disclosed.”
The Guardian, 13th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Harsher sentences for murderers of transgender and disabled people: a step in the right direction but greater reform is needed – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“On hearing of the Ministry of Justice’s plan to raise the starting point for the minimum term in murder cases where victims are transgender or disabled, you would be forgiven for expressing surprise that there was an existing disparity. We pride ourselves on being alive to equality and here is a glaring and shameful example of imbalance to the detriment of a vulnerable minority.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th December 2011
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
A human right to object to war – UK Human Rights Blog
“Moral objections to the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan do not constitute a defence to an insubordination charge, the Court Martial Appeal Court has ruled. The appellant was not entitled to disobey a lawful command on the ground of conscientious objection.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 13th December 2011
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Howard League urges ban on detaining under 14s in police cells – BBC News
“Police should be banned from detaining children under 14 in police cells overnight, campaigners have said.”
BBC News, 13th December 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Quest Advisors Limited Sharriba Ltd v McFeely & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 1517 (09 December 2011)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Green v Eadie & Ors [2011] EWHC B24 (Ch) (18 November 2011)
Bezier Acquisitions Ltd, Re [2011] EWHC 3299 (Ch) (12 December 2011)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Cooper & Anor v Turrell [2011] EWHC 3269 (QB) (12 December 2011)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Five Oceans Salvage Ltd v Wenzhou Timber Group Company [2011] EWHC 3282 (Comm) (23 November 2011)
Source: www.bailii.org
Fresh battle looms between European human rights court and UK – Daily Telegraph
“Prosecutors could be forced to stop using evidence from victims and witnesses who do not attend court in another human rights battle between Britain and Europe.”
Daily Telegraph, 13th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Bookseller Ahmed Faraz found guilty of terror offences – BBC News
“A bookseller from Birmingham has been convicted of possessing and distributing material that prosecutors said ‘primed people for terrorism’.”
BBC News, 12th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Age of criminal responsibility is too low, say brain scientists – The Guardian
“The age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland could be ‘unreasonably low’ given the emerging understanding of how slowly the brains of children mature, according to a report by the Royal Society. Widespread differences between individuals also mean that the cut-off age at which children are deemed fit to stand trial, at 10 years old, might not be justifiable in all cases.”
The Guardian, 13th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Draft proposals for new data protection regime include ‘draconian provisions’, expert says – OUT-LAW.com
“Many proposals under consideration for the make-up of a new data protection regime in Europe are “incredibly draconian” and will create extra burdens on compliant businesses, an expert has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 12th December 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Trading with the Enemy (Revocation) Order 2011
The Export Control (Sudan and South Sudan Sanctions) and (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2011
The Social Security (Electronic Communications) (No. 2) Order 2011
The Social Security Pensions (Flat Rate Introduction Year) Order 2011
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Forced marriages in England could number 8,000 – The Guardian
“There are at least 5,000 to 8,000 cases of forced marriage in England every year but it is impossible to know the full scale of the problem, according to the Home Office.”
The Guardian, 12th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Strasbourg’s ruling on hearsay evidence could change its relationship with UK – The Guardian
“The European court of human rights is considering a challenge by the UK supreme court to its ban on hearsay evidence.”
The Guardian, 12th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Shopkeeper murder: Brothers jailed for Kingstanding stabbing – BBC News
“Two pairs of brothers have been jailed for life for the murder of a Birmingham shopkeeper during a robbery.”
BBC News, 12th December 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Joel Mattsson compensated for military parade photo ban – Daily Telegraph
“Lawyers say Joel Mattsson, who was wrongly stopped by police from taking photographs at a public event in a town centre, has been compensated.”
Daily Telegraph, 12th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
