Royal secrets withheld under revised information rules – Independent on Sunday

Posted June 15th, 2009 in freedom of information, government departments, news, royal family by sally

“Members of the public and journalists will be banned from seeing the contents of secret documents on the Cabinet and Royal Family under measures quietly announced by Gordon Brown last week.”

Full story

Independent on Sunday, 14th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Destination libel – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2009 in defamation, news by sally

“Is the fear of legal action creating a chilling effect for investigative journalism? Campaigners want British laws changed so libel tourists stay away.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Names of judges found guilty of misconduct to stay secret – The Guardian

“The government and the judiciary can continue to conceal the names of more than 170 misbehaving judges, a freedom of information tribunal has ruled.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Call to publish 1979 death report – BBC News

Posted June 15th, 2009 in demonstrations, disclosure, inquests, news, police by sally

“A campaign group has called on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson to publish a report into the death of a protester in 1979.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Army chiefs in Afghanistan cannot be sued for death of their troops – The Times

Posted June 15th, 2009 in Afghanistan, armed forces, human rights, indemnities, news by sally

“Commanding officers in Afghanistan have been offered indemnity from prosecution under human-rights laws if they make a decision that leads to the death of a soldier.”

Full story

The Times, 15th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Beware rape myths, judges to tell jurors – The Times

Posted June 15th, 2009 in juries, news, rape by sally

“Juries are to be instructed to ignore myths surrounding rape in an attempt to raise Britain’s low conviction rate for the crime. Under new directions to be given by judges in rape cases, jurors will be told not to assume the victim was ‘asking for it’ because of the way she dressed, her behaviour or her demeanour.”

Full story

The Times, 15th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Victory for anti-scald campaign – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2009 in building law, health & safety, news, personal injuries by sally

“A campaign to reduce injuries caused by scalding in the bath has brought about a change to building regulations.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kinsella killers jailed for life – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2009 in murder, news, offensive weapons, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“Three men have been given life sentences for murdering 16-year-old Ben Kinsella in north London.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Defence fee caps will be final blow for legal aid, practitioners say – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 12th, 2009 in law firms, legal aid, news by sally

“Government proposals to cap payments made to acquitted defendants who have paid privately for their defence are the ‘final nail in the coffin’ of criminal legal aid firms, a leading practitioner group has warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette. 11th June 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Chancery Lane hits out at means testing proposals – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 12th, 2009 in criminal justice, legal aid, news by sally

“Government proposals for Crown court means testing could deny vulnerable people access to justice and are being ‘rushed in’ too quickly, the Law Society said today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 11th June 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LastMinute.com wins right to block last minute trade mark – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 12th, 2009 in EC law, news, trade marks by sally

“Online travel company LastMinute.com has won the right to have a competing firm’s European trade mark cancelled. The European Union’s Court of First Instance (CFI) has backed the British firm, overturning a ruling by the EU office for trade marks.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Online supermarket rapped for price claim errors – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 12th, 2009 in advertising, news by sally

“Online supermarket Ocado could not back up price-matching claims made in its adverts, ad regulator the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has said. The company has been told not to repeat its claims while operating the current system.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Railway track driver spared jail – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2009 in alcohol abuse, dangerous driving, news, sentencing by sally

“A drunk woman who drove almost half a mile along railway tracks before her car broke down has been spared jail.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Many parking tickets ‘unlawful’ – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2009 in fines, news, parking by sally

“Thousands of parking tickets paid by credit card could be cancelled after a council’s charges were ruled unlawful.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

80 per cent of knife offenders avoid going straight to jail – The Times

Posted June 12th, 2009 in news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

“Four out of five knife offenders avoid going straight to jail, according to government figures published yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 12th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Former pupil sues Oundle School over drunken fall from window – The Times

Posted June 12th, 2009 in duty of care, health & safety, news, personal injuries, school children by sally

“A public school is being sued by a former pupil who was permanently disabled following a drunken fall from a window.”

Full story

The Times, 12th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Student murder sentences examined – BBC News

Posted June 11th, 2009 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“The Attorney General will consider whether the sentences given to two men who tortured and murdered two French students were ‘unduly lenient’.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speeding biker who filmed death crash banned – The Independent

Posted June 11th, 2009 in dangerous driving, news, sentencing by sally

“A speeding motorcyclist who unwittingly filmed a fellow biker’s death crash with a camera strapped to his petrol tank, walked free from court today with a ban.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Priest barred over intimate text messages – The Independent

Posted June 11th, 2009 in clergy, disciplinary procedures, news by sally

“A priest has been barred from holding a licence after he admitted sending ‘sexual and intimate’ text messages to a teenage parishioner.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Analysis: Soham loopholes still not closed – The Times

Posted June 11th, 2009 in child abuse, criminal records, news, vetting by sally

“The investigation into alleged child abuse at the Little Ted nursery is likely to consider whether the worker who was charged yesterday was subjected to the correct vetting process. Loopholes in vetting came to light after the Soham murders of 2002. Yet a new system designed to strengthen checks has yet to come into force, although ministers say they are confident that they will meet the latest deadline of this October.”

Full story

The Times, 11th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk