Compensation claimants say changes to court costs law will add insult to injury – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in bills, costs, legal aid, news by sally

“Victims and their families voice alarm over the ‘ill-considered’ legal aid bill now before parliament.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Streamlined use of forensic evidence eases burden on courts – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in forensic science, news by sally

“The demise of the Forensic Science Service comes as police forces shift towards a more streamlined approach to the use of forensics in criminal cases. Instead of courts being presented with extensive forensic reports that cover all the evidence recovered in police investigations, only short reports with the initial and key findings will be submitted. Prior to the trial, prosecutors will present the defence with evidence incrementally and order additional forensic tests only when the case requires them.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Foreign criminals still released without being considered for removal – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in deportation, news, prisons by sally

“Almost 100 foreign prisoners have been released in the last two years when they should have first being assessed for removal, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, revealed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cambridge footballer Jordan Patrick fined for racist abuse – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fines, news, racism, threatening behaviour by sally

“Cambridge United player Jordan Patrick has been fined £750 for racially abusing a taxi driver and threatening a policeman in a drunken outburst.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man who threatened to kill gay rights campaigner gets suspended sentence – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in homosexuality, news, sentencing, threatening behaviour by sally

“A man who threatened to ‘put a bullet in the head’ of the gay rights campaigner Ben Summerskill and a gay couple illegally barred from a hotel has been given a suspended prison sentence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Baby P effect puts record number of ‘at risk’ children in care – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in care orders, child abuse, news, social services by sally

“Record numbers of ‘at risk’ children are being taken from their families and placed into care, official figures show, as social workers respond to what they regard as increasing neglect and emotional abuse of vulnerable youngsters.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teacher banned from classroom after ‘biting a police officer’ conviction emerges – Daily Telegraph

“A teacher has been banned from the classroom after hiding a string of convictions – including biting a police officer.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

OFT investigates hidden airline charges – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in airlines, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by sally

“The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation into whether airlines are hitting customers with hidden card surcharges when they book flights online.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

 

David Kelly inquest ruling to be challenged – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in inquests, judicial review, news by sally

“A group of doctors is seeking a judicial review of the decision not to hold an inquest into the death of government scientist Dr David Kelly.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Minister announces referral fee ban – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fees, insurance, news, personal injuries by sally

“Referral fees for personal injury cases will be banned to help tackle rising insurance costs, as part of the Government’s commitment to curb compensation culture.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 9th September 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Injury claim referral fees to be banned – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fees, insurance, news, personal injuries by sally

“The government is to ban referral fees in personal injury claims in an attempt to curb the ‘compensation culture’. It says the current system in which personal injury details are sold on by insurance companies to lawyers has led to rising insurance costs.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Why wearing a helmet could affect your legal status – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in bicycles, news, personal injuries by sally

“The decision not to wear a helmet can have legal consequences for cyclists who suffer head injuries and sue for compensation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

 

Ministers ‘could get powers to overrule European Court of Human Rights’ – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2011 in human rights, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

“The European Court of Human Rights could have its powers downgraded by handing ministers across the continent the right to strike down rulings under plans being examined by the British government. A commission set up by the government to examine reforms to the Strasbourg-based ECHR has floated the idea of handing ministers and parliamentarians on the Council of Europe the right to override rulings of the court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Insurance companies face car insurance probe – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in competition, insurance, news by sally

“The OFT has issued what it describes as a ‘call for evidence’ a preliminary step which could lead to a full scale inquiry. It is understood that the watchdog is concerned whether there is genuine competition between the major insurers in the market.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Planning reforms: fee threat to village greens – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 9th, 2011 in commons, news, planning by sally

“Communities would have to pay up to £1,000 to apply to save their green spaces from the developers’ bulldozers under plans to speed up the planning process, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rapist Jonathan Haynes jailed for at least 11 years – BBC News

Posted September 8th, 2011 in kidnapping, news, rape, sentencing by sally

An ex-soldier has been jailed indefinitely for raping three teenagers and trying to abduct two schoolgirls.

Full story

BBC News, 8th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Soldiers ‘must face prosecution’ – The Independent

“The British soldiers responsible for the death of Baha Mousa must face prosecution in the light of the damning public inquiry findings, lawyers for his family said.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Baha Mousa inquiry makes 73 recommendations – The Guardian

Posted September 8th, 2011 in armed forces, death in custody, inquiries, reports, torture by sally

“Asking detainees if they have any complaints about their treatment and letting prison inspectors visit battlefield holding centres were among the 73 recommendations made by the Baha Mousa inquiry chairman, Sir William Gage.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Labour’s legal aid bill amendments fail – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 8th, 2011 in bills, legal aid, news by sally

“Opposition amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill have been rejected by a committee of MPs.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

“Corporate failure by MoD” finds Baha Mousa inquiry – UK Human Rights Blog

“The 1,400 page final report on the inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa has been published today after three years of hearings. The chairman of the inquiry, retired Court of Appeal judge Sir William Gage, has condemned members of the 1st Battalion The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment for their ‘lack of moral courage’ to report abuse and the use of banned interrogation after Mousa died of 93 injuries in British army custody in Basra in 2003.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th September 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Related link: The Report of the Baha Mousa Inquiry