Heiress wins battle to uphold pre-nuptial contract – The Times

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in news, prenuptial agreements by sally

“A wealthy German heiress worth £100 million today won a Court of Appeal case that will leave her former husband, now an impoverished student, with only maintenance money for his daughters.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Innocents accused of net piracy – BBC News

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“Some 20 net users have come forward claiming they have been wrongly accused of illegally sharing video games.”

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BBC News, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met slow to change after death of Jean Charles de Menezes, says report – The Guardian

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in firearms, news, police by sally

“Scotland Yard has failed to carry out a series of changes it was ordered to make after disastrous blunders led its officers to kill Jean Charles de Menezes, according to an official report.”

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The Guardian, 1st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jack Straw launches first mental health courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in courts, mental health, news by sally

“Problem-solving courts for offenders with mental health problems or learning disabilities, the first of their kind in England and Wales, were today formally launched by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.”

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Ministry of Justice, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Draft guideline: Overarching principles – Sentencing youths – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“On Tuesday 30 June 2009, the Sentencing Guidelines Council published a draft guideline on the principles which apply when courts sentence young offenders. The guideline is set in the context of new laws for sentencing young people which are expected to come into force later this year.”

Consultation guideline: Overarching principles – Sentencing youths (PDF)

Letter to consultees (PDF)

Advice: Sentencing principles – youths (PDF)

Press Notice (PDF)

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 30th June 2009

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

Sarcastic, rude: is this the way to question child witnesses? – The Times

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in children, cross-examination, news, witnesses by sally

“The cross-examination of the four- year-old girl in the Baby Peter-related rape trial raised uncomfortable questions about how the justice system treats child witnesses.”

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The Times, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Ronnie Biggs to remain in jail – The Guardian

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in news, parole by sally

“Ronnie Biggs, the man at the centre of Britain’s great train robbery, will remain in prison after the justice secretary, Jack Straw, refused to grant him parole.”

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The Guardian, 1st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unsolicited credit card cheques to be banned – The Independent

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in consumer credit, consumer protection, news by sally

“The Government will today set out details of its plan to ban lenders from sending out unsolicited credit card cheques to consumers. The Government will today set out details of its plan to ban lenders from sending out unsolicited credit card cheques to consumers.”

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The Independent, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Blow to politics clean-up bill as MPs defend parliamentary privilege – The Guardian

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in news, parliamentary privilege by sally

“The government’s efforts to rush through emergency legislation to clean up politics tonight took a second knock in as many days as it was defeated in its attempts to make it easier to secure prosecutions in alleged cases of ‘cash for questions’.”

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The Guardian, 1st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Amending the law on the DNA database needs proper scrutiny – The Times

Posted July 2nd, 2009 in criminal records, DNA, human rights, news by sally

“Last December the European Court of Human Rights decided in S and Marper v The United Kingdom that the retention by the State of DNA profiles is a breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. That is because information about people arrested for, or charged with, an offence but not subsequently convicted, is kept on the national DNA database for an unlimited period of time. The Government has accepted the judgment of the European court and announced that it will change the law to ensure compliance. But its proposed method of doing so is unsatisfactory and needs reconsideration.”

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The Times, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Speeding motorcyclist jailed after policeman uses Google to expose lies – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 1st, 2009 in internet, news, police, road traffic offences by sally

“A speeding motorcyclist has been jailed after a traffic policeman used Google to expose his false claims that an American woman had been riding his bike at the time.”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st July 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

NHS faces huge claim for damages – BBC News

Posted July 1st, 2009 in assault, class actions, hospitals, medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

“Lawyers are preparing a multi-million pound damages claim against the NHS for adults with learning difficulties who were abused while in care in Cornwall.”

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BBC News, 1st July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Treasury faces legal action over ‘dirty’ banking investments – The Guardian

Posted July 1st, 2009 in banking, environmental protection, nationalisation, news by sally

“Campaign groups say bank bailout breaches government’s own policies on reducing carbon emissions by lending money to coal, oil and gas companies.”

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The Guardian, 1st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Football is ‘vulnerable’ to money laundering, but no names named – The Guardian

Posted July 1st, 2009 in money laundering, news, sport, tax evasion by sally

“Today’s report by the Financial Action Task Force raises the spectre, in calm, plain language, that football is vulnerable to criminals, who might take over beloved local clubs or use the transfer system to launder dirty money or evade tax.”

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The Guardian, 1st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina v Clarke (Joseph) – Times Law Reports

Posted July 1st, 2009 in conditional discharge, confiscation, news, sentencing by sally

Regina v Clarke (Joseph)

Court of Appeal

“Where a defendant had been sentenced to an absolute or conditional discharge, the crown court had no power to impose a confiscation order.”

The Times, 1st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Companies will have to justify different treatment of old people, Government says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 1st, 2009 in age discrimination, news by sally

“Financial services and insurance companies will have to justify any unfavourable treatment of older people while car hire companies will not be allowed to refuse to serve old people under new proposals drawn up by the Government.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st July 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Retail investment reforms are a call to action for the industry, says FSA – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 1st, 2009 in consumer protection, financial advice, news by sally

“The Financial Services Authority’s proposed new rules for the retail investment industry will impose a complete ban on commission-based sales and require firms to tell customers from the outset whether or not their advice is independent and how much it will cost.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

MPs’ second jobs to be disclosed – BBC News

Posted July 1st, 2009 in news, parliament, remuneration by sally

“New rules have come into force requiring MPs to disclose all income they receive from second jobs and how much time they devote to them.”

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BBC News, 1st July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ten years for triple death driver – BBC News

Posted July 1st, 2009 in dangerous driving, news, sentencing by sally

“A 24-year-old motorist who killed three teenagers – one of whom was pregnant – and paralysed a fourth when he crashed at speed has been jailed for 10 years.”

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BBC News, 29th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lords asked to alter law to protect children forced into prostitution – The Guardian

Posted July 1st, 2009 in children, news, prostitution by sally

“Children forced to work as prostitutes are being deterred from seeking help because of the threat of prosecution, according to a coalition of youth justice groups. Decriminalising the offence of soliciting for those aged under 18 would recognise that they are victims of abuse and aid detectives’ efforts to combat enforced trafficking of foreign children into the UK, the charities claimed. An attempt to alter the law will made in the House of Lords tomorrow, when peers will be urged to support an amendment during the committee stage of the policing and crime bill.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk