Immigrant relatives face five-year wait to claim benefits – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2011 in benefits, families, human rights, immigration, news by sally

“Family members from outside Europe who come to join close relatives settled in Britain are expected to be denied access to welfare benefits for up to five years under further plans to cut annual net migration to be detailed on Wednesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2011

source: www.guardian.co.uk

Blunt: ending the misery of squatting – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 13th, 2011 in crime, press releases, squatting, trespass by sally

“A new crime of squatting was proposed today by Justice Minister Crispin Blunt. Making it an offence for the first time, and abolishing so-called ‘squatters rights’ are among a range of proposals to deal with the problem which would protect both home and business owners.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 13th July 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

New counter-terrorism strategy published – Home Office

Posted July 13th, 2011 in defence, intelligence services, press releases, terrorism by sally

“The government’s new counter-terrorism strategy (known as CONTEST) was unveiled by Home Secretary Theresa May today.”

Full press release

Home Office, 12th July 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Alignment of prosecutions between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Crown Prosecution Service – Attorney General’s Office

“The Attorney General and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced today the transfer of Defra’s prosecution function to the CPS and the remainder of their legal team to the Treasury Solicitor’s Department.”

Full statement

Attorney General’s Office, 12th July 2011

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Ignore headlines about squatters, government proposals target Gypsies and travellers – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2011 in demonstrations, housing, legislation, news, squatting, travellers, trespass by sally

“The prime minister’s confirmation that the government will be bringing forward legislation for the criminalisation of trespass and the proposed removal of removal of legal aid from trespassers in the legal aid, sentencing and punishment of offenders bill amount to the most significant changes to the law of trespass in England and Wales for generations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supreme court bans secret evidence used to hide torture claims – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2011 in evidence, intelligence services, news, rendition, Supreme Court, torture, trials by sally

“The supreme court has outlawed intelligence services’ use of secret evidence in court to conceal allegations that detainees were tortured.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Welsh Labour plan legislation on schools and piercings – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2011 in bills, education, health & safety, local government, news, Wales by sally

“Two bills on the education system will be published by the Welsh Government, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said. He outlined Labour’s five-year legislative programme to Welsh assembly members on Tuesday.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unions in legal action over Southampton council pay cuts – BBC News

“Unions have begun legal action after more than 99% of Southampton City Council workers signed new contracts forcing many to take a pay cut.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Discourteous and disrespectful, but not rape: the Assange defence – The Independent

Posted July 13th, 2011 in extradition, news, rape, sexual offences by sally

“Julian Assange’s sexual behaviour was ‘disrespectful, discourteous and pushing the boundaries’ – but not rape, the WikiLeaks founder’s legal team insists, in a change of strategy they hope will save him from extradition to Sweden.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th July 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Terrorists are harnessing hi-tech communications, government warns – Daily Telelgraph

“Britain is failing to prosecute enough terrorists and the security services are struggling to obtain intelligence because of the sophistication of modern communications, the government has disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th July 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Former Director of Public Prosecutions says no question of conflict in News Corporation advice – Daily Telegraph

“Lord Macdonald of River Glaven, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, last night denied there was a conflict of interest when he advised Rupert Murdoch’s media company over the News of the World scandal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th July 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Toad Hall’ house Fawley Court at centre of legal fight – BBC News

Posted July 12th, 2011 in housing, news, sale of land by sally

“The house that inspired Toad Hall in the book The Wind In The Willows is at the centre of a £5m High Court dispute.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Royal Navy commander dishonestly claimed school fees – BBC News

Posted July 12th, 2011 in armed forces, courts martial, education, fees, fraud, news by sally

“A commander in the Royal Navy has been found guilty of dishonestly claiming allowances to send his two children to boarding school.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Plans to allow prisoners to work 40-hour week are ‘impractical’ – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2011 in bills, news, prisons, rehabilitation by sally

“Prison officers warn of insufficient staff numbers to oversee justice secretary’s proposals for improving inmate rehabilitation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leeds City Council failed children with special needs – BBC News

“There were ‘serious and extensive failures’ in the way Leeds City Council treated three children with special educational needs, a report has found.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lapland park man found guilty of threatening barrister – BBC News

Posted July 12th, 2011 in barristers, news, sentencing, threatening behaviour by sally

“One of two brothers jailed over their sub-standard Lapland theme park in the New Forest has been found guilty of contempt of court.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 12th, 2011 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

SK, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 1691 (08 July 2011)

High Court (Administrative Court)

English Speaking Board (International) Ltd, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWHC 1788 (Admin) (12 July 2011)

R & Ors (Minors), R (on the application of) v The Child and Family Court Advisory and Support Service [2011] EWHC 1774 (Admin) (12 July 2011)

RWE Npower Renewables Ltd. v The Welsh Ministers [2011] EWHC 1778 (Admin) (08 July 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Online marketplaces liable for sellers’ infringement in ‘promoted’ sales, says ECJ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 12th, 2011 in EC law, internet, judgments, news, trade marks by sally

“EBay and other online marketplaces will be liable for sellers’ trade mark infringements if they promote infringing sales or help sellers to ‘optimise’ their pages, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 12th July 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Corporate hospitality must be reasonable and proportionate says SFO – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 12th, 2011 in bribery, corruption, news, Serious Fraud Office by sally

“The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will look at five factors when considering whether corporate hospitality breach new anti-corruption laws, it has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th July 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Bar Chairman Tells MPs to Protect Access to Justice as Controversial Legal Aid Bill Reaches Committee Stage – The Bar Council

Posted July 12th, 2011 in bills, civil justice, legal aid, press releases by sally

“Peter Lodder QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called for MPs to protect access to justice ahead of his appearance before the Public Bill Committee this afternoon.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 12th July 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk