David Kelly inquest ruling to be challenged – BBC News
“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.”
BBC News, 8th September 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Minister announces referral fee ban – Ministry of Justice
“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.”
Ministry of Justice, 9th September 2011
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Injury claim referral fees to be banned – BBC News
“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.”
BBC News, 9th September 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Why wearing a helmet could affect your legal status – The Guardian
“The decision not to wear a helmet can have legal consequences for cyclists who suffer head injuries and sue for compensation.”
The Guardian, 8th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ministers ‘could get powers to overrule European Court of Human Rights’ – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, 9th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Insurance companies face car insurance probe – Daily Telegraph
“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.”
Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Planning reforms: fee threat to village greens – Daily Telegraph
“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.”
Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Rapist Jonathan Haynes jailed for at least 11 years – BBC News
An ex-soldier has been jailed indefinitely for raping three teenagers and trying to abduct two schoolgirls.
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.”
The Independent, 8th September 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Baha Mousa inquiry makes 73 recommendations – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, 8th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Labour’s legal aid bill amendments fail – Law Society’s Gazette
“Opposition amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill have been rejected by a committee of MPs.”
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.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 8th September 2011
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Related link: The Report of the Baha Mousa Inquiry
Damning findings of Baha Mousa inquiry – The Independent
“An innocent Iraqi civilian died in British Army custody after suffering ‘an appalling episode of serious gratuitous violence’, a public inquiry concluded today.”
The Independent, 8th September 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Schoolchildren lose police ‘kettling’ case – BBC News
“The Metropolitan Police acted lawfully when they ‘kettled’ three teenagers during the tuition fee protests in London, the High Court has ruled.”
BBC News, 8th September 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Stress and the City – the charity on call for struggling legal professionals – Legal Week
“In an increasingly competitive legal sector it is understandable that many lawyers are unwilling to admit to human weakness, but those counselling struggling legal professionals believe that the number failing to cope has risen notably in recent years.”
Legal Week, 8th September 2011
Source: www.legalweek.com
Statistics on court performances won’t tell the full story – The Guardian
“The government’s decision to allow judgments to be broadcast from the courts of England and Wales has rather overshadowed the second part of Ken Clarke’s announcement.”
The Guardian, 7th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
Lord Justice Jackson calls for Govt rethink on legal aid cuts – Legal Week
“Lord Justice Jackson – the author of the current shake-up of civil litigation costs – has criticised controversial Government cuts to legal aid, warning the reforms are ‘contrary to [my] recommendations’.”
Legal Week, 7th September 2011
Source: www.legalweek.com
UK Uncut members adopt ‘Spartacus defence’ in Fortnum & Mason case – The Guardian
“Two dozen anti-cuts activists have asked the courts to be put back on trial for alleged aggravated trespass despite already having their charges dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.”
The Guardian, 7th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Employment vetting: have we got it right yet? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“In a forthcoming policy paper for Halsbury’s Law Exchange I discuss the employment vetting system, in the light of the changes made by the Protection of Freedoms Bill. Although in some respect the Bill is welcome, I argue that it does not go far enough in reforming this difficult area.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 7th September 2011
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
