16,000 prisoners freed early, ministry reveals – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2008 in news, prisons, violent offenders by sally

“More than 16,000 prisoners have been freed early – including 3,000 guilty of violent crimes – under a government scheme to cut jail overcrowding, the justice ministry revealed today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Calls to lift child embryo ban – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2008 in embryology, news by sally

“The government is looking into calls to lift a ban on creating human or human-animal ‘hybrid’ embryos from dying children to aid key research.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Red tape on stop and search to be cut – The Times

Posted January 31st, 2008 in news, stop and search by sally

“Form-filling by police officers who stop and search people on the streets is to be drastically reduced under plans to be announced next week to reduce the red tape in policing.”

Full story

The Times, 31st January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Thousands are dodging community punishment by claiming ‘I overslept’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 31st, 2008 in community service, news by sally

“Thousands of offenders who fail to turn up for community punishments are avoiding being returned to court if they claim to have overslept or produce their own sick note, the public spending watchdog says today.”

Full story

The Times, 31st January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Disturbed patients refused help in squabble over cash – The Times

Posted January 31st, 2008 in mental health, news by sally

“The Mental Health Act Commission has found that practitioners are being told to delay sectioning people with urgent mental health needs until primary care trusts ascertain who should pay for their treatment.”

Full story

The Times, 31st January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Churches, schools and charities braced for flood of claims after ruling on Lotto rapist, Iorworth Hoare – The Times

Posted January 31st, 2008 in damages, news, personal injuries, sexual offences, time limits by sally

“Thousands of victims of sexual abuse including a woman whose life was ruined by the so-called Lotto rapist are preparing to lodge compensation claims after a landmark ruling by Britain’s highest court yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 31st Janaury 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Muslims ‘let down by race law’ – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2008 in Islam, news, religious discrimination by sally

“Anti-Muslim prejudice is dealt with less seriously than other forms of discrimination, a university study found.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mother faces new fight to keep baby – The Independent

Posted January 31st, 2008 in children, mental health, news, social services by sally

“A teenage mother reunited with her newborn baby by a judge yesterday will today face a social services application to take the boy away again.”

Full story

The Independent, 31st January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jury to decide if mum threw away apple core – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 31st, 2008 in news, waste by sally

“A young mother-of-three is to be tried by a crown court jury after being accused of throwing an apple core from her car on to the pavement.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st January 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Disability rights ruling expected – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2008 in disability discrimination, news by sally

“Rights in the workplace for millions of people, who care for relatives who are elderly or have disabilities, could be strengthened later.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Aikens flags up Box Clever case as trial run for litigation reforms – Legal Week

Posted January 31st, 2008 in case management, Commercial Court, news by sally

“Senior commercial judge Mr Justice Aikens has earmarked the ongoing Box Clever dispute as a ‘guinea pig’ case, in which he will test the post-BCCI working party recommendations to streamline large-scale commercial litigation.”

Full story

Legal Week, 31st January 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Sentencing Guidelines Newsletter – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted January 31st, 2008 in news, sentencing by sally

“The 8th edition of the Sentencing Guidelines newsletter provides practitioners with detailed information about sentences for all ranges of offences down to local court or youth offending team level.  It covers the period for 2002 to 2006 for adults and 2002 to the end of March 2007 for youths.”

Full story

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 31st January 2008

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

Related link: The Sentence (PDF)

Legal victory for child abuse man – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2008 in news, sexual offences, time limits by sally

“A North Yorkshire man who suffered sexual abuse as a child has won the right to sue his tormentors in a landmark ruling by Law Lords.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for new law to punish ‘thoughtless or cruel’ words – The Times

Posted January 30th, 2008 in blasphemy, freedom of expression, inciting religious hatred, news by sally

“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has called for new laws to protect religious sensibilities that would punish ‘thoughtless and cruel’ styles of speaking.”

Full story

The Times, 29th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Brothel manager escapes jail term – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2008 in news, prostitution, sentencing by sally

“A woman who ran four brothels has escaped a jail term after a judge ruled that ‘no-one was harmed’.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th Janaury 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Confidence down for first time in six years – poll – Legal Week

Posted January 30th, 2008 in news by sally

“UK lawyers are more downbeat about the future of their businesses than at any time in the last six years, according to new research from accountancy firm Smith & Williamson.”

Full story

Legal Week, 30th January 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Expenses row MP will quit seat – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“Tory MP Derek Conway today announced he would stand down at the next election following the controversy over his employment of his son on a parliamentary salary.”

Full story

The Independent, 30th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Drugged driver jailed for ‘horrific’ crash – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2008 in dangerous driving, drug abuse, news, sentencing by sally

“A drugged driver who ploughed into six shoppers in central London, causing injuries that forced a mother and daughter to have their right legs amputated, was today jailed for four years.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Phone taps run at a fraction of reported level – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 30th, 2008 in interception, news, telecommunications by sally

“Despite press reports to the contrary, public authorities tapped just 1,435 phones and not 250,000 in a nine month period in 2006. The larger figure includes less heavily regulated requests for information about phone usage.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 30th January 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

9/11 accused loses final bid for freedom – The Times

Posted January 30th, 2008 in appeals, news, terrorism by sally

“A Moroccan man accused of links with al-Qaeda and involvement in the 9/11 and Madrid attacks will remain in custody after losing his appeal at the House of Lords.”

Full story

The Times, 30th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk