Killer stalker jailed for life – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2010 in harassment, murder, news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

“A stalker who carried out a ‘frenzied’ knife attack on his ex-girlfriend after a campaign of harassment has been jailed for life.Vikramgit Singh, 26, was told he must serve at least 20 years for the murder of Gemma Dorman in July 2008.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Expats lose appeal over index-linked pensions – The Times

Posted March 16th, 2010 in news by sally

“A group of retired British citizens living abroad lost their test case in Strasbourg today for the right to have the same index-linked rises as pensioners living in the United Kingdom.”

Full story

The Times, 16th March 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Officers investigated over Fiona Pilkington case – The Times

Posted March 16th, 2010 in news by sally

“Ten police officers are being investigated over the way they handled the case of a mother and her disabled daughter who suffered years of abuse from youths and were found dead in a burnt-out car, a watchdog said today.”

Full story

The Times, 16th March 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Jeremy Rosenblatt: top-earning barrister guilty of inflating legal aid fee – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 16th, 2010 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news, professional conduct by sally

“One of the country’s highest paid civil barristers, Jeremy Rosenblatt, has been banned from taking on new clients for three months after he was found guilty of trying to inflate his publicly-funded legal fees.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th March 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 16th, 2010 in law reports by sally

High Court (Administrative Court)

Persimmon Homes Ltd & Anor, R (on the application of) v Vale of Glamorgan Council [2010] EWHC 535 (Admin) (15 March 2010)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Cadogan v Panagopoulos & Anor [2010] EWHC 422 (Ch) (15 March 2010)

High Court (Family Division)

W v W [2010] EWHC 332 (Fam) (04 March 2010)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Goldberg & Ors v Miltiadous & Ors [2010] EWHC 450 (QB) (15 March 2010)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Carillion JM Ltd v PHI Group Ltd [2010] EWHC 496 (TCC) (10 March 2010)

Hall & Anor v Van Der Heiden [2010] EWHC 537 (TCC) (15 March 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Baroness Stern’s review of the way in which rape complaints are handled by public authorities – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted March 16th, 2010 in press releases by sally

“An independent review by Baroness Stern, of the way in which rape complaints are handled by public authorities, was published today (Monday 15 March).”

Full press release

Judiciary of England and Wales, 15th March 2010

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Charging decision regarding Baroness Uddin – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 16th, 2010 in Crown Prosecution Service, domicile, expenses, parliament, press releases by sally

“Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, today announced that there will be no charges in relation to Baroness Uddin’s claims for parliamentary expenses.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 12th March 2010

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Three year consumer lock-in is illegal, says OFT – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 16th, 2010 in consumer protection, news, unfair contract terms by sally

“Gym membership contracts that lasted for three years and could not be cancelled breached consumer protection laws, according to consumer protection regulator the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th March 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Couple charged as FSA clamps down on insider dealing – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2010 in extradition, financial regulation, insider dealing, news by sally

“A former Dresdner Kleinwort investment banker and his wife have been charged with insider dealing as part of an ongoing effort by the Financial Services Authority to crack down on market abuse, which the watchdog admitted over the weekend was still ‘unacceptably high’ in the City.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fifth member of staff jailed for indecent relationship with pupil at sex scandal-hit school – Daily Telegraph

“A fifth member of staff at a comprehensive school involved in a scandal over sex with pupils has been jailed after he conducted an indecent relationship with a 15-year-old girl.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th March 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Child protection court fees scrapped – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2010 in family courts, fees, news, reports by sally

“The government has pledged to scrap family court fees after an official review found evidence that the high cost was deterring some social service departments from applying to take abused and neglected children into care.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Expats await state pension ruling – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2010 in indexation, news, pensions by sally

“More than half a million retired Britons living abroad could be in line for payouts from the UK government if a European court today rules in their favour. After years of courtroom wrangling, 13 expatriates will learn if they have won their test case for the right to index-linked rises routinely paid to UK-based pensioners but denied to those who have settled in certain countries overseas.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Shortfalls in CPS leads to hundreds of defendants avoiding trial – The Times

Posted March 16th, 2010 in news by sally

“Failings in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London have allowed hundreds of defendants to go free without facing trial, inspectors have found.”

Full story

The Times, 16th March 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Paedophile teacher Gerard Raffell paid off parents of 4-year-old – The Times

Posted March 16th, 2010 in news by sally

“The parents of a four-year-old abuse victim accepted money, which they used for a deposit on a new house, from their son’s attacker rather than reporting him to police.”

Full story

The Times, 16th March 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted March 15th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1, Consequential, Transitional and Savings Provisions) (England and Wales) Order 2010

The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) Order 2010

The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2010

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2010

The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (Commencement No.14) Order 2010

The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Moratorium) (Prescribed Steps) Order 2010

The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Penalty and Compensation Notices) Regulations 2010

The Housing Management Agreements (Break Clause)(England) Regulations 2010

The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Consequential Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2010

The Income Tax (Construction Industry Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Health Act 2009 (Powers in Relation to NHS Bodies—Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2010

The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2010

The Policing and Crime Act 2009 (Consequential Provisions) (England) Order 2010

The Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Procedure on Applications and Execution of Warrants) Regulations 2010

The Insolvency (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2010

The Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Fees) (England) Order 2010

The Tax Credits (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Senior legal officer rejects downplaying low rape convictions – The Times

Posted March 15th, 2010 in news by sally

“Britain’s low conviction rate for rape should continue to be highlighted according to the solicitor general despite the recommendations made in a report by Baroness Stern today.”

Full story

The Times, 15th March 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Schools ‘break law’ to spy on pupils – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2010 in closed circuit television, news, privacy, school children, teachers by sally

“Pupils are monitored by CCTV cameras as frequently as inmates in prisons and passengers at airports, research shows.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 15th, 2010 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

McKeown v British Horseracing Authority [2010] EWHC 508 (QB) (12 March 2010)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Rowe, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] EWHC 524 (Admin) (12 March 2010)

Cooperative Group Ltd, R (on the application of) v Northumberland County Council [2010] EWHC 373 (Admin) (12 March 2010)

Raw, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Lambeth [2010] EWHC 507 (Admin) (12 March 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Giving soldiers human rights in war zones ‘will hamper battlefield commanders’ – The Times

Posted March 15th, 2010 in news by sally

“A mother’s battle to ensure that soldiers in war zones have their human rights protected will be challenged by the Government today as it argues that commanders will fear being sued for decisions made in the heat of battle.”

Full story

The Times, 15th March 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Police could face legal action over ‘unfair’ searches – The Independent

Posted March 15th, 2010 in news, police, race discrimination, stop and search by sally

“Police forces were threatened with legal action today as the Government’s equality watchdog said black and Asian Britons were still being unfairly targeted for stop and searches.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th March 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk