Early jail releases reach 14,000 – BBC News
“Almost 14,000 prisoners have been freed early from jail to ease overcrowding, Ministry of Justice figures show.”
BBC News, 11th January 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Muslim teenager unlawfully killed – The Guardian
“The Muslim teenager Shafilea Ahmed, whose body was found on the banks of a river, was unlawfully killed, a coroner ruled today.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
We will all end up paying for the rising cost of litigation – The Times
“Courts are seeing an increase in cases in which the amount recovered bears no relation to the costs.”
The Times, 11th January 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Legal aid problems emerge – Law Society’s Gazette
“The year started badly for legal aid lawyers, with the prospect of the general civil contract being terminated and confusion over whether police station fixed fees include VAT.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 10th January 2008
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Solicitor-advocates finally put on wigs in court – Law Society’s Gazette
“A Yorkshire criminal law specialist has laid claim to being the first solicitor-advocate to wear a wig in court after appearing at 10am last Wednesday at Doncaster Crown Court.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 10th January 2008
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Pressure grows to raise ‘lenient’ 4½ -year term given to terrorist – The Times
“The Government is facing pressure from police and prosecutors to challenge the perceived leniency of a jail term imposed on a terrorist who planned to kill British troops in Afghanistan.”
The Times, 11th January 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Gordon Brown ditches Respect agenda on youth crime – The Times
“Tony Blair’s drive against antisocial behaviour has been scrapped by the Government.”
The Times, 11th January 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Government piles file-sharing pressure on UK ISPs – OUT-LAW.com
“The government turned up the heat on internet providers today, warning that laws to force disconnection of illegal filesharers are already being drafted for a parliamentary debut in November.”
OUT-LAW.com, 10th January 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Baby death blamed on government – BBC News
“An inquest jury has blamed government failures for the death of a baby who was scalded when a water tank burst above her cot.”
BBC News, 10th January 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Smith meets parents and promises to ban deactivated guns – The Guardian
“The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, yesterday announced plans to ban the possession of deactivated guns by the end of the year during a visit to Liverpool, where she met the parents of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot dead near his home last summer. Smith said the weapons, which can be converted back into lethal use, were ‘turning up more and more’ in gun-related crime.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lottery winner who took holiday instead of giving evidence is jailed – The Guardian
“A chip shop worker who won £1m on a national lottery scratchcard in October has been jailed for contempt of court after she flew off on holiday instead of appearing as a witness in a criminal trial.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
SRA ponders test for non-lawyer partners – Legal Week
“The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to consult on plans for a ‘suitability test’ for non-lawyer partners in law firms in the wake of the Legal Services Act.”
Legal Week, 10th January 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
MPs may lose right to set own pay – The Guardian
“Ministers want to strip MPs of the right to set their own salaries, the leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, said today.”
The Guardian, 10th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
666 church motion doomed – The Independent
“A motion calling for the disestablishment of the Church of England appeared on the House of Commons order paper today – bizarrely numbered 666, the number associated with the Antichrist.”
The Independent, 10th January 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Barclays chairman loses £10,000 in identity scam – The Times
“The high-profile chairman of Barclays Bank has become the latest victim of identity fraud after a conman stole £10,000 from his personal account in a credit card scam.”
The Times, 10th January 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
New Bar Council head Dutton moves to ensure revamped silk round really is an annual event – Legal Week
“Newly-appointed Bar Council chairman Timothy Dutton QC has called for an improvement in the QC selection process to make sure it is completed annually, warning that an overly bureaucratic system could put candidates off.”
Legal Week, 10th January 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
Ministerial compromise averts backbench revolt over repeal of blasphemy offence – The Guardian
“The Church of England gave a cautious welcome last night to the government’s pledge to consult it before taking a final decision on repealing the ancient offence of blasphemy.”
The Guardian, 10th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Civil servant who leaked rendition secrets goes free – The Guardian
“Secrets charges against a Foreign Office civil servant were dramatically dropped at the Old Bailey yesterday after it emerged that senior figures within his own department had privately admitted no harm was done by his leaking a series of Whitehall documents.”
The Guardian, 10th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Banks set to fight back against sub-prime law suits – The Times
“Investment banks are facing a wave of litigation bigger than the Enron scandal but are unlikely to roll over this time, lawyers said.”
The Times, 9th January 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
‘Neighbour from hell’ is banned by court from living in his own home – The Times
“A homeowner who terrorised his next-door neighbours for five years has been banned from living and sleeping in his own house in what could be a legal first.”
The Times, 10th January 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
