Syed v Director of Public Prosecutions – WLR Daily

Posted January 15th, 2010 in law reports, police, powers of entry, warrants by sally

Syed v Director of Public Prosecutions

“The test which should be used by a police constable to establish whether or not he was entitled under s 17(1)(e) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to use force to enter and search premises, without a warrant, for the purpose of ‘saving life or limb or preventing serious damage to property’ was whether some serious or dangerous incident had occurred, or was likely to occur, within the premises, and not the officer’s ‘concern for the welfare’ of someone in the premises.”

WLR Daily, 14th January 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Gillan and Quinton v United Kingdom – Times Law Reports

Posted January 15th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Gillan and Quinton v United Kingdom

European Court of Human Rights

Police stop and search powers under anti-terrorism legislation in the United Kingdom were too wide and not adequately safeguarded by the law against abuse.

The Times, 15th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

MPs to investigate solicitors’ ‘contempt of parliament’ – The Guardian

Posted January 15th, 2010 in law firms, news, parliamentary privilege by sally

“MPs today agreed to investigate an allegation that a firm of solicitors committed a contempt of parliament by trying to stop a member speaking about a constituency issue in the House of Commons.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

End to spiralling costs urged in landmark civil justice reforms – The Times

Posted January 15th, 2010 in news by sally

“An end to the spiralling costs of going to law and the bonanza of ‘no win, no fee’ deals was signalled yesterday with a landmark report on civil justice.”

Full story

The Times, 15th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Libel trials should be heard by judges without juries, says law lord – The Times

Posted January 15th, 2010 in news by sally

“Libel trials should be heard by judges sitting without juries, Lord Justice Jackson recommends.”

Full story

The Times, 15th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Youths who killed fawn ‘for a laugh’ fined £1,000 – The Independent

Posted January 14th, 2010 in animal cruelty, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“Campaigners today condemned a £1,000 fine and community punishment order given to two youths who stamped a fawn to death ‘for a laugh’.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jack Straw: review of civil litigation costs – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 14th, 2010 in costs, fees, Ministry of Justice, news, personal injuries, reports by sally

“Justice Secretary Jack Straw has thanked Sir Rupert Jackson for his comprehensive report on costs in civil litigation.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 14th January 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Apology for thalidomide survivors – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2010 in compensation, medicines, news by sally

“The government will apologise later to the victims of the thalidomide scandal after agreeing a £20m support package.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DNA profiles removed at rate of only one a day – The Independent

Posted January 14th, 2010 in DNA, human rights, news, police by sally

“Innocent people’s DNA profiles are being removed from the national database at a rate of barely one a day, figures showed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted January 14th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010

The Overhead Lines (Exempt Installations) Order 2010

The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2010

The Overhead Lines (Exempt Installations) (Consequential Provisions) Order 2010

The Data Protection (Monetary Penalties) (Maximum Penalty and Notices) Regulations 2010

The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (Commencement No.1) (Wales) Order 2009

The Education (Information About Children in Alternative Provision) (Wales) Regulations 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Legal adviser duped couples into thinking they were divorced – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2010 in forgery, fraud, legal profession, news by sally

“A legal adviser tricked two estranged couples into believing they had been divorced in order to pocket their fees.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Law Society files judicial review application over defendants’ costs cap – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 14th, 2010 in costs, judicial review, Law Society, legal aid, news by sally

“The Law Society has filed a judicial review application in a move to overturn new government regulations restricting the costs that can be recovered by acquitted defendants.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th January 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Iraq war inquiry told attorney general changed mind over legality of invasion – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2010 in attorney general, Iraq, news, war by sally

“The attorney general materially changed his advice on the legality of military action against Iraq a few days before the invasion, the inquiry into the war was told today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Men cleared of rape after online chat on group sex revealed – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2010 in conspiracy, internet, news, rape by sally

“A rape case against five men collapsed after a court heard that the female victim had spoken online about taking part in group sex.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jackson report published today – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 14th, 2010 in costs, fees, news, personal injuries, reports by sally

“Claimant personal injury lawyers and after-the-event (ATE) insurers were nervously awaiting the publication of the Jackson report as the Gazette went to press.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th January 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

E-commerce Regulations updated to exempt ISPs from hate speech charges – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 14th, 2010 in electronic commerce, homosexuality, immunity, inciting religious hatred, internet, news by sally

“The Government has published Regulations that will absolve internet service providers (ISPs) and other digital service providers of responsibility for religion or sexuality-related hate speech transmitted over their networks.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 14th January 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Fears for election as law fails to curb ballot fraud – The Times

Posted January 14th, 2010 in news by sally

“Ministers are under mounting pressure to combat voting fraud at this year’s general election after evidence of continuing abuse emerged.”

Full story

The Times, 14th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The Big Question: Do juryless trials risk obscuring the transparency of justice? – The Independent

Posted January 14th, 2010 in criminal justice, judges, news, trial without jury by sally

“Why are we asking this now?

This week Britain’s first crown court criminal trial to take place without a jury in more than 400 years started at the Royal Courts of Justice. The case, involving four men accused of a £1.75m armed robbery, is being heard by a judge, sitting alone, who will decide upon the men’s guilt or otherwise.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prison population ‘should be cut’ by third, say MPs – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2010 in community service, news, prisons by sally

“The number of inmates in England and Wales’ jails should be cut by a third, and the money saved put into community penalties, a report by MPs has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sky begins push for TV cameras in court – The Times

Posted January 14th, 2010 in news by sally

“A campaign to allow cameras into courts to film proceedings was announced by Sky News last night.”

Full story

The Times, 13th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk