Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted December 8th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Non-Domestic Rating (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2008

The Children Act 1989 (Contact Activity Directions and Conditions: Financial Assistance) (Wales) Regulations 2008

The Education (National Curriculum) (Key Stage 3 Assessment Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Education and Skills Act 2008 (Commencement No. 1 and Savings) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Jack Straw says human rights culture must be shaken up – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2008 in human rights, news by sally

“Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, has insisted that the Government still wants to press ahead with a new Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to rebalance the country’s human rights culture.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Claims against ageism at work triple in a year – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2008 in age discrimination, news by sally

“As Selina Scott settles with Channel Five, new figures show discrimination cases rose to 3,000.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children and Adoption Act – more flexible approach to resolving disputes in contact cases – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 8th, 2008 in adoption, children, contact orders, news by sally

“New provisions in the Children and Adoption Act 2006, which come into force today, provide new ways to help the courts find solutions in contact cases where there is conflict between the parents about whom a child should see and how often.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 8th December 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Supreme Court inferior to Lords, some judges say – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2008 in special report, Supreme Court by sally

“In an unprecedented joint interview, two senior judges who will be joining the UK Supreme Court next year reveal that one or two of their fellow justices think we would be better off without it. Might it be something to do with the post code?”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Nationwide overhaul of social services departments ordered – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2008 in child abuse, news, social services by sally

“Social services departments across England face a radical overhaul as a result of disturbing failings uncovered after the death of Baby P and the Shannon Matthews kidnap case.”

Full story

The Independent, 7th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Children and Adoption Act 2006: child-contact powers ‘could worsen parent wars’ – The Times

Posted December 8th, 2008 in adoption, children, contact orders, news by sally

“New powers to stop warring parents using contact with their children as a weapon could backfire and inflame fraught family relations, according to judges and lawyers.”

Full story

The Times, 8th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Selina Scott wins £250,000 in Channel Five ageism row – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2008 in age discrimination by sally

“Selina Scott, the television presenter, has been awarded a six-figure settlement from Channel Five after launching an age discrimination claim.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Coastal campaigner wins legal battle to save clifftop property – The Guardian

“A 77-year-old retired engineer from Suffolk, known locally as King Canute, yesterday won a two-year high court battle to save his ancestral home from the advancing North Sea.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers fight to keep late abortions secret – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2008 in abortion, data protection, news, statistics by sally

“Late abortions of ‘less than perfect’ foetuses are the subject of a secrecy row with the Government.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bill to allow Commons searches with no warrant – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2008 in news, parliament, search & seizure, warrants by sally

“The vow by Commons Speaker Michael Martin to prevent ‘unauthorised’ raids on MPs’ offices in the wake of the Damian Green affair was seriously undermined last night as it emerged that the Government is preparing new laws to allow investigators to mount parliamentary searches without a warrant.”

Full story

The Independent, 7th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hain will not be prosecuted for undeclared donations – the Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2008 in elections, news, political parties by sally

“The former cabinet minister Peter Hain will not face prosecution for his failure to declare donations of £103,000 on time, it emerged yesterday, opening up the possibility of a return to frontline politics.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Titan jails ‘will repeat mistakes made in US’ – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“Building giant ‘Titan’ prison complexes will lead Britain towards a ‘American-style’ justice system, a leading US civil rights lawyer will warn today.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Chief Justice Derek Schofield to be removed from office – The Times

Posted December 8th, 2008 in Gibraltar, judges, news, professional conduct by sally

“The Chief Justice of Gibraltar faces dismissal by five UK law lords after a damning inquiry report by British judges on Friday called for his removal from office. ”

Full story

The Times, 7th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Man fined for swearing at TV – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2008 in ASBOs, news by sally

“A man has been fined £80 for swearing at his own television while drunk.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Botched biofuel legislation stalls climate change initiative – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2008 in climate change, energy, environmental protection, news by sally

“The government has blown a hole in its climate change plans by misdrafting a key piece of legislation covering the introduction of ‘green’ fuel for motorists. The Department for Transport admitted last night that there was an ‘error’ in the law governing the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) and it was going to have to put it right.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

An ugly business: The Briscoe-Mitchell case – The Independent

Posted December 8th, 2008 in defamation, special report by sally

“Carmen Briscoe-Mitchell turned white with rage at her portrayal as a vicious sadist in her daughter’s best-selling misery memoir. The proud matriarch lost her libel case but tells Robert Verkaik she is unrepentant after sueing.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bigamist jailed for three years – BBC News

Posted December 5th, 2008 in bigamy, news, sentencing by sally

“A former church minister and policeman has been jailed for three years for bigamy and forgery.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Social services errors led to death of baby, says inquiry – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2008 in child abuse, news, social services by sally

“A series of errors by social services and health staff allowed a baby girl to stay with her violent father and incompetent mother before she was shaken to death, an inquiry concluded today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 5th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Jeffrey, R. v [2008] EWCA Crim 2361 (21 November 2008)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Sanchez, R. v [2008] EWCA Crim 2936 (05 December 2008)

Assura Pharmacy Ltd, R (on the application of) v National Health Service Litigation Authority (Family Health Services Appeal Unit) [2008] EWCA Civ 1356 (05 December 2008)

Craner v Dorset County Council [2008] EWCA Civ 1323 (05 December 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org