MoD loses soldiers’ rights appeal – The Independent
“Soldiers serving abroad are protected by Human Rights laws, the Court of Appeal ruled today in a controversial landmark judgment.”
The Independent, 18th May 2009
Source: www.independent.co.uk
CCTV schemes in city and town centres have little effect on crime, says report – The Guardian
“The use of closed-circuit television in city and town centres and public housing estates does not have a significant effect on crime, according to Home Office-funded research to be distributed to all police forces in England and Wales this summer.”
The Guardian, 18th May 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Rise in use of drug tests to sack staff without redundancy pay – The Guardian
“Employers are increasingly using drug testing to get rid of staff without having to make redundancy payouts, as a way of cutting costs during the recession, a charity has said.”
The Guardian, 18th May 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Iraqi looters awarded £1m compensation – Sunday Telegraph
“Nine Iraqi civilians who were abused by British troops have been awarded almost £1 million in compensation, it can be revealed.”
Sunday Telegraph, 17th May 2009
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Plans for US-style community courts scrapped because of lack of cash – The Times
“Plans to create American-style community justice courts in which judges engage directly with offenders and take charge of their rehabilitation have been dropped.”
The Times, 18th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Thousands of criminal suspects to be tried in virtual courts – The Times
“Thousands of criminal suspects will lose the right to appear in court and be brought instead before ‘virtual’ courts conducted via video links under plans before Parliament next week.”
The Times, 18th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Watchdog to examine bank advertising – The Observer
“The Advertising Standards Authority is planning to launch an investigation into banks and building societies which offer accounts that appear to offer good savings rates when in fact they pay little more than zero interest.”
The Observer, 17th May 2009
Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/
Database of all children launched – BBC News
“A controversial database which holds the details of every child in England has now become available for childcare professionals to access.”
BBC News, 17th May 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Report clears MI5 and police of 7/7 blunders – The Observer
“A report into the counter-terrorism operations of MI5 and the police in the run-up to the 7/7 bombings will conclude they could have done little more to prevent the atrocities.”
The Observer, 17th May 2009
Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk
Murderer wins fight to get state to pay for his haircuts – The Observer
“A prisoner has won a legal battle to have his haircuts paid for by the state while out of jail on day release.”
The Observer, 17th May 2009
Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/
Feasibility study to consider the possible merger of the Inner and Middle Temple Libraries – update
I have been informed that not everyone received the memorandum sent to members on 5th May 2009. This was a notice regarding the feasibility study to be undertaken jointly with Middle Temple to investigate the potential benefits of merging our two libraries and creating a state of the art education and training centre for use by both Inns.
I am grateful to those who did receive the notice and have sent their comments to me or to the Librarian, Margaret Clay. As a result of these comments, I would like to clarify the following points.
• As part of the feasibility study, we will be engaging professional consultants to
assist us.
• The consultants will carry out a user survey and consultation process with Library users and non-users alike.
• All members will be consulted at the conclusion of the Feasibility Study before any decision is taken by Bench Table.
I say this to reassure you that no decision in principle has already been taken to implement a libraries merger programme. We are investigating possibilities only, against a background of our ongoing review of all areas of the Inn’s operations.
I hope this explains the position more clearly. Please feel free to contact me directly if you wish to ask questions or make comments.
Vivian Robinson QC
Treasurer
Expenses scandal: proving MPs committed fraud would be difficult – The Times
“The furore over allowances claimed by Members of Parliament has produced strong reactions from members of the public, including suggestions that criminal offences have been committed. There has been speculation in the media, suitably restrained for obvious reasons, that some cases might attract the attention of the Revenue or other authorities. There may have been complaints made to the police.”
The Times, 15th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
George v Eagle Air Services Ltd and Others – Times Law Reports
George v Eagle Air Services Ltd and Others
Privy Council
“The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, the thing speaks for itself, applied in a claim for damages arising out of an allegation of negligence causing an air crash, so that the burden of proof shifted to the defendant owners and operators of the aircraft to produce an explanation which was consistent with the crash having occurred despite the absence of fault on their part.”
The Times, 15th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Clarke, R v [2009] EWCA Crim 921 (14 May 2009)
Pedley & Ors v R [2009] EWCA Crim 840 (14 May 2009)
Pitchfork, R v [2009] EWCA Crim 963 (14 May 2009)
Hughes v R [2009] EWCA Crim 841 (14 May 2009)
Bamber, R v [2009] EWCA Crim 962 (14 May 2009)
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Whitehouse v Lee [2009] EWCA Civ 375 (14 May 2009)
Rolls-Royce Plc v Unite the Union [2009] EWCA Civ 387 (14 May 2009)
Francois v Hutchison 3G UK Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 405 (14 May 2009)
Source: www.bailii.org
Iraq inquiry: military police chief ordered before judges – The Guardian
“The government’s most senior lawyer and the head of the military police have been ordered to the high court tomorrow to explain why they have failed to release documents about the aftermath of a fierce gunfight in Iraq when British troops are accused of mutilating and murdering civilians.”
The Guardian, 14th May 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Two Labour peers face suspension for offering to change law for money – The Guardian
“Two Labour peers face suspension from the House of Lords until the autumn after being found guilty of offering to try to change the law in return for money.”
The Guardian, 14th May 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
The Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009
The Armed Forces (Service Civilian Court) Rules 2009
The Armed Forces (Summary Appeal Court) Rules 2009
The Armed Forces (Unfitness to Stand Trial and Insanity) Regulations 2009
The Armed Forces (Service Supervision and Punishment Orders) Regulations 2009
The Armed Forces (Minor Punishments and Limitation on Power to Reduce in Rank) Regulations 2009
The Veterinary Surgery (Wing and Web Tagging) Order 2009
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk
Death knell for hunting ban as police abandon monitoring operations – The Times
“Police forces are to stop monitoring hunts in a change of policy that sounds the death knell for the hunting ban, The Times has learnt.”
The Times, 15th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Jail term cut for girls’ killer – BBC News
“The first man jailed using DNA evidence has won an appeal against his 30-year minimum sentence for murdering two Leicestershire schoolgirls.”
BBC News, 14th May 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Minister rejects calls for Deepcut deaths inquiry – The Guardian
“The armed forces minister, Bob Ainsworth, rejected calls for a public inquiry into the deaths of four army recruits at the Deepcut barracks today after the publication of official investigations into two of the deaths.”
The Guardian, 14th May 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
