Freedom Of Information: A third of all Freedom of Information requests rejected – The Independent

Posted June 20th, 2008 in freedom of information, special report by sally

“New figures reveal that the chances of getting an answer under the new right-to-know law depend on which government department deals with the request, reports Robert Verkaik, Law Editor.”

Full story

The Independent, 20th June 2008

Source: www.independent.co,uk

Pregnant woman who lost baby in car crash calls for change in law – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 20th, 2008 in dangerous driving, news, sentencing by sally

“A pregnant woman whose unborn baby was killed in a car crash has called for a change in the law after the driver responsible escaped with a £200 fine.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rubbish fines could cost households £50, Government says – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 20th, 2008 in news, waste by sally

“Millions of families face fines of £50 for failing to recycle their rubbish under a new pay-as-you-throw bin charge scheme, a minister has disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Persaud dishonest, GMC rules – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2008 in news, plagiarism, professional conduct, psychiatrists by sally

“Celebrity psychiatrist Raj Persaud was dishonest and brought his profession into disrepute by cutting and pasting experts’ papers into his articles and a book, the General Medical Council found yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th June 2008

Sourcre: www.guardian.co.uk

Protests at pre-entry English tests for spouses coming to UK – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2008 in human rights, immigration, married persons, news by sally

“Government plans to insist that spouses should have to learn English before they are allowed into Britain to join their husbands or wives have run into a barrage of opposition and warnings that the idea could breach human rights laws.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Trials suspended after ruling on secret witnesses – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2008 in anonymity, news, witnesses by sally

“Two trials at which anonymous witnesses were about to be called to give evidence were suspended for legal argument yesterday following a House of Lords judgment on Wednesday questioning the growing practice of granting anonymity to frightened witnesses.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ofcom looks into Capital Radio’s £155k contest after winner deemed ‘ineligible’ – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2008 in media, news by sally

“Media regulator Ofcom is looking into a Capital Radio competition that had to be reopened after the £155,000 winner was found to be ineligible.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Plans to check safety of all garden trees will cost homeowners dear – The Times

Posted June 20th, 2008 in health & safety, news, trees by sally

“Homeowners face having to pay a specialist to inspect their trees under a safety regime drawn up by one of Britain’s most respected watchdogs.”

Full story

The Times, 20th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Soldier Gavin Williams ‘died after “beasting” punishment’, court told – The Times

Posted June 20th, 2008 in armed forces, homicide, news by sally

“An ill-disciplined junior soldier was ‘beasted’ to death by three of his colleagues, a jury was told yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 20th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Shami Chakrabarti threatens to sue Andy Burnham over ‘slur’ – The Times

Posted June 20th, 2008 in defamation, news by sally

“A Cabinet Minister could face legal action by Britain’s leading human rights campaigner over allegations that he smeared her by making suggestive remarks about her relationship with David Davis.”

Full story

The Times, 20th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Regina v Davis (Iain) – Times Law Reports

Posted June 19th, 2008 in anonymity, law reports, witnesses by sally

Regina v Davis (Iain)

House of Lords

“Protective measures, which ensured the anonymity of three witnesses without whose evidence the defendant could not have been convicted of murder, rendered the trial unfair and were, accordingly, unlawful.”

The Times, 19th June 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Shiv Malik case: Police order against journalist ruled ‘too wide’ – The Guardian

Posted June 19th, 2008 in confidentiality, judicial review, news, police, terrorism by sally

“Greater Manchester police were justified in demanding that freelance journalist Shiv Malik hand over source material for a book on terrorism, but the terms of the production order were too wide, a judicial review of the case ruled today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

This is the 6000th item posted on the Current Awareness blog.

New Year gun killers may appeal – BBC News

Posted June 19th, 2008 in anonymity, murder, news, witnesses by sally

“The four men convicted of murdering two teenage girls outside a New Year party may go to the Court of Appeal following a ruling over anonymous witnesses.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th June 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted June 19th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

The Nursing and Midwifery (Amendment) Order 2008

The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) Regulations 2008

The Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (No. 2) Order 2008

The Value Added Tax, etc (Correction of Errors, etc) Regulations 2008

The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2008

The Feeding Stuffs (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (Registration Amendment Rules) Order of Council 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Young barristers voice concern over family legal aid cuts – The Bar Council

Posted June 19th, 2008 in barristers, family courts, legal aid, news by sally

“Young barristers would be driven away from important child protection work if legal aid cuts announced today are brought in by the Government.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 18th June 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted June 19th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Roberts, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 1304 (18 June 2008)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Moore Stephens (a firm) v Stone & Rolls Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 644 (18 June 2008)

Gravil v Carroll & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 689 (18 June 2008)

AS (Somalia) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWCA Civ 681 (04 June 2008)

YS (Egypt) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWCA Civ 674 (04 June 2008)

Johnson v Sinclair [2008] EWCA Civ 667 (23 May 2008)

FJ (Iran) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWCA Civ 685 (23 May 2008)

SJ (Iran) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWCA Civ 675 (04 June 2008)

High Court (Queen’s Bench)

Birmingham City Council v B & Ors [2008] EWHC 1224 (QB) (22 May 2008)

SG & R Valuation Service Co v Boudrais & Ors [2008] EWHC 1340 (QB) (12 May 2008)

High Court (Chancery Division)

State of Brunei & Ors v HRH Prince Jefri & Ors [2008] EWHC 1247 (Ch) (22 May 2008)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Fitzpatrick Contractors Ltd v Tyco Fire and Integrated Solutions (UK) Ltd [2008] EWHC 1301 (TCC) (13 June 2008)

Crest Nicholson (Eastern) Ltd v Western & Anor [2008] EWHC 1325 (TCC) (16 June 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Draft Charter for Bereaved People – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 19th, 2008 in bereavement, news by sally

“The Charter for Bereaved People brings together many of the services bereaved people will receive from coroners in a reformed system. It will be enabled by the Coroners and Death Certification Bill and will have the status of statutory guidance.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 18th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Related link: Draft charter for bereaved people (PDF)

Seeking expressions of interest – Research on public attitudes to the overarching principles of sentencing – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted June 19th, 2008 in consultations, news, sentencing by sally

“The Sentencing Advisory Panel would like to commission research into the public’s view on some of the principles of sentencing for adults, and is inviting expressions of interest from organisations wishing to tender for the research. Responses are requested by 27 June 2008.”

Further details – Research on public attitudes to the overarching principles of sentencing (PDF)

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 19th June 2008

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

Is it safe to download al Qaeda manuals yet? – The Register

Posted June 19th, 2008 in news, terrorism by sally

“Is the ‘al-Qaeda manual’ still an easy get into jail card? The UK Court of Appeal yesterday quashed the conviction of Samina Malik, aka the ‘Lyrical Terrorist’, for possession of information useful for terrorist purposes under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, but the Crown Prosecution Service still views this and other widely circulated documents as prima facie evidence of wicked intent.”

Full story

The Register, 18th June 2008

Source: www.theregister.co.uk

Government thwarted on terror detentions – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 19th, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“The Government’s attempts to lock up foreign terrorism suspects have been thwarted at every turn.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk