Energy Act 2008

Posted December 18th, 2008 in energy, legislation by sally

Energy Act 2008 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Counter-Terrorism Act 2008

Posted December 18th, 2008 in legislation, terrorism by sally

Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Vulnerable people to get better protection – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 18th, 2008 in mental health, press releases by sally

“Vulnerable adults who lack mental capacity will benefit from a joined-up approach in responding to concerns about those taking decisions on their behalf and the way they are protected from abuse, according to guidelines published by the Office of the Public Guardian today.”

Full press release 

Ministry of Justice, 17th December 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bereaved families get right to inspect medical forms in cremations cases – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 18th, 2008 in burials and cremation, medical records, press releases by sally

“The right of families to inspect medical forms of a deceased relative completed by doctors before cremation takes place will start on 1 January 2009, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 17th December 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Elton John loses landmark irony libel case – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 18th, 2008 in defamation, news by sally

“A spoof newspaper diary which claimed that Elton John’s fundraising efforts were principally designed to give him a chance to meet other celebrities and engage in self-promotion was not libellous, the High Court has ruled.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

ISP can use unfair practices law to back unlawful interference claim, rules judge – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 18th, 2008 in internet, news, unfair commercial practices by sally

“An internet service provider (ISPs) can use an alleged breach of new laws on unfair commercial practices, laws that it has no powers to enforce directly, as the basis of a common law claim of ‘unlawful interference’, the High Court has ruled.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Family courts: a free-for-all? No, we will still protect children – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in children, family courts, news by sally

“The announcement by Jack Straw that the media are to be given access to the courts at all levels is likely to be welcomed by the judiciary. At last they will be able show the world at large that there is no conspiracy or injustice going on.”

Full story 

The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Why only radical reform will regain the public’s confidence – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes illustrates dramatically a serious flaw in the framework governing coroners’ investigations — the inclusion in inquest findings of short-form verdicts such as accidental death, misadventure, natural causes, lawful killing and unlawful killing.”

Full story 

The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Rapist caught by DNA given life – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2008 in DNA, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A 55-year-old man whose DNA linked him to two sex attacks committed nine years apart has been jailed for life.”

Full story 

BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law lords back ‘post-nuptial’ divorce settlements – The Independent

Posted December 18th, 2008 in divorce, news by sally

“England’s highest judges have given rich people who marry someone poorer a way to avoid an expensive divorce. In future, husbands will be urged to wait until after the honeymoon to negotiate a ‘post-nuptial’ deal. If it is signed without pressure and with legal advice, judges will treat it as binding.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Girlfriend who falsely cried rape is jailed – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 18th, 2008 in news, perverting the course of justice, rape by sally

“A woman who tried to frame two men for rape after a row with her boyfriend has been jailed for four months.”

Full story 

Daily Telegraph, 18th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rap fan given Asbo – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 18th, 2008 in ASBOs, news, noise by sally

“A man has been given an Asbo for playing loud rap music for up to 22 hours a day.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Madonna backtracks on ‘inaccurate and misleading’ divorce payout statement – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in divorce, news by sally

“Madonna claimed today that a statement issued by her own spokeswoman that she had agreed to pay £60 million to her former husband Guy Ritchie as part of the couple’s divorce was ‘misleading and inaccurate’.”

Full story

The Times, 17th December 2008

source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Gay father hunts for lesbian mother who vanished with son – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in anonymity, child abduction, news by sally

“A gay father whose son was ‘snatched’ away by his lesbian mother during family court proceedings was finally able to appeal publicly for his safe return yesterday after restrictions on identifying the parties was lifted.”

Full story

The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Father guilty over children’s crash deaths – The Guardian

Posted December 18th, 2008 in dangerous driving, news by sally

“A father was yesterday convicted of causing the deaths of four of his children when the Land Rover he had ‘incompetently’ modified plunged into a river.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal move to crack down on climate protesters – The Guardian

Posted December 18th, 2008 in demonstrations, news by sally

“The attorney general is considering asking the courts to clamp down on high-profile, direct-action protests on issues such as climate change, the Guardian can exclusively reveal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK consults on copyright reform – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 17th, 2008 in consultations, copyright, news by sally

“The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is asking whether laws on copyright exceptions and the current system for rights clearance are too complicated. A consultation on reforming the regime was published today.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 16th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Gowers attacks Government plan to extend copyright for performers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 17th, 2008 in copyright, news by sally

“The Government plans to extend the term of copyright for performers from 50 years to ‘something like 70 years,’ according to Culture Secretary Andy Burnham. That proposal was criticised today as ‘silly and out of touch’  by former FT editor Andrew Gowers.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Man jailed for houseboat killing – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2008 in domestic violence, homicide, sentencing by sally

“A 55-year-old man has been jailed for stabbing his partner to death on their houseboat on the River Medway in Kent.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brothers lose appeal over murder – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2008 in appeals, murder, news by sally

“Two Somerset men jailed for life for killing a Cornish couple have lost their appeal against their convictions.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk