Legal aid providers given certainty and stability for the future – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in legal aid, legal services, press releases by sally

“The Legal Services Commission, Law Society and Ministry of Justice have announced they have reached agreement on the best way forward following the Court of Appeal’s judgment on the Unified Contract.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Terror plot jury could sit for six months – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in juries, news, terrorism by sally

“A jury panel has been warned they could have to sit for up to six months as the case began of eight men accused of trying to blow up transatlantic airliners.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police criminalising young to hit targets, says charity – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in news, police, statistics, young offenders by sally

“A police drive aimed at thousands of low-level teenage offenders lies behind an apparent surge in youth crime figures, according to an analysis published today. Police figures suggest reported minor offences by young people soared by 38.9% from 2003-2006, and detected serious offences rose by 19%.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Faith in legal system vanishing, says judge – The Times

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Britain’s most senior judge spoke out yesterday against the early release of prisoners, which he said undermined confidence in the judicial system.”

Full story

The Times, 3rd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sally Anne’s killer in appeal bid – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in appeals, murder, news by sally

“The man jailed for life for the murder of teenage model Sally Anne Bowman is appealing against his conviction, his lawyer has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar Council and Law Society renew warning to Peers over Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – The Bar Council

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in criminal justice, immigration, press releases by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents over 15,000 barristers in England and Wales, has today urged members of the House of Lords to amend further a key provision of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, which is currently being considered in the Upper House.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

New arrangements for governance, resourcing and operation of courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in HM Courts Service, news by sally

“The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice have made a joint statement on a new partnership for the operation of Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS).”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Related link: Her Majesty’s Court Service Framework Document (PDF)

CPS announces the roll out of two key justice initiatives – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in cautions, Crown Prosecution Service, press releases, witnesses by sally

“The national roll-out of two new initiatives – pre-trial interviews with witnesses and conditional cautions – has now been completed across England and Wales.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 1st April 2008

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Shepherds Bush Housing Association v Porter – Times Law Reports

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in housing, law reports, trespass by sally

Shepherds Bush Housing Association v Porter

Court of Appeal

“A tolerated trespasser could not seek the discretion of the court to revise a possession order made under the Housing Act 1985 suspended on terms, or to vary the terms, or to extend time to comply with the terms.”

The Times, 2nd April 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.

Lambeth London Borough Council v TK and Another – Times Law Reports

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in children, law reports by sally

Lambeth London Borough Council v TK and Another

Court of Appeal

“When, in family proceedings, a court had made a direction under section 37 of the Children Act 1989 that a local authority should investigate the circumstances of a person claiming to be a child and, in response, the local authority concluded that the person was not a child, the court had power to order a fact-finding hearing to determine the issue.”

The Times, 2nd April 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.

M. and J. Polymers Ltd v Imerys Minerals Ltd – Times Law Reports

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in contracts, law reports, penalties, sale of goods by sally

M. and J. Polymers Ltd v Imerys Minerals Ltd

Queen’s Bench Division

“A take-or-pay clause in a supply contract could, as a matter of principle, amount to a penalty.”

The Times, 2nd April 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.

Cabinet split emerges over 42 day detention – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“The first signs of a high-level Cabinet split over proposals to extend suspects’ detention to 42 days emerged yesterday as the government faced criticism from Labour backbenchers. Gordon Brown has been counselled by senior colleagues that there is no real need to push ahead with the extension, adding to the pressure from leading figures in the judiciary, including the director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

80 prosecuted since smoking ban – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in news, prosecutions, smoking, Wales by sally

“Seventy nine people and one business have been prosecuted for flouting the smoking ban in the year since it was introduced in Wales, figures show.”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Straw confirms expansion of dedicated drugs courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in courts, drug offences, press releases by sally

“Jack Straw has confirmed that drug courts, dedicated to tackling drug misuse and related crime, are to be extended to up to four more magistrates’ courts.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Coroner accuses Paul Burrell, Diana’s butler, of blindingly obvious deceit – The Times

Posted April 2nd, 2008 in inquests, news, royal family by sally

“Paul Burrell, the butler and self-styled ‘rock’ of Diana, Princess of Wales, was once a loyal servant of the Crown but ‘cashed in’ on his experience, the coroner said at her inquest yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted April 1st, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2008

The Income Tax (Payments on Account) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Mental Health Act 2007 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2008

The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2008

The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Commencement No.5 and Transitional, Saving and Transitory Provision) Order 2008

The Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2008

The Income Tax (Professional Fees) Order 2008

The A456 Trunk Road (Detrunking) Order 2008

The Tax Credits Up-rating Regulations 2008

The Child Benefit Up-rating Order 2008

The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2008

The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Email halts Diana inquest summing-up – The Independent

Posted April 1st, 2008 in inquests, news, royal family by sally

“The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales hit a last-minute glitch today, hours before it was due to conclude, after the discovery of potentially new evidence.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers appointed as Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary – 10 Downing Street

Posted April 1st, 2008 in judges, news by sally

“The Queen has been pleased to approve that The Right Honourable the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, be appointed Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, in succession to the Right Honourable The Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG, who retires on 30 September 2008.”

Full story

10 Downing Street, 1st April 2008

Source: www.pm.gov.uk

Dedicated drug court pilots: a process report – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 1st, 2008 in courts, drug offences, reports by sally

“In December 2005, the then Department of Constitutional Affairs announced a commitment to pilot Dedicated Drug Courts as part of the government’s agenda to reduce drug-related crime.

Matrix Knowledge Group has produced an independent process evaluation of the pilots in England and Wales: Leeds Magistrates’ Court and West London Magistrates’ Court.”

Dedicated drug court pilots – a process report (PDF)

Ministry of Justice, 31st March 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Business faces Corporate Manslaughter Act – BBC News

Posted April 1st, 2008 in corporate manslaughter, health & safety, news by sally

“A new era of health and safety regulation for businesses, which could face considerable penalties if they are found guilty of the offence, is being ushered in on 6 April when the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act comes into force.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st March 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk