Court rejects EU treaty block bid – BBC News
“An attempt to block Britain’s ratification of the Lisbon Treaty has been rejected by the High Court.”
BBC News, 19th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Tory threat over Lib Dem leaflets – BBC News
“The Conservatives are threatening two separate legal actions against the Lib Dems over the Henley by-election.”
BBC News, 20th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Freedom Of Information: A third of all Freedom of Information requests rejected – The Independent
“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.”
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
“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.”
Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Rubbish fines could cost households £50, Government says – Daily Telegraph
“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.”
Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Persaud dishonest, GMC rules – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2008
Sourcre: www.guardian.co.uk
Protests at pre-entry English tests for spouses coming to UK – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Trials suspended after ruling on secret witnesses – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ofcom looks into Capital Radio’s £155k contest after winner deemed ‘ineligible’ – The Guardian
“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.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Plans to check safety of all garden trees will cost homeowners dear – The Times
“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.”
The Times, 20th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Soldier Gavin Williams ‘died after “beasting” punishment’, court told – The Times
“An ill-disciplined junior soldier was ‘beasted’ to death by three of his colleagues, a jury was told yesterday.”
The Times, 20th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Shami Chakrabarti threatens to sue Andy Burnham over ‘slur’ – The Times
“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.”
The Times, 20th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Regina v Davis (Iain) – Times Law Reports
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
“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.”
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
“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.”
BBC News, 19th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
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
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
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)
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
“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.”
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
“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
