Police staff to patrol youth courts in knife crime crackdown – The Guardian

Posted May 28th, 2008 in news, offensive weapons, victims, witnesses, youth courts by sally

“Dedicated police staff are to patrol London’s youth courts to encourage knife crime victims and witnesses to testify against their attackers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Social workers’ failings ‘put children in divorce cases at risk of abuse’ – The Times

Posted May 28th, 2008 in child abuse, divorce, news, social services by sally

“Children in divorce and separation cases are being left at risk of abuse because of serious failings by social workers dealing with their cases, according to a watchdog.”

Full story

The Times, 28th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lawyer’s wife stole £80,000 to fund slot machine addiction – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 28th, 2008 in news, theft by sally

“A solicitor’s wife has been jailed for stealing £80,000 from his law firm to fund her addiction to fruit machines.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisoners released early to free up space – The Independent

Posted May 28th, 2008 in news, prisons by sally

“More than 500 prisoners are to be released just halfway through their sentences in an effort to free desperately-needed space in overcrowded jails.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Two out of three breach their first Asbo – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 28th, 2008 in ASBOs, news by sally

“Two thirds of people who are given anti-social behaviour orders for the first time go on to breach them, figures show.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Plan to close child porn loophole – BBC News

Posted May 28th, 2008 in child abuse, news, pornography by sally

“Drawings and computer-generated images of child sex abuse would be made illegal under proposals announced by Justice Minister Maria Eagle.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Identity fraud cases up by two thirds – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 28th, 2008 in identity fraud, news by sally

“Cases of identity fraud increased by two thirds last year with people in affluent areas most at risk, credit data figures show.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Estate agents lose out to vendors in appeal ruling – The Times

Posted May 28th, 2008 in estate agents, news by sally

“Estate agents have lost the right to commission if a buyer to whom they show a property then makes an offer through another joint agency.”

Full story

The Times, 28th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Legal Opinion: Labour has not curbed yob culture in Britain – The Independent

Posted May 28th, 2008 in ASBOs, special report by sally

“The Asbo was supposed to help communities combat nuisance behaviour. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, reviews the unhappy record of a flagship Labour policy.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Householders face tougher recycling penalties – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 28th, 2008 in news, waste by sally

“Every household could have to nominate an adult who will take legal responsibility for its bins as townhalls start to crack down on residents who are not recycling properly.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Focus on Forensics – BBC Law in Action

Posted May 27th, 2008 in evidence, forensic science, special report by sally

“High-profile prosecutions have relied on DNA to convict the guilty. Steve Wright who murdered five women in Suffolk, and Mark Dixie the killer of Sally Anne Bowman, would probably not have been convicted without DNA evidence.

But the use of forensic evidence is not always so straight-forward in proving guilt, as Clive Coleman finds out when he debates the use of forensic techniques with a panel of experts.”

Full story

BBC Law in Action, 27th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Privacy watchdog opposes giant telecoms database – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 27th, 2008 in data protection, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has criticised proposals to build one Government-owned database to hold a log of phone calls, email and internet use in the UK. The ICO has said that the move would be unjustified.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 27th May 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Church of England Marriage Measure 2008

Posted May 27th, 2008 in legislation, marriage by sally

Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 published

Full text (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Act 2008

Posted May 27th, 2008 in legislation, railways by sally

Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Act 2008 published

Full text of Act (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Court rejects HIV asylum seeker – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2008 in asylum, HIV, medical treatment, news by sally

“An HIV-positive Ugandan woman’s claim to stay in the UK has been rejected by the European Court of Human Rights.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consultation sentencing guideline and Advice on Breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted May 27th, 2008 in ASBOs, consultations, sentencing by sally

“The Sentencing Guidelines Council published a consultation guideline for breaches of anti-social behaviour orders on 23 May 2008. The Sentencing Advisory Panel also published its Advice on the same day.”

Consultation guideline – Breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (PDF)

Letter to consultees (PDF)

Advice: Breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (PDF)

Press Notice (PDF)

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 23rd May 2008

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

House of Lords Judgments: What’s new?

Posted May 27th, 2008 in law reports by sally

R V Asfaw (On Appeal From The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)) [2008] UKHL 31 (21 May 2008)

Bowden (Ap) V Poor Sisters of Nazareth and Others (Scotland) Whitton (Ap) V Poor Sisters of Naza [2008] UKHL 32 (21 May 2008)

Source: www.parliament.uk

Satyam Computer Services Ltd v Upaid Systems Ltd – Times Law Reports

Posted May 27th, 2008 in agreements, intellectual property, interpretation, law reports by sally

Satyam Computer Services Ltd v Upaid Systems Ltd

Court of Appeal

“It would only be through the use of the clearest possible specific language that parties to a settlement would be taken to have excluded fraud-based claims.”

The Times, 27th May 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.

Ramblers’ Association v Coventry City Council – Times Law Reports

Posted May 27th, 2008 in footpaths, law reports by sally

Ramblers’ Association v Coventry City Council

Queen’s Bench Division

“A council could order the closure of a footpath under section 129A to G of the Highways Act 1980, as inserted by section 2 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, only if satisfied that the footpath had facilitated prolonged criminal or antisocial behaviour at the date of the order.”

The Times, 27th May 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.

SK (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Times Law Reports

Posted May 27th, 2008 in immigration, judgments, law reports, oral hearings, tribunals by sally

SK (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Court of Appeal

“While the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal had power to pronounce an oral decision at the conclusion of a hearing, it was the written determination which constituted the decision. If an oral pronouncement was inconsistent with a subsequent written determination, there should be another hearing.”

The Times, 27th May 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.