Letting a child witness have his day in court – The Times
“Some prosecutors feel that children and vulnerable adults cannot cope with courtroom pressures. All that is about to change.”
The Times, 1st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Sentencing Commission Working Group Consultation: A structured sentencing framework and Sentencing Commission – Judiciary of England and Wales
“The independent Sentencing Commission Working Group is seeking views on how a structured sentencing framework could be adapted for England and Wales, drawing reference to the US experience. The aim is to develop a set of proposals to improve the operation of the CJS in relation to sentencing.”
Consultation paper: A structured sentencing framework and Sentencing Commission (PDF)
Judiciary of England and Wales, 31st March 2008
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Murder accused guilty of deceit – BBC News
“A financial trader accused of murdering a wealthy reclusive author at his north London home has been found guilty of dishonesty charges.”
BBC News, 31st March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Year’s jail for ‘wicked’ false rape accusation – Daily Telegraph
“A woman who falsely accused a soldier of rape has been described as ‘wicked’ by the judge who sentenced her to a year in jail.”
Daily Telegraph, 31st March 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2008
The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Approved Devices) (Wales) Order 2008
The Civil Enforcement Officers (Wearing of Uniforms) (Wales) Regulations 2008
The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Guidelines on Levels of Charges) (Wales) Order 2008
The Removal and Disposal of Vehicles (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2008
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Commencement) (Wales) Order 2008
The Welsh Levy Board Order 2008
The Immigration (Disposal of Property) Regulations 2008
The Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2008
The Childcare Act 2006 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2008
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2008
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk
Credit crunch fallout could drag on for years, lawyers warn – The Times
“Lawyers across the City have been sifting through traders’ e-mails and listening to recordings of their phone conversations in an attempt to piece together thousands of financial transactions.”
The Times, 31st March 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Diana coroner: No evidence of Royal plot – Daily Telegraph
“The coroner leading the inquest into the death of Princess Diana has said there is no evidence that Prince Philip, the Secret Intelligence Service or any other government agency had anything to do with the 1997 car crash that killed the Princess and her lover Dodi Fayed.”
Daily Telegraph, 31st March 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Pupillages nosedive by 20 per cent since 2000 – The Lawyer
“The number of Bar Vocational Course (BVC) graduates invited to take pupillage has dropped by 20 per cent since the turn of the century, with less than a third of graduates securing pupillages last year.”
The Lawyer, 31st March 2008
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Legal threat over detentions bill – BBC News
“Plans to extend the limit on detaining terror suspects without charge to 42 days could face an Equality and Human Rights Commission court challenge.”
BBC News, 31st March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New sexual harassment law to protect staff from customers – The Guardian
“Employers will be duty-bound from next week to protect their staff from sexual harassment by customers, suppliers and others they encounter in the course of their work. Workers are already protected from harassment by colleagues, but under new rules which come into force on April 6, they will be able to seek damages from employers who fail to take reasonable steps to protect them from harassment by a third party, if bosses knew that at least two incidents had already taken place.”
The Guardian, 31st March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
New parking rules come into force – BBC News
“New parking regulations have come into force in England despite concerns over the use of CCTV footage to enforce rules and impose fines.”
BBC News, 31st March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Government is in touch – Smith – BBC News
“Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has dismissed claims by a fellow minister that the government is out of touch.”
BBC News, 30th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Endangered Ratty gets legal protection – The Guardian
“Nearly 12 years after conservationists asked government to help save the disappearing water vole, the whiskered creature that inspired the character Ratty in Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows – along with seahorses, a shark and an edible snail – has become one of Britain’s most protected species.”
The Guardian, 31st March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Doctors for Reform fight NHS order to halt cancer care – The Times
“A group representing nearly 1,000 doctors is preparing to mount a legal action against the health service to stop care being withdrawn from patients who want to pay for their own cancer medicines.”
The Times, 30th March 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
UK ‘must adopt disability treaty’ – BBC News
“The government has been urged by a charity to ratify fully an international treaty on disability.”
BBC News, 30th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sick and suicidal: plight of women in UK jails – The Guardian
“Most women prisoners have mental health problems, and nine of out 10 were convicted of non-violent offences. Now a new study shows an alarming rise in suicides and self-harm – and behind the statistics lie ruined lives and shattered relatives. With four inquests about to open, Amelia Hill reports on the growing scandal in Britain’s penal system.”
The Guardian, 30th March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
More passenger misery at Terminal 5 as BA faces lawsuit – The Independent
“Thousands of passengers faced further misery stranded on the huge concourse at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 today, as behind the scenes a ‘blame game’ began over the chaos that has gripped the airport since opening.”
The Independent, 30th March 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Judge wraps up Diana inquest – Reuters
“After almost six months and more than 250 witnesses, the judge presiding over the inquest into Princess Diana’s death wraps up the case on Monday with his summary to the jury.”
Reuters, 30th March 2008
Source: www.reuters.com
Crisis Lords meetings over sleaze allegations – The Guardian
“Crisis meetings are to take place in the House of Lords today over a series of sleaze allegations against peers, the Guardian can disclose. These include accusations that cash has been taken from lobbyists, passes handed out to commercial interests and expenses improperly claimed.”
The Guardian, 31st March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Leading cultural figures attack folly of 42-day detention limit – The Independent
“The spy writer John Le Carré, the actors Colin Firth and Patrick Stewart, the novelist Iain Banks, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and professor of philosophy A C Grayling are among a group of leading figures from the arts and academia who have written to Gordon Brown to oppose the extension of pre-charge detention to 42 days for terrorist suspects.”
The Independent, 31st March 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
