Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted April 8th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Bluetongue Regulations 2008

The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) and Blood Safety and Quality (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2008

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Commencement No. 1) (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008

The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) (Taxes and National Insurance) Order 2008

The Legislative Reform (Health and Safety Executive) Order 2008

The Sex Discrimination (Amendment of Legislation) Regulations 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Sir Ken Macdonald: ‘We are determined to do more ourselves’ – The Times

Posted April 8th, 2008 in advocacy, Crown Prosecution Service, special report by sally

“It is a classic case of poacher- turned-gamekeeper — or in the case of Sir Ken Macdonald, perhaps the other way round. The Director of Public Prosecutions has embarked on a programme of taking on Crown Court trials — the stomping ground of his profession, the Bar. Instead of paying millions a year to private practice barristers, he wants more CPS advocates to take their own cases to court.”

Full story

The Times,

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Government changes mind on contract rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 8th, 2008 in contracts, EC law, news, treaties by sally

“The UK Government wants to sign up to a European Regulation which would standardise how the law is applied in cross-border contractual disputes, it has said. The Regulation, known as Rome I, replaces existing rules governing such disputes.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 7th April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

How Mansfield dominated the Diana inquest – The Guardian

Posted April 8th, 2008 in barristers, inquests, royal family, special report by sally

“Michael Mansfield has been just where he likes to be throughout the six month inquest – in the centre of the spotlight. Stephen Bates reviews his latest courtroom performance.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyer took paralysed client’s £1.2m payout – The Times

Posted April 8th, 2008 in abuse of position of trust, news, sentencing, solicitors, theft by sally

“A solicitor who stole £1.25 million from a client left paralysed by a traffic accident was jailed yesterday for ten years for what the judge described as the ‘very worst breach of trust for a professional man’.”

Full story

The Times, 8th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Sin bins’ fail to improve anti-social families – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 8th, 2008 in ASBOs, news by sally

“Plans to put disruptive families through expensive so-called sin bin programmes to improve their behaviour are proving a costly failure, it has been claimed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jail threat for data thieves recedes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 8th, 2008 in data protection, news, punishment, theft by sally

“Plans to jail personal data thieves have been shelved due to a surprise amendment to a proposed new law. The new law will contain a clause threatening jail, but that clause will not be implemented.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 7th April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Rastafarian temple drugs trial collapses – The Guardian

Posted April 8th, 2008 in drug offences, news, trials by sally

“A £100,000 cannabis-dealing trial, launched following a high-profile police raid on a Rastafarian temple in south London, has collapsed in legal confusion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chauffeur and paparazzi to blame for Diana death, jury finds – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2008 in inquests, news, royal family, verdicts by sally

“Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed were unlawfully killed by the reckless driving of their chauffeur, Henri Paul, and the paparazzi who chased them, jurors in the inquest into their deaths decided today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mother kept boy in wheelchair for five years – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 7th, 2008 in child abuse, news by sally

“A mother who kept her son in a wheelchair for five years and convinced him and doctors that he could not walk has been jailed for four years.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Views sought on proposed changes to Criminal Procedure Rules – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 7th, 2008 in consultations, criminal procedure, magistrates by sally

“The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee is asking for views on proposed changes to the rules on starting a criminal case in a magistrates’ court.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 7th April 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Killer lawyer gets early release – BBC News

Posted April 7th, 2008 in homicide, news, probation by sally

“A lawyer who stabbed his wife to death after she told him she was leaving him has been released after serving less than half of his sentence.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Diana coroner to accept majority – BBC News

Posted April 7th, 2008 in inquests, news, royal family, verdicts by sally

“The coroner at the inquest into Princess Diana’s death has authorised the jury to return a majority verdict.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted April 7th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Rochester, R v [2008] EWCA Crim 678 (04 April 2008)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Brooker & Anor v Fisher [2008] EWCA Civ 287 (04 April 2008)

Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Company SAL & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 303 (04 April 2008)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Fashoff (UK) Ltd (t/a Moschino Forall Confezioni Spa) v Linton & Anor [2008] EWHC 537 (Ch) (19 March 2008)

Pipe & Ors v Revenue & Customs [2008] EWHC 646 (Ch) (04 April 2008)

High Court (Family Division)

London Borough of Ealing v KS & Ors [2008] EWHC 636 (Fam) (03 April 2008)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Tsavliris Salvage (International) Ltd v The Grain Board of Iraq [2008] EWHC 612 (Comm) (01 April 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted April 7th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources and Sums for Personal Requirements) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2008

The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2008

The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (Wales) Regulations 2008

The Assembly Learning Grant (Further Education) Regulations 2008

The Criminal Defence Service (Funding) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Specified Animal Pathogens Order 2008

The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2008

The Charities Act 2006 (Commencement No. 4, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2008

The Tate Gallery Board (Additional Members) Order 2008

The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2008

The Local Authorities (Alcohol Disorder Zones) Regulations 2008

The Grants to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2008

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Code of Practice) Order 2008

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Practice) Order 2008

The Serious Crime Act 2007 (Amendment of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002) Order 2008

The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008

The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2008

The Housing Act 2004 (Commencement No. 11) (England and Wales) Order 2008

The Stroud (Parish Electoral Arrangements and Electoral Changes) Order 2008

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Commencement No. 12) Order 2008

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 19) Order 2008

The Police Act 1997 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2008

The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

The Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008

The Department for Transport (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration Fees) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Offender Management Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008

The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (B2007 Vehicles) Exemption Order 2008

The Official Statistics Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Licence to lend: Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunals starts operating – Tribunals Service

Posted April 7th, 2008 in consumer credit, press releases, tribunals by sally

“A newly created tribunal, set up to ensure credit businesses have a more independent route of appeal against decisions by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), starts work today, administered by the Tribunals Service.”

Press release (PDF)

Tribunals Service, 7th April 2008

Source: www.tribunals.gov.uk

In re S (Care Proceedings: Assessment of risk) – Times Law Reports

Posted April 7th, 2008 in law reports by sally

In re S (Care Proceedings: Assessment of risk)

Court of Appeal

“Local authorities should not introduce in care proceedings, and send to experts, material which was unfair because it was purely prejudicial.”

The Times, 7th 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.

Regina v Khan (Bakish Alla); Regina v Hanif Regina v Lewthwaite; Regina v Khan (Michael Arshad); Regina v Cross Regina v Hill – Times Law Reports

Posted April 7th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Regina v Khan (Bakish Alla); Regina v Hanif Regina v Lewthwaite; Regina v Khan (Michael Arshad); Regina v Cross Regina v Hill

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“It was essential that trial judges should be aware at the stage of jury selection if any potential juror was, or had been a police officer or a member of the prosecuting authority or was a serving prison officer.”

The Times, 7th 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.

Star Wars costume-maker strikes back against George Lucas – The Times

Posted April 7th, 2008 in merchandising, news by sally

“Lucas’s business empire claims that it owns all the rights to the uniforms, while the lawyers at Simmons Cooper Andrew will argue that the rights are in fact vested in an obscure prop designer from Twickenham who made the first helmets and suits for the 1977 film.”

Full story

The Times, 7th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Rethink over Christ ‘porn’ film ban – The Observer

Posted April 7th, 2008 in blasphemy, news by sally

“A landmark decision to ban a film showing Christ being caressed on the cross on the grounds that it was blasphemous could be reversed after almost 20 years.”

Full story

The Observer, 6th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk