80 prosecuted since smoking ban – BBC News
“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.”
BBC News, 2nd April 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Straw confirms expansion of dedicated drugs courts – Ministry of Justice
“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.”
Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Coroner accuses Paul Burrell, Diana’s butler, of blindingly obvious deceit – The Times
“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.”
The Times, 2nd April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
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
“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.”
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
“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.”
10 Downing Street, 1st April 2008
Source: www.pm.gov.uk
Dedicated drug court pilots: a process report – Ministry of Justice
“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
“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.”
BBC News, 31st March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Hoax 999 caller jailed for 40-year campaign – Daily Telegraph
“An unemployed man described as Britain’s worst serial hoaxer has been jailed following a 40-year campaign of prank 999 calls estimated to have cost the taxpayer more than £1 million.”
Daily Telegraph, 1st April 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
The Lord Chief Justice’s Review of the Administration of Justice in the Courts – Judiciary of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice’s Review of the Administration of Justice in the Courts (PDF)
Judiciary of England and Wales, 31st March 2008
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Lauren Holden, who invented an evil stalker named Casanova, is spared jail – The Times
“A fantasist who wasted 235 hours of police time when she invented a sinister stalker named Casanova has been given a suspended prison sentence.”
The Times, 1st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
DPP Sir Ken Macdonald: Detaining terror suspects for over four weeks is not needed – The Times
“Powers to allow terrorist suspects to be detained without charge for 42 days are not needed and are unlikely to find favour with the judges who would have to approve them, the Director of Public Prosecutions said yesterday.”
The Times, 1st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
PM seeks retreat on bill to outlaw press spying – The Guardian
“Gordon Brown has demanded the scrapping of longstanding plans for a clampdown on newspapers that illegally buy personal data, such as health, bank and telephone records, the Guardian has learned. This has provoked criticism that he has bowed to pressure from the media.”
The Guardian, 1st April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Who will become head of the first United Kingdom supreme court? – The Times
“A far-reaching reshuffle of top judicial posts is about to be triggered with the announcement of the next senior law lord, or top judge in the highest court of the land. The post is key because that person will become head of the first United Kingdom supreme court when it opens its doors for business in October next year.”
The Times, 1st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Terrified, humiliated – and innocent: the evidence against 42-day detention – The Independent
“A young Muslim woman has spoken about the appalling conditions she had to endure when she was held for 12 days without charge by police using existing powers to detain suspects in terrorist cases.”
The Independent, 1st April 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Judge says courts ‘overstretched’ – BBC News
“The most senior judge in England and Wales has said a ‘stream’ of legislation had contributed to courts being ‘seriously overstretched’.”
BBC News, 31st March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Judges admit they get round law designed to protect women in rape trials – The Guardian
“Judges have undermined a law intended to stop defence lawyers cross-examining women in rape cases about their sexual history, by continuing to insist on their discretion to allow it, a new book discloses.”
The Guardian, 1st April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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
