Price of justice was the longest and costliest criminal case ever – The Times

Posted May 1st, 2007 in delay, news, terrorism, trials by sally

“The Operation Crevice trial was the longest and most expensive criminal case in Britain – costing £50 million, lasting more than a year and illustrating graphically the growing problems in the courts system.”

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The Times, 1st May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Acquaintance rapists’ treated more leniently – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 1st, 2007 in news, rape, sentencing by sally

“Rapists whose victims withdrew their consent to sexual activity at the last moment may receive lighter sentences under guidelines published yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Road safety measure backfires as disqualified drivers ‘vanish’ – The Times

Posted May 1st, 2007 in news, road safety by sally

“A law that was intended to improve road safety by targeting reckless young drivers has had the opposite effect, a study has found.”

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The Times, 1st May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

First British soldier to be convicted of a war crime is jailed for ill-treatment of Iraqi civilians – The Guardian

Posted May 1st, 2007 in armed forces, Iraq, news, war crimes by sally

“The first British soldier ever to be convicted of a war crime was yesterday jailed for a year and dismissed from the army.”

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The Guardian, 1st May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid reforms ‘would limit access to justice for the needy’ – The Times

Posted May 1st, 2007 in legal aid, news by sally

“The Lord Chancellor faces renewed pressure to drop or delay plans for overhauling the legal aid scheme with a damning report today from MPs.”

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The Times, 1st May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Human rights battle over Alzheimer’s patient reaches Lords – The Times

Posted May 1st, 2007 in care homes, elderly, human rights by sally

“Elderly patients placed by the Government in private care homes should receive the same protection from human rights laws as they would in public facilities, the House of Lords heard today.”

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The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New bar association launched to raise direct access awareness

Posted May 1st, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“A new barristers’ association is to be launched to promote direct access to the bar.”

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The Lawyer, 30th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Call to update UK insolvency law – Financial Times

Posted May 1st, 2007 in insolvency, news by sally

“London’s status as a leading financial centre could be diminished unless the UK reforms its insolvency regime ahead of the next economic downturn, according to an influential group of restructuring professionals.”

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Financial Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.ft.com

New Equalities Legislation Comes into Force Today – Communities and Local Government

“New legislation comes into force today which provides protection from sexual orientation discrimination and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief that is on a par with protection already provided on grounds of race and gender.”

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Communities and Local Government press release, 30th April 2007

Source: www.communities.gov.uk

Global legal community joins forces in fight to defend Pakistan judge – The Lawyer

Posted April 30th, 2007 in judges, news, Pakistan by sally

“The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has launched a mission to investigate the arrest of Pakistan’s top judge.”

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The Lawyer, 30th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Privacy watchdog slams EU-wide sharing of police data – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 30th, 2007 in data protection, EC law, news, police by sally

“Europe’s privacy watchdog has expressed ‘grave concern’ about a proposal to share personal information between police forces across Europe, calling it a ‘lowest common denominator approach that would hinder the fundamental rights of EU citizens’.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th April 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Freedom of information: Open democracy under threat from Parliament – The Independent

Posted April 30th, 2007 in freedom of information, parliament by sally

“Proposals to remove MPs from the ambit of the Freedom of Information Act are to be debated today. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, considers what is at stake.” 

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The Independent, 30th April 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New laws could give BNP members employment rights – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, religious discrimination by sally

“New employment laws that came into force today could pave the way for political activists – including members of the British Nationalist [sic] Party (BNP) – to bring religious discrimination claims in the workplace, experts have warned.”

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The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Government response on fees for court of protection and public guardian published – Government News Network

“Government response to the public’s views on proposed fees for the new Court of Protection and the Office of the Public Guardian was published today.”

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Department for Constitutional Affairs press release, 30th April 2007

Source: www.gnn.gov.uk

Lords to probe surveillance society – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 30th, 2007 in data protection, news, privacy by sally

“The House of Lords will investigate whether the UK’s ‘surveillance society’ is unconstitutional. The Lords’ Constitution Committee has asked for evidence in an investigation it has launched into surveillance in the UK.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th April 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Five guilty over fertiliser bomb plot – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, terrorism by sally

“Five British men with close links to the July 7 bombers were today found guilty of a plot to set off a wave of fertiliser-based terrorist explosions around the country.”

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The Guardian

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Campbell diaries to beat ‘gagging’ rules – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in confidentiality, news by sally

“New rules to prevent the publication of politically damaging memoirs by former politicians and civil servants will not be in force until after Alastair Campbell’s diaries are released, The Times has learnt.”

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The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Private van guards to assess whether young are tough enough for adult jails – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, young offenders by sally

“Private security staff who operate prison vans will decide from today whether young adults awaiting trial in London are mentally strong enough to survive in the toughest prisons.”

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The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Third update to Guideline Judgments Case Compendium – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted April 30th, 2007 in sentencing by sally

“A new update has been published for the Council’s compendium of guideline judgments first issued in March 2005.  It includes summaries of recent decisions dealing with the sentencing of dangerous offenders and the approach to sentencing for breach of an anti-social behaviour order.  It also summarises judgments relating to specific offences including causing death by dangerous driving/causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and health and safety offences.”

Compendium – Third Edition (PDF)

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

Internet sperm agencies plan to sidestep new rules – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in artificial insemination, news by sally

“As the government’s regulatory body prepares to stamp out the thriving business in online fresh sperm donation, the Guardian has learned that both of the UK’s main agencies are planning to circumvent new laws and continue to operate without a licence.”

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The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk