Public guardian starts work on protecting vulnerable people – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 1st, 2007 in Court of Protection, mental health, powers of attorney, press releases by sally

“A new organisation looking after the interests of some of the most vulnerable people in society starts work on Monday 1 October. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), introduced under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, will provide legal protection for thousands of people lacking the mental capacity to make decisions themselves.”

Press release

Ministry of Justice, 28th September 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Minimum wage rates are increased – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2007 in employment, news, remuneration by sally

“More than a million workers are to receive a pay rise as increases to the minimum wage come into force.”

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BBC News, 30th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met’s Menezes trial due to start – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2007 in firearms, health & safety, news, police, terrorism by sally

“The trial of the Metropolitan Police over the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is due to begin.”

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BBC News, 1st October 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Europe’s concern over UK data protection “defects” revealed – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2007 in data protection, EC law, news by sally

“The European Commission is threatening legal action against the UK government for failing to properly safeguard individuals’ personal data.”

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The Guardian, 1st October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fraud office inquiry into UK links to Kenyan cash and arms scandal – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2007 in corruption, fraud, news by sally

“The Serious Fraud Office has begun a new investigation into British links with one of the biggest corruption inquiries in Africa.”

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The Guardian, 1st October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British police left paedophile free to kill schoolgirl – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in child abuse, murder, news, police, sexual offences by sally

“Police were facing calls yesterday for a full inquiry after a suspected paedophile escaped to Australia and murdered an eight-year-old girl.”

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The Times, 1st October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

First £35,000 of every savings account given protection from today – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in banking, compensation, guarantees, news by sally

“Savers in banks and building societies will have the first £35,000 of their deposits 100 per cent guaranteed from today under reforms to prevent a repeat of the Northern Rock affair.”

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The Times, 1st October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

MOD attacked over “insulting” award for soldier – The Observer

Posted October 1st, 2007 in armed forces, compensation, news by sally

“The government is facing fresh claims that it is not looking after horrifically injured troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, after the wife of an injured soldier told The Observer that she had been ‘insulted’ by an offer of compensation.”

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The Observer, 30th September 2007

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

Council tax rebel claims a moral victory – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in council tax, environmental health, news by sally

“A woman who withheld her council tax after claiming that a decision to collect rubbish only twice a month had led to a rat infestation in her home yesterday claimed a moral victory in her battle with the authorities.”

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The Times, 29th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Elastic band “attack” in school landed a 12-year-old in court – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in grievous bodily harm, news, school children by sally

“A 12-year-old boy who used an elastic band to fire a piece of cardboard at a classmate was charged with grievous bodily harm, in a process estimated to have cost taxpayers at least £10,000.”

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The Times, 29th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Head fined over fall that led to boy’s death – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in duty of care, health & safety, news, school children by sally

“The headmaster of a private school was ordered to pay £20,000 in fines and legal costs yesterday following the death of a three-year-old pupil who had hit his head in the playground.”

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The Times, 29th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

£90 expenses investigation cost taxpayers £500,000 – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in news, police, race discrimination by sally

“A policeman who sued Lancashire Police for racial discrimination after the force spent three years and an estimated £500,000 investigating allegations that he fiddled £90 on his expenses has now settled the claim out of court.”

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The Times, 29th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

No extra funds to fight sex-traffickers – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in news, trafficking in human beings by sally

“The Government will ask police to tackle sex-trafficking next week but is refusing to provide extra funds for the fight against the fastest-growing area of organised crime.”

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The Times, 29th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Thames Water fined £12m for poor service – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in compensation, fines, news, utilities by sally

“Thames Water faces a fine of £12.5million for failing to compensate customers for poor service and loss of water supplies. The fine covers the period between July 2005 and July 2006, but the company has admitted that it failed to deal properly with its customers for the preceding five years.”

Full story

The Times, 29th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Prisoners may be given 20 per cent cut in sentences to ease crowding – The Times

Posted October 1st, 2007 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Ministers are investigating reducing the length of time that prisoners spend in jail by 20 per cent as an emergency measure to cut the total number of inmates, which yesterday reached a record 81,135.”

Full story 

The Times, 29th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted September 28th, 2007 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council v Bainbridge & Ors [2007] EWCA Civ 910 (21 September 2007)

High Court (Administrative Court)

South Cambridgeshire District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Anor [2007] EWHC 2117 (Admin) (18 September 2007)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Ross River Ltd & Anor v Cambridge City Football Club Ltd [2007] EWHC 2115 (Ch) (19 September 2007)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Oliver and Anor v Dubai Bank Kenya Ltd [2007] EWHC 2165 (Comm) (24 September 2007)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted September 28th, 2007 in legislation by sally

The Medical Act 1983 Amendments (Further Transitional Provisions) Order of Council 2007

The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2007

The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Lid Gaskets) (England) Regulations 2007

The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Inmates ‘forcibly strip-searched’ – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2007 in news, prisons, young offenders by sally

“Young offenders are being forcibly strip searched according to a report by prison inspectors.”

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BBC News, 27th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk  

Diana inquest process begins at High Court – The Times

Posted September 28th, 2007 in inquests, juries, news by sally

“The process of selecting the jury for the Diana, Princess of Wales, inquest got under way today as up to 200 potential jurors filed into the High Court.”

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The Times, 27th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Should judges face appraisals? – The Times

Posted September 28th, 2007 in judiciary, news, quality assurance by sally

“Many professionals – including City law firm partners – now face performance assessments by their peers. Some judges think they should have them, too.”

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The Times, 27th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk