The Companies Act: timetable for introduction – The Times

Posted September 25th, 2007 in company law, special report by sally

“A number of parts of the Act are already in force. Put on the statute book on November 8, 2006, it is being introduced in stages over two years. The Government intends that it will be fully in force by October 2008.”

Full story

The Times, 25th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted September 25th, 2007 in legislation by sally

The Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Wales) Regulations 2007

Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2007

The Commons Registration (General) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2007

The Childcare Act 2006 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provision) Order 2007

The Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2007

The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2007

The South Downs Health National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2007

The Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2007

The Haringey Sixth Form Centre (Governing Body) Order 2007

The Police Federation (Amendment) Regulations 2007

The Police and Justice Act 2006 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2007

The Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust (Establishment) and the Hammersmith Hospitals National Health Service Trust and the St Mary’s National Health Service Trust (Dissolution) Order 2007

The Staffordshire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust (Dissolution) Order 2007

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Vos calls for greater access to the profession – Bar Council

Posted September 25th, 2007 in barristers, press releases by sally

“Chairman of the Bar Council, Geoffrey Vos QC has called for greater access to the Bar and has encouraged politicians to continue to recognise the importance of social mobility.”

Press release

Bar Council, 24th September 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Channel 4 vindicated over Diana documentary – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 25th, 2007 in media, news by sally

“The media watchdog has upheld Channel 4’s decision to show a controversial documentary about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th September 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Brown “may reverse drinking laws” – BBC News

Posted September 25th, 2007 in licensed premises, licensing, news by sally

“Gordon Brown has said he could overturn the recent law allowing pubs in England and Wales to open 24 hours a day.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Art exhibit in child porn probe – BBC news

Posted September 25th, 2007 in artistic works, children, news, pornography by sally

“Police have seized an exhibit at the Baltic modern art gallery on Tyneside on the grounds it may have breached child pornography laws.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Record fine for TV phone-in firm – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2007 in consumer protection, media, news by sally

“The ‘reckless’ premium rate phone services company that swindled GMTV viewers out of more than £20m over almost four years was yesterday hit with the biggest fine imposed by regulators.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers drop plan for experts to brief rape juries – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2007 in expert witnesses, juries, news, rape by sally

“The government is to abandon a controversial proposal to use expert witnesses to brief juries on the ‘myths’  surrounding rape after judges warned the plan could lead to miscarriages of justice, the Guardian has learned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Guerrilla artist Banksy caught up in eBay fraud – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2007 in artistic works, fraud, internet, news by sally

“Banksy, the mysterious graffiti artist who has gone from underground street phenomenon to darling of collectors including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has been embroiled in an eBay scandal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Porsche driver clocked at 172mph is jailed – The Times

Posted September 25th, 2007 in news, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

“A motorist caught travelling at 172mph on an Oxfordshire dual carriageway has been jailed for ten weeks.”

Full story

The Times, 25th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bar Standards Board ups pay-outs for consumers whose complaints about barristers are upheld – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 25th, 2007 in barristers, compensation, press releases by sally

“Consumers can now get us much as £15,000 in compensation if their barrister lets them down. The increase in the compensation limit for ‘inadequate professional services’, up from £5,000, was approved by the independent Bar Standards Board at its meeting yesterday.”

Press release

Bar Standards Board, 24th September 2007

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Cancer patient sues the Halifax for harassment after 762 calls about loan – The Times

Posted September 25th, 2007 in banking, harassment, news by sally

“A lung cancer patient has gone to court to stop his bank contacting him about repayment of a loan after he was called 762 times in ten months.”

Full story

The Times, 25th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Muslim dentist “made patient cover her head” – The Times

Posted September 25th, 2007 in dentists, news, professional conduct by sally

“A Muslim dentist insisted that a young woman wear an Islamic headscarf before he would agree to treat her for toothache, the General Dental Council was told yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 25th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Consultation on fast track processing of Patents & Trade Marks – UK Intellectual Property Office

Posted September 24th, 2007 in consultations, patents, trade marks by sally

“The Gowers Report on Intellectual Property recommended that the UK Intellectual Property Office provide new accelerated services for processing patent and trade mark applications. We have considered these recommendations and are now consulting on proposed new fast track services for patents and trade marks, both of which will be available to all applicants upon payment of a fee.”

Consultation Document (pdf and Word)

UK Intellectual Property Office, 21st September 2007

Source: www.ipo.gov.uk

New laws give shareholders more power to sue directors for negligence – The Times

Posted September 24th, 2007 in company directors, negligence, news by sally

“Disgruntled shareholders in Northern Rock and other troubled British companies looking to pin blame on senior management will receive a boost next month with the introduction of new laws making it easier to sue individual company directors. ”

Full story

The Times, 24th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BPP handed degree-giving breakthrough

Posted September 24th, 2007 in legal education, news by sally

“BPP Law School has been granted degree-awarding status in a move that makes the group the UK’s first private-sector company able to award the qualification.”

Full story

Legal Week, 24th September 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

BSB ups compensation levels – The Lawyer

Posted September 24th, 2007 in barristers, compensation, news by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has increased the amount of compensation consumers can get when barristers provide inadequate services, from £5,000 to £15,000.”

Full story 

The Lawyer, 24th September 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Drive to ensure safer roads – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 24th, 2007 in press releases, road traffic offences by sally

“Bad driving is an area of particular concern to the public and today’s provisions in the Road Safety Act 2006 tighten up legislation and ensure offenders do not escape justice.”

Press release

Ministry of Justice, 24th September 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Multimillion pound “shambolic” penal agency to be axed – The Observer

Posted September 24th, 2007 in news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation by sally

“The government was accused last night of presiding over a ‘shambolic penal policy’ after it emerged it is to dismantle its multibillion pound flagship programme to protect the public and cut crime.”

Full story

The Observer, 23rd September 2007

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

NHS is facing £4.5bn compensation bill over babies damaged at birth by hospital “blunders” – The Observer

Posted September 24th, 2007 in birth, compensation, doctors, midwives, negligence, news by sally

“The NHS is facing £4.5bn in compensation claims over alleged blunders by midwives and doctors that have left babies suffering severe brain damage, The Observer can reveal.”

Full story

The Observer, 23rd September 2007

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