Prisons ‘could be full within two weeks’ – The Independent
“Ministers are holding emergency meetings as the jail population threatens to rise out of control.”
The Independent, 31st May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
The Big Question: Why are our prisons so overcrowded, and how can we tackle the crisis? – The Independent
“Jails in England and Wales could be full within a fortnight. The increase in numbers of offenders being locked up appears relentless, with the prison population reaching a record high of 80,846 this week. That includes about 400 who are housed at great expense in police cells and a further handful held in court cells.”
The Independent, 31st May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
BAILII: Recent decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Charman v Charman [2007] EWCA Civ 503 (24 May 2007)
Ford-Camber Ltd. v Deanminster Ltd & Anor [2007] EWCA Civ 458 (24 May 2007)
Experience Hendrix LLC v Purple Haze Records Ltd & Ors [2007] EWCA Civ 501 (24 May 2007)
KR (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2007] EWCA Civ 514 (24 May 2007)
Framlington Group Ltd & Anor v Barnetson [2007] EWCA Civ 502 (24 May 2007)
Howard De Walden Estates Ltd & Anor v Les Aggio & Ors [2007] EWCA Civ 499 (24 May 2007)
Hooper v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2007] EWCA Civ 495 (24 May 2007)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Sampson & Ors, R. v [2007] EWCA Crim 1238 (25 May 2007)
Tirnaveanu, R v [2007] EWCA Crim 1239 (24 May 2007)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Bunney v Burns Anderson Plc & Anor [2007] EWHC 1240 (Ch) (25 May 2007)
High Court (Commercial Court)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Signet Partners Ltd v Signet Research & Advisory SA & Ors [2007] EWHC 1263 (QB) (24 May 2007)
Source: www.bailii.org
Bunney v. Burns Anderson plc and another; Cahill v. Timothy James & Partners Ltd. – WLR Daily
“The Financial Services Ombudsman did not have the power to make a direction under s 229(2)(b) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 that would require a respondent to make a money award exceeding the statutory cap provided in the Ombudsman scheme rules.”
WLR Daily, 25th May 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
A million debtors face court action – Daily Telegraph
“Up to a million households struggling with rising living costs and lured by offers of easy credit will face court action over their debts this year.”
Daily Telegraph, 31st May 2007
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Regina v. McNee; Regina v. Russell, Regina v. X – Times Law Reports
Sentencing judge can consult tariff
Regina v. McNee; Regina v. Russell; Regina v. X
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“Although when imprisoning a defendant to a discretionary life sentence, the sentencing judge was not obliged to have regard to the minimum tariffs for mandatory life sentences set our in Schedule 21 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003, it was not wrong to do so.”
The Times, 31st May 2007
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 (Bancoult) v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No. 2) – Times Law Reports
Abuse of executive power over Chagos Islanders
Regina (Bancoult) v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No. 2)
Court of Appeal
“The use of orders in council to frustrate a ruling of the court in order to prevent the return of Chagos Islanders to their homeland was an unlawful abuse of power by the executive government.”
The Times, 31st May 2007
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.
Proposals to create judicial powers to manage conflict of interest and capacity issues in very high cost cases – Ministry of Justice
“This consultation invited comments on proposals to give trial judges in VHCCs the power to order the withdrawal of representation where there was a conflict of interest or lack of capacity on the part of defence representatives, such that it could impede the efficient progress of the trial. The summary of responses outlines the conclusions reached on the options and how we intend to proceed.”
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Legal wrangles over porn billing software – The Guardian
“MBS’s popups seeking payment for access to websites have caused concern, but it could be you breaking the law, not them.”
The Guardian, 31st May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Falconer outlines plans to end high cost trial delay – Ministry of Justice
“Lawyers who cause costly delays to court cases in England and Wales could be replaced in plans for speedier and more efficient trials, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Lord Falconer said today.”
Ministry of Justice press release, 31st May 2007
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Website lists likely punishments – The Times
“Anyone up before a magistrates’ court can now go online to find out the likely sentence for the alleged offence in advance of the hearing.”
The Times, 30th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Lawyers call for divorce law review after landmark ruling – Legal Week
“London has become the divorce capital of the world, according to the City’s top lawyers following a Court of Appeal ruling to uphold the largest divorce settlement in UK history.”
Legal Week, 31st May 2007
Source: www.legalweek.com
Forced legal team change scheme – The Guardian
“Ministers are to go ahead with a scheme which could force defendants to change their legal team in complex cases.”
The Guardian, 31st May 2007
Source:www.guardian.co.uk
Jailing fewer people ‘is only way to solve overcrowding’ – The Times
“The Justice Secretary has admitted that the Government will be unable to build its way out of the problem of overcrowded jails.”
The Times, 31st May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Lawyers who delay expensive terrorism trials face the sack – The Times
“Lawyers could be sacked if they cause delays during expensive terrorism trials under plans to speed up cases announced by the Government yesterday.”
The Times, 31st May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Nearly all cameras illegal, says watchdog – The Times
“We are living in the surveillance age but 90 per cent of Britain’s 14.2 million closed-circuit television cameras may be failing to comply with the law.”
The Times, 31st May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
The Law Explored: what to wear in court – The Times
“Imagine you’re in a room filled with people dressed variously in tracksuit bottoms and trainers, white bands with horse-hair wigs, uniforms, lounge suits, long black robes: you’re either at a fancy-dress party or in a law court.”
The Times, 30th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
The Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) Order 2007
The Control of Cash (Penalties) Regulations 2007
The Goods Infringing the Olympics and Paralympics Association Rights (Customs) Regulations 2007
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Commencement No. 12) Order 2007
The Citizenship Oath and Pledge (Welsh Language) Order 2007
The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2007
The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2007
The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007
The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (Amendment) Order 2007
The Local Authority Adoption Service (Wales) Regulations 2007
The Oil Taxation (Nomination Scheme for Disposals) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk
