Police failing to disclose crucial evidence about defendants, report finds – The Independent

Posted July 18th, 2017 in criminal justice, disclosure, evidence, news, police, reports by tracey

‘The police and Crown Prosecution Service have been accused of failing to disclose crucial information about cases, resulting in defendants’ right to a fair trial potentially being undermined, according to a new report. Compiled by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, it found that it was rare for police officers to tell prosecutors about evidence that could undermine their case or assist the accused’s – known in legal terms as unused material.’

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The Independent, 18th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home deliveries to be banned for online knife sales – BBC News

Posted July 18th, 2017 in consultations, internet, news, offensive weapons, sale of goods, young persons by tracey

‘Online shoppers buying knives could be forced to collect them in person in England and Wales, if plans to stop children purchasing blades go ahead.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-soldier jailed for raping and killing schoolgirl Janet Commins in 1976 – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 17th, 2017 in DNA, homicide, imprisonment, news, rape, school children, sentencing by tracey

‘A former soldier who raped and killed a schoolgirl has been jailed for 12 years, four decades after an innocent man went to prison for the crime.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cardiff NHS hospital staff lose parking tickets case – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2017 in fines, hospitals, news, parking, Wales by tracey

‘Seventy-five members of staff at a Cardiff hospital have been left “broken” by a court ruling that means they owe thousands of pounds in parking tickets, a campaigner has said.’

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BBC News, 17th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office fined £366,900 for breaking pay cap for abuse inquiry chief – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2017 in child abuse, fines, government departments, inquiries, news, remuneration by tracey

‘The Home Office has been fined £366,900 for breaching the government’s senior salary pay cap when it appointed the head of a child sex abuse inquiry. It was penalised by the Treasury for failing to get clearance in advance before agreeing to pay Professor Alexis Jay £185,000 a year.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 17th, 2017 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Dixon, R (on the application of) v The Secretary of State for Justice [2017] EWCA Civ 961 (14 July 2017)

Frade & Ors v Radford & Anor [2017] EWCA Civ 1010 (14 July 2017)

Williams v Swansea University Pension & Assurance Scheme Swansea University [2017] EWCA 1008 Civ (14 July 2017)

Bridgend County Borough Council v Boland & Anor [2017] EWCA Civ 1004 (14 July 2017)

Gourlay, R (on the application of) v The Parole Board [2017] EWCA Civ 1003 (14 July 2017)

Sage v Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company & Ors [2017] EWCA Civ 973 (14 July 2017)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Ajayi & Anor , R v [2017] EWCA Crim 1011 (13 July 2017)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Director of Public Prosecutions, R (on the application of) v Stratford Magistrates Court & Ors [2017] EWHC 1794 (Admin) (14 July 2017)

AC & SH, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Lambeth Council [2017] EWHC 1796 (Admin) (14 July 2017)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Interactive Technology Corporation Ltd v Ferster [2017] EWHC 1799 (Ch) (14 July 2017)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Macaulay v Karim & Anor [2017] EWHC 1795 (QB) (14 July 2017)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

125 OBS (Nominees1) & Anor v Lend Lease Construction (Europe) Ltd & Anor [2017] EWHC 25 (TCC) (14 July 2017)

Source: www.bailii.org

News focus: Wish you weren’t here – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2017 in costs, fees, fraud, holidays, insurance, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘Personal injury (PI) lawyers may have experienced a powerful sense of deja vu last week when the government announced a review of fees in holiday sickness claims. The same apocalyptic warnings of rampant fraud; the same incessant lobbying from a trade body. And ultimately the same solution – fixed costs – provided by ministers who would rather the whole thing just went away.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Soft sentence’ correction scheme extended to terror offences – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 17th, 2017 in attorney general, Crown Court, Ministry of Justice, news, press releases, sentencing, terrorism, victims by tracey

’19 terror-related offences will be added to Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to keep families and communities safe.’

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Ministry of Justice, 15th July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

High Court quashes assessment that child was not ‘in need’ – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 17th, 2017 in autism, children, homelessness, local government, London, news by tracey

‘The High Court has quashed an assessment by the London Borough of Lambeth after it failed to re-assess whether a child – after a diagnosis of autism – was in need of assistance.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th July 2017

Source: localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police and not council must pay for special advocates in family case, says judge – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 17th, 2017 in closed material, confidentiality, conspiracy, disclosure, family courts, judges, murder, news, police by tracey

‘The police and not a local authority must pay for the provision of special advocates in a rare example of them being required for a Family Court case, Cobb J has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th July 2017

Source: localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

LSB launches research into vulnerable consumers’ experience of legal services – Legal Services Board

Posted July 17th, 2017 in carers, legal services, Legal Services Board, mental health, news, press releases by tracey

‘The Legal Services Board has today launched research into the experiences of consumers in vulnerable circumstances when they use legal service.’

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Legal Services Board, 14th July 2017

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Boost for legal bloggers after High Court throws out libel claim against barrister – Legal Futures

Posted July 17th, 2017 in barristers, defamation, internet, news, privilege, striking out by tracey

‘The growing ranks of legal bloggers commenting on often sensitive court rulings have been given comfort after a libel claim brought against a barrister who wrote about one on his personal website was struck out.’

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Legal Futures, 17th July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Appointment of new Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 17th, 2017 in judges, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news, press releases by tracey

‘The Rt Hon Sir Ian Burnett has been appointed the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2 October 2017.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judicairy, 14th July 2017

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Moped crime: ‘Overzealous’ discipline for police who chase scooter thieves blamed for rise in robberies – The Independent

Posted July 17th, 2017 in crime, London, motorcycles, news, police by tracey

‘A former senior Metropolitan Police officer has called for stronger measures to be used against criminals who operate on mopeds, even if it results in their deaths.
David Videcette, who investigated organised crime with Scotland Yard, said the “overzealous” enforcement of current guidelines were impeding police from tackling the moped crime wave which has gripped London.’

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The Independent, 16th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Secretary announces action plan to tackle acid attacks – Home Office

Posted July 17th, 2017 in criminal justice, government departments, hazardous substances, news, press releases, sentencing, weapons by tracey

‘Victims and survivors will be at the centre of a new government strategy aimed at reducing the number and impact of acid attacks.’

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Home Office, 16th July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Neglect contributed to Liverpool prisoner’s suicide, jury finds – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2017 in accidents, death in custody, inquests, mental health, news, prisons, suicide by tracey

‘An inquest jury has found that neglect contributed to the death of a prisoner who killed himself at Liverpool prison last year.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Terminally ill man in right-to-die fight – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2017 in assisted suicide, disabled persons, news by tracey

‘The High Court is to begin hearing the legal challenge of a terminally ill man who wants the right to die. Noel Conway, who is 67 and has motor neurone disease, wants a doctor to be allowed to prescribe a lethal dose when his health deteriorates further.’

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BBC News, 17th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police and prosecutors ‘failing to protect British Jews from hate crime’, new data suggests – The Independent

Posted July 17th, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, hate crime, Judaism, news, police, prosecutions, racism, religious discrimination, statistics by tracey

‘Police and prosecutors have been accused of betraying British Jews by failing to crack down on anti-Semitic crime. New research suggests suspected hate offences targeting Jewish victims surged for the third consecutive year in 2016, reaching the worst level on record.’

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The Independent, 15th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted July 14th, 2017 in legislation by Verity

The Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The National Health Service (Quality Accounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The Capital Allowances Act 2001 (Cars Emissions) (Amendment) Order 2017

The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption and Amendment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Communication Services on Ships) (Exemption) Regulations 2017

The Justices’ Clerks and Assistants (Amendment) Rules 2017

The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2017

The Recreational Craft Regulations 2017

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 14th, 2017 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Liontrust Investment Partners LLP & Ors v Flanagan [2017] EWCA Civ 985 (13 July 2017)

Matalia v Warwickshire County Council [2017] EWCA Civ 991 (13 July 2017)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Royal Borough of Kensington And Chelsea v The Secretary of State for Communities And Local Government [2017] EWHC 1703 (Admin) (13 July 2017)

Royal Borough of Kensington And Chelsea v The Secretary of State for Communities And Local Government [2017] EWHC 1704 (Admin) (13 July 2017)

Reigate aqnd Banstead Borough Council v Pawlowski [2017] EWHC 1764 (Admin) (13 July 2017)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Sky Plc & Ors v Skykick UK Ltd & Anor [2017] EWHC 1769 (Ch) (13 July 2017)

High Court (Commercial Court)

UBS Ag, London Branch v Glas Trust Corporation Ltd & Anor [2017] EWHC 1788 (Comm) (13 July 2017)

W Nagel (a firm) v Pluczenik Diamond Company NV [2017] EWHC 1750 (Comm) (13 July 2017)

High Court (Family Division)

R (Closed Material Procedure : Special Advocates : Funding) [2017] EWHC 1793 (Fam) (13 July 2017)

Human Fertilisation And Embryology Act (Cases AD, AE, AF, AG and AH : No 2) [2017] EWHC 1782 (Fam) (13 July 2017)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Sheikh v Page & Anor [2017] EWHC 1772 (QB) (13 July 2017)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd v Merit Merrell Technology Ltd [2017] EWHC 1763 (TCC) (12 July 2017)

Source: www.bailii.org