Which hat am I wearing? A tale of two jurisdictions – St Ives Chambers

‘The Court of Appeal Criminal Division and the Divisional Court have confirmed the circumstances in which the Crown, a Defendant, or a third party can challenge the making, variation, or failure to make a reporting restriction for a young person in the criminal justice system.’

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St Ives Chambers, February 2021

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Tough new rules aim to make electrical goods last longer – The Guardian

‘Tougher rules are being introduced to make appliances such as fridges, washing machines and TVs cheaper to run and last longer, the government has said.’

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The Guardian, 10th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meet the new fraud, same as the old fraud – Carmelite Chambers

Posted March 10th, 2021 in budgets, chambers articles, fraud, loans, news, taxation by sally

‘Mark Watson considers the latest Budget and outlines concerns about the scope for abuse and the response from the Government.’

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Carmelite Chambers, 5th March 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

Daniella Lock: The Shamima Begum Case: Difficulties with ‘democratic accountability’ as a justification for judicial deference in the national security context – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘No doubt much will be written on the Supreme Court’s Shamima Begum ruling handed down on 26 February. The ruling has a number of notable features. In particular, a high level of deference was afforded to the executive which seems to contrast with the Supreme Court’s approach in high profile constitutional cases of recent years (such as, for example, in the Miller cases). A key feature of this deference is that it is offered in a national security context, where judicial deference has often played a role. This deference is partly justified by the Court on the grounds that Ministers are democratically accountable for national security decisions. However, as this post argues, the extent to which democratic accountability is a legitimate ground for judicial deference to national security decisions is questionable in light of current UK practice. This post raises three difficulties with relying on democratic accountability as a ground for deference in the UK national security context.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 9th March 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

For Whom the Bell Tolls: “Contract” in the Gig Economy – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘Are Uber drivers ‘limb (b) workers’ and so entitled to fundamental statutory rights such as the minimum wage and working time protections? In a decision of fundamental significance, six Justices of the United Kingdom Supreme Court (UKSC) upheld the original Employment Tribunal (ET) decision that the drivers were ‘limb (b) workers. In reaching this conclusion, the UKSC endorsed the ‘purposive’ approach that had been set down in the earlier case of Autoclenz v Belcher by Lord Clarke.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 7th March 2021

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Guidance on sex question in UK census must be changed, high court rules – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2021 in birth certificates, census, gender, judicial review, news by sally

‘Guidance on the sex question in the UK census must be changed before the official day to complete it on 21 March, a high court judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government to align online and paper court fees – Litigation Futures

Posted March 10th, 2021 in consultations, courts, fees, internet, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is to press ahead with increasing online court fees in money and possession claims to bring them into line with paper claims in the face of opposition from the legal and credit sectors.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Nazir Ahmed trial collapses due to ‘disgraceful’ late disclosure of evidence – The Guardian

‘The trial of a former Labour peer accused of sexually abusing younger children has collapsed due a “disgraceful” late disclosure of evidence by the prosecution, a judge has said.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Number of judicial review challenges lodged against councils continued downward trend in 2020: Ministry of Justice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 10th, 2021 in judicial review, local government, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of judicial review applications received by local authorities in 2020 was down slightly (2.8%) on the previous 12 months, Ministry of Justice data has revealed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tougher sentences on menu in ‘restore confidence’ bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 10th, 2021 in bills, criminal justice, investigatory powers, news, police, sentencing by sally

‘Legislation aimed at ‘restoring confidence in the criminal justice system’ is to be unveiled in parliament today. According to a government statement, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will equip the police with the powers and tools they need to protect themselves and the public, while overhauling sentencing laws to keep serious sexual and violent offenders behind bars for longer, and placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation to better help offenders to turn their lives around.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Partners and Confiscation – Carmelite Chambers

‘Richard Furlong and Alexandra Scott provide a brief guide to defending wives and partners in confiscation proceedings.’

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Carmelite Chambers, 10th March 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

Shamima Begum and The Humpty Dumpty Supreme Court – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘On 26 February 2021, the Supreme Court refused permission for Shamima Begum to return to the UK. The Supreme Court judgment in the high-profile case of the British woman who left the UK as a 15-year-old girl to travel to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State, however, resulted in the Court effectively washing its hands of the case staying it until a full hearing can occur in future—a remote possibility. In the judgment, Lord Reed held the Court of Appeal was in error by substituting its own view of the balance to be struck between national security and the applicant’s rights. In so doing, the Court of Appeal did not give the Secretary of State’s assessment due respect. In this brief post, I wish to focus on a principal aspect of the Supreme Court’s judgment: the concept of deference.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 8th March 2021

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Cardiff doctor sentenced for £68,000 fraud on NHS – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2021 in doctors, fraud, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A doctor has been given a suspended sentence after he admitted defrauding the NHS out of nearly £68,000.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Buckland raises judicial retirement age to 75 – Litigation Futures

Posted March 10th, 2021 in consultations, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, retirement, statistics by sally

‘The mandatory retirement age (MRA) for judges is to be raised from 70 to 75 to deal with shortfalls in judicial recruitment, the government has decided.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Stalking protection orders: Police ‘not using’ new powers to protect victims – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2021 in enforcement, harassment, news, police, stalking, statistics, victims by sally

‘New powers to protect stalking victims are not being used by police, a BBC Wales investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Interim report reveals 400 submissions over UK gymnastics abuse – The Guardian

‘A review into abuse in British gymnastics has received submissions from nearly 400 people, with 39 cases considered so serious they have been passed to local authorities because of child safeguarding reasons or concerns of ongoing criminal conduct.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI5 policy allowing agents to commit crimes was legal, say judges – The Guardian

‘MI5’s partially secret policy of allowing agents to participate in serious crimes in pursuit of intelligence was legal, three court of appeal judges have concluded.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Cab Rank Rule – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In his blog for the Human Rights Hub, Edwin Cameron criticised Ms Dinah Rose QC, the President of Magdalen, for accepting the brief, in the Privy Council, to defend the Cayman Islands government’s law against same-sex marriage. Having long been one of my few judicial heroes, it is not easy for me to disagree with Edwin. However, on this point he is, with the greatest of respect, wrong.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 7th March 2021

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Ellie’s Law: Parents of murdered girl win sentencing fight – BBC News

‘A mother who fought to change the law around murder says her daughter would be “very proud”.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Quarter of women and girls have been abused by a partner, says WHO – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2021 in children, domestic violence, news, sexual offences, statistics, women, young persons by sally

‘Largest such study finds domestic violence experienced by one-in-four teenage girls with worst levels faced by women in their 30s.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com