Two in five prisons in poor condition, watchdog finds – The Guardian

‘The government is failing in its efforts to improve prison conditions, with record levels of safety breaches and “huge” backlogs in repairs, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has found. The National Audit Office said plans to “provide and maintain safe, secure and decent prisons” had not been carried out.’

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The Guardian, 7th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shamima Begum loses appeal against removal of citizenship – The Guardian

Posted February 7th, 2020 in appeals, citizenship, government departments, human rights, news, terrorism by sally

‘Shamima Begum, the woman who left Britain as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State in Syria, has lost her appeal against the Home Office’s move to revoke her citizenship and prevent her from returning to London.’

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The Guardian, 7th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Scared of heights’ injury claimant filmed on Europe’s biggest waterslide – BBC News

‘A bodybuilder who claimed an accident left him scared of heights was exposed when a video emerged of him careering down Europe’s highest waterslide.’

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BBC News, 6th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jailed banker’s wife at centre of first McMafia order loses appeal to have case dismissed – The Independent

Posted February 7th, 2020 in appeals, banking, fraud, married persons, news, proceeds of crime by sally

‘The wife of a jailed “fat cat banker” who splurged millions at Harrods has lost her appeal over the UK’s first so-called McMafia wealth order.’

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The Independent, 6th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior doctor struck off after spying on 15-year-old girl in shower – The Independent

‘One of the NHS’ most senior doctors has been struck off after spying on a 15-year-old girl as she showered.’

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The Independent, 6th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crimes unreported as public lose faith in police – BBC News

‘Victims are no longer reporting some crimes to police because so many offenders are never brought to justice. A new report said the public are losing faith in the criminal justice system and have “rumbled” that police do not have the capacity to investigate.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Burglar who sexually assaulted and murdered 89-year-old widow jailed for a minimum of 34 years – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 7th, 2020 in burglary, elderly, murder, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A burglar has been sentenced to a minimum term of 34 years in prison for the “sexual or sadistic” murder of an 89-year-old widow in her own bed.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th February 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Windrush: Call to review deportation of foreign-born offenders – BBC News

Posted February 7th, 2020 in colonies, deportation, government departments, immigration, news by sally

‘The government should consider ending the deportation of foreign-born offenders who came to the UK as children, according to a draft report into the Windrush scandal.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Windrush victims given extra time to apply for compensation but concerns over lack of legal advice remain – The Independent

‘Windrush victims will have an additional two years to apply for compensation for their losses after the Home Office bowed to pressure to extend the deadline by two years.’

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The Independent, 7th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court of Appeal Dismisses HS2 Compulsory Purchase Appeal – Francis Taylor Building

Posted February 6th, 2020 in compensation, compulsory purchase, news, railways, service by sally

‘The case concerned material detriment counter-notices under the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965. Such counter-notices can be given where an acquiring authority is proposing to acquire compulsorily part only of a landowner’s land holding and the landowner wants the authority either to take the whole of his land or to withdraw completely from the proposed acquisition. Material detriment will arise where, when compared to the property as it previously existed, the retained portion of land is less useful or less valuable in some significant degree. Generally speaking, when it receives a counter-notice, the acquiring authority has the choice whether to withdraw from the acquisition, take the whole of the land, or contest whether material detriment arises.’

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Francis Taylor Building, 30th January 2020

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk

Re A, B & C (Adoption : Notification of Fathers and Relatives) Judgment Handed down 29th January 2020 – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted February 6th, 2020 in adoption, chambers articles, human rights, news, notification, paternity by sally

‘Guidance from the Court of Appeal on how to decide whether or not to notify a putative father or a relative of the existence of the child or legal proceedings?’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 29th January 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Covert recordings: does the end justify the means? Read Martina Murphy and Jane Wheeler’s article in this month’s ELA Briefing here – 12 King’s Bench Walk

Posted February 6th, 2020 in audio recordings, employment, news, personal injuries, video recordings by sally

‘Covert recording is featuring increasingly in both employment and personal injury law – and the ramifications of recent decisions are yet to be fully played out. Two recent cases consider the issue from both sides in the workplace; Phoenix, featured covert recording by an employee and López considered covert surveillance by employers.’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 4th February 2020

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk

VAT on; VAT off: Martial Arts and the Education Exemption – 3PB

Posted February 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, education, news, sport, VAT by sally

‘In the 1984 film Karate Kid, Mr Miyagi admonished Daniel: “I say; you do. No questions”. However, with VAT, there are always questions.’

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3PB, 29th January 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update Christopher Badger considers a new report from the Committee on Climate Change, progress of the Agriculture Bill and a briefing paper from DEFRA putting plastic waste back on the agenda.’

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Six Pump Court, 28th January 2020

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

For the Love of Money: Exploring the Decision in the Saracens Salary Cap Case – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted February 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, news, remuneration, sport by sally

‘In November 2019, an Independent Panel of Premiership Rugby handed down its eagerly anticipated decision concerning the Club’s alleged breaches of the Premiership Rugby Salary Regulations (the “Regulations”), which impose salary caps on elite rugby clubs.’

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Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 29th January 2020

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

Disposals of cryptoassets, tax & the UKJT Legal Statement – Society for Computers and Law

Posted February 6th, 2020 in cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, jurisdiction, news, taxation by sally

‘Leigh Sagar looks at the mechanics and tax implications of cryptoasset disposals in the light of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce Legal Statement on cryptoassets and smart contracts.’

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Society for Computers and Law, 29th January 2020

Source: www.scl.org

Carol Sammut v The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (2019, QB) – 12 King’s Bench Walk

Posted February 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, hospitals, news, personal injuries by sally

‘In Carol Sammut v The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (2019, QB), Judge Allen, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge dismissed the Claimant’s clinical negligence claim against the Defendant NHS Trust pursuant to section 57 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 31st January 2020

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk

Jury finds serious failures at HMP Coldingley contributed to self-inflicted death of David Dunnings on IPP sentence – Garden Court Chambers

Posted February 6th, 2020 in inquests, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘The inquest into the death of David Dunnings, 35, has concluded with the jury finding he died from suicide whilst at HMP Coldingley on 8 July 2017. He was serving an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) and was significantly over tariff when he was moved to HMP Coldingley in September 2016.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 27th January 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Costs: the 2019 trends – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 6th, 2020 in costs, news, podcasts by sally

‘Costs specialists PJ Kirby QC and Robin Dunne look back at some important cases of 2019 and consider what issues will arise in the world of costs in 2020.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 29th January 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Extradited killer jailed for murdering wife and daughters – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2020 in domestic violence, extradition, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘An abusive husband who fled the country after murdering his estranged wife and their two daughters has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 6th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk