Localism Act clarifies rules on predetermination – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 19th, 2012 in bias, legislation, local government, news, planning by sally

“The fact that a member of a local planning authority’s planning committee has campaigned against a proposed development within the authority’s administrative area will not be taken as proof that they are not open minded, according to the clarified rules on predetermination in the Localism Act.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Border agency was a law unto itself, MPs conclude – The Independent

Posted January 19th, 2012 in immigration, inquiries, news by sally

“Passport checks have been relaxed too often in recent years because of ‘highly troubling’ mistakes by executives at the UK Border Agency, MPs warned.”

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The Independent, 19th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior judge attacks UK border system after Lithuanian sex offender was able to enter the country – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in dangerous offenders, deportation, immigration, news, sexual offences by sally

“A senior judge has railed at the UK border system asking ‘do we let anyone in?’ after a dangerous Lithuanian sex offender was able to enter the country and then rape a woman.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Tie-break’ system could bring more diversity among judges – Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in diversity, judiciary, news by sally

“Progress in appointing women and members of ethnic minorities as judges has been far too slow and a ‘tie-break’ procedure favouring such candidates should be adopted, the justice secretary has told the House of Lords.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Phone hacking cases to be settled – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“Several phone hacking victims suing News International are expected to have their claims settled today in a series of payouts which could cost the company millions of pounds.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bark but no bite: Dangerous Dogs Act in spotlight as attacks rise – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in dogs, legislation, news by sally

“Ministers urged to tackle irresponsible owners through compulsory microchipping and the return of the dog licence.”

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The Guardian, 18th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS trusts ordered to remove ‘no win, no fee’ adverts – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in advertising, hospitals, news, personal injuries, solicitors by sally

“Hospitals are being instructed to remove advertisements for personal injury lawyers featured in NHS leaflets issued to patients, it has emerged.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Too lenient’ paedophile sentences to be reviewed – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2012 in appeals, attorney general, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“Three people jailed for their part in a paedophile ring could have their sentences reviewed because they may have been ‘unduly lenient’.”

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BBC News, 18th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Everything’s free in America (copyrighted material not included) – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 19th, 2012 in copyright, extradition, human rights, news by sally

“It seems appropriate, on the day when Wikipedia shut down for 24 hours to protest against US anti-piracy legislation, to talk about piracy (in the copyright sense) and what role human rights law has to play in the perpetual battle against it.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Chancery Lane warns against move to limit jury trial – Law Sociey’s Gazette

Posted January 18th, 2012 in budgets, Crown Court, juries, jurisdiction, news, trials by sally

“The Law Society president has defended the right to jury trial following reports that the government is considering removing some offences from the jurisdiction of the Crown court.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 18th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Clancy, R. v [2012] EWCA Crim 8 (18 January 2012)

Edwards (Formerly Steadman) v R [2012] EWCA Crim 5 (18 January 2012)

Randhawa & Ors v R [2012] EWCA Crim 1 (18 January 2012)

Hafiz & Orsl v R [2012] EWCA Crim 4 (18 January 2012)

Randhawa v R [2012] EWCA Crim 3 (18 January 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Horler v Rubin & Ors [2012] EWCA Civ 4 (18 January 2012)

North Shore Ventures Ltd v Anstead Holdings Inc [2012] EWCA Civ 11 (18 January 2012)

Muse & Ors v Entry Clearance Officer [2012] EWCA Civ 10 (18 January 2012)

Taylor v Lambert & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 3 (18 January 2012)

TM, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 9 (18 January 2012)

Howard v Howard-Lawson BT [2012] EWCA Civ 6 (18 January 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Rahman & Ors v HSBC Bank Plc & Ors [2012] EWHC 11 (Ch) (17 January 2012)

Electrical Waste Recycling Group Ltd & Anor v Philips Electronics UK Ltd & Ors [2012] EWHC 38 (Ch) (18 January 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Bennett v Stephens & Anor [2012] EWHC 1 (QB) (18 January 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

New rules enable schools to dismiss incompetent teachers: the legal issues – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 18th, 2012 in dismissal, employment, news, teachers, tribunals by sally

“According to last weeks’ press coverage, schools are to be given new powers to weed out incompetent teachers and enforce ‘rigorous’ standards to ensure performance is maintained. However, behind the headlines these proposals may be less far reaching in practice than they at first appear.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 18th January 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

ACS:Law solicitor at centre of internet piracy row suspended – The Guardian

“The London-based lawyer at the centre of a long-running row over internet piracy has been suspended for two years and ordered to pay £76,000 in costs.”

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The Guardian, 18th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

City of London wins court bid to evict Occupy LSX protestors – The Lawyer

Posted January 18th, 2012 in demonstrations, injunctions, news, roads by sally

“The City of London Corporation (COLC) has won its High Court bid to evict protestors from their camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral after Mr Justice Lindblom granted orders for possession and injunctions against protestors in December.”

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The Lawyer, 18th January 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Veterinary tribunal did not show bias – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 18th, 2012 in bias, news, professional conduct, tribunals, veterinary surgeons by sally

“The disciplinary procedures of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons did not give rise to any appearance of bias so as to breach a practitioner’s right to a fair trial under Article 6.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK rendition and torture collusion inquiry scrapped – BBC News

Posted January 18th, 2012 in detention, inquiries, intelligence services, news, police, rendition, terrorism, torture by sally

“A controversial inquiry into allegations of wrongdoing by the UK’s security services is being scrapped.”

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BBC News, 18th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted January 18th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Government response to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s Report: Localisation issues in Welfare Reform, Cm 8272 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Recent Developments in RTA damages – Zenith Chambers

Posted January 18th, 2012 in accidents, contracts, insurance, news, road traffic by sally

“The latest development in the credit hire saga, this decision follows the attempts by defendant insurers to apply the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work Regulations 2008 (“the 2008 Regulations”). In Chen Wei v Cambridge Power & Light Ltd the defendant successfully used the claimant’s breach of the 2008 Regulations to avoid payment of any hire charges. In this case the claimant sought to avoid the same conclusion by having the damages paid under a policy of insurance which was in place and pursuing the claim as a subrogated claim by the insurers.”

Full story (PDF)

Zenith Chambers, 17th January 2012

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 18th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Clinton, R. v [2012] EWCA Crim 2 (17 January 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Royal Bank of Scotland v Revenue And Customs [2012] EWHC 9 (Ch) (17 January 2012)

Armstrong DLW GmbH v Winnington Networks Ltd [2012] EWHC 10 (Ch) (11 January 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Thomas Brown Estates Ltd v Hunters Partners Ltd [2012] EWHC 30 (QB) (17 January 2012)

Legal Services Commission v Loomba [2012] EWHC 29 (QB) (17 January 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Pimlott v Varcity Accommodation Ltd [2012] EWHC 19 (Admin) (17 January 2012)

Jethwa & Ors v the Government of the United States of America [2012] EWHC 31 (Admin) (17 January 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 18th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Local Policing Bodies (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2012

The Elected Local Policing Bodies (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2012

The Welfare Reform Act 2009 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2012

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Abingdon Air and Country Show) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk