More secret trials? No thanks – UK Human Rights Blog

“A child learns early that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. Thankfully that principle does not apply to Government consultations and this is aptly demonstrated by the responses to the consultation into whether ‘closed material’ (secret evidence) procedures should be extended to civil trials.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

PCC chief tells Leveson newspapers should be fined for breaching code – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2012 in complaints, fines, inquiries, media, news, penalties by sally

“Newspapers should be fined if they are found to be in ‘systemic’ breach of the standards set out in the industry’s code of practice, the director of the Press Complaints Commission has conceded at the Leveson inquiry.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police raid on whistleblower’s home was ‘total abuse of power’ – The Independent

Posted January 31st, 2012 in data protection, inquiries, news, police, whistleblowers by sally

“The Information Commissioner asked police to raid the home of a whistleblower days before he was due to give damaging evidence about alleged failings by the watchdog to Lord Justice Leveson’s public inquiry into media standards.”

Full story

The Independent, 31st January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Deaths in police custody figures ‘understated’ – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2012 in complaints, death in custody, news, restraint, statistics by sally

“Official figures understate the number of people who die in custody after being restrained by police, a BBC investigation has found.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Libyan dissidents sue MI6 officer over abduction and torture claims – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2012 in intelligence services, misfeasance in public office, news, rendition, torture by sally

“Two prominent Libyan dissidents are suing a former senior MI6 officer in a move which could expose the role of ministers in the men’s abduction to Tripoli, where they say they were tortured by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s secret police.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence killers to launch appeal – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2012 in appeals, evidence, murder, news, video recordings by sally

“David Norris and Gary Dobson are to appeal against their convictions for the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence in south-east London in 1993.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Guidelines for drugs offences: an overview – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 30th, 2012 in drug offences, drug trafficking, news, sentencing by sally

“Last week, the Sentencing Council issued new definitive guidelines on drug offences that signify a more pragmatic and reasonable approach towards drug sentencing.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th January 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

London riot sentences ‘absolutely right’ – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in defences, news, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“One of the country’s leading prosecutors has defended the stiff sentences handed out to hundreds of rioters in London last summer and derided the excuses given by some of them in court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Motorists to be hit with £100 speeding fines to support victims – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 30th, 2012 in fines, news, road traffic offences, victims by sally

“Motorists face a huge hike in speeding fines to as much as £100 to help fill a funding gap for victims of crime, Kenneth Clarke has disclosed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dangerous, vindictive and unnecessary – The Guardian

“Ken Clarke can already refuse victims compensation for violent crimes if they are of bad character. Now he wants to ban anyone with an unspent conviction from applying.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Compensation scheme to be overhauled – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2012 in compensation, criminal injuries compensation, criminal records, news, victims by sally

“Victims who suffer sprained ankles, broken toes or bruised ribs would no longer be entitled to compensation under Government plans, Kenneth Clarke said today.”

Full story

The Independent, 30th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Leveson inquiry: PCC ‘not a regulator’ – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in complaints, interception, media, news, privacy by sally

“Former director says body is merely a complaints handler after it is criticised for its failure to investigate phone hacking.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 30th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

PD, R. v [2012] EWCA Crim 19 (26 January 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench)

QBE Management Services (UK) Ltd v Dymoke & Ors [2012] EWHC 80 (QB) (27 January 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Concept Elite Inc v (Thames Enterprises Ltd & Ors [2012] EWHC 94 (Ch) (27 January 2012)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

ACD (Landscape Architects) Ltd v Overall & Anor [2012] EWHC 100 (TCC) (27 January 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Barrister who Tweeted insults struck off – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 30th, 2012 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by sally

“Barrister David Harris, who used Twitter to call opposing lawyers ‘slimebags’ and announced he wanted to ‘let the whoring and drinking’ begin after case had finished, has been struck off.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted January 30th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

A new approach to financial regulation: securing stability, protecting consumers, Cm 8268 (PDF)

Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, Cm 8281 (PDF)

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador concerning Air Services, Cm 8280 (PDF)

Bilateral Letter of Implementation between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Peru concerning the Repayment of Certain Debt Obligations of the Government of the Republic of Peru, Cm 8279 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 30th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Employment Tribunals (Increase of Maximum Deposit) Order 2012

The Solicitors’ (Non-Contentious Business) Remuneration (Amendment) Order 2012

The Landfill Allowances Scheme (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Advisory Panel to the Welsh Language Commissioner (Appointment) Regulations 2012

The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No.2) Order 2012

The Assembly Learning Grants and Loans (Higher Education) (Wales) (No.2) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Kücük v Land Nordrhein-Westfalen – WLR Daily

Posted January 30th, 2012 in contract of employment, EC law, fixed-term contracts, law reports by sally

Kücük v Land Nordrhein-Westfalen Case C-586/10; [2012] WLR (D) 11

“Clause 5(1)(a) of the framework agreement on fixed-term work, in the Annex to Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP, meant that a temporary need for replacement staff, provided for by national legislation could, in principle, constitute an objective reason under that clause for the renewal of successive fixed-term contracts. The mere fact that an employer had to employ temporary replacements on a recurring, or even permanent, basis and that those replacements might also be covered by the hiring of employees under employment contracts of indefinite duration did not mean that there was no objective reason under clause 5(1)(a) or that there was abuse within the meaning of that clause.”

WLR Daily, 26th January 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina v D (P) – WLR Daily

Posted January 30th, 2012 in domestic violence, good character, jury directions, law reports, rape by sally

Regina v D (P) [2012] EWCA Crim 19; [2012] WLR (D) 10

“The fact that the effect of a good character direction might be undermined by the facts of a particular case provided no justification for a judge to decline to give any such direction.”

WLR Daily, 26th January 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

University’s back up copy of email should be disclosed, rules Tribunal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 30th, 2012 in electronic mail, freedom of information, news by sally

“The Information Commissioner should have ruled that a university was likely to be storing a copy of a deleted email it had refused a request to disclose, an Information Rights Tribunal has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 30th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Lawyers in right-to-die case can act without fear of prosecution – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in assisted suicide, judicial review, legal profession, news by sally

“Lawyers for a stroke victim who wants help to end his life can continue to act on his behalf without fear of prosecution or disciplinary action following a high court ruling.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk