Private firms set to take over core probation services – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2012 in news, probation by sally

“After all the furore over the proposed radical extension of the role of the private sector in policing, what should we make of G4S and Serco advertising to recruit probation officers?”

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The Guardian, 27th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS prosecution errors causing distress – The Independent

Posted March 27th, 2012 in Crown Prosecution Service, mistake, news, quality assurance by sally

“Victims and witnesses are suffering as prosecutors make mistakes in more than one in 15 cases and bosses fail to spot the errors, inspectors said today.”

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The Independent, 27th March 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

No-fault divorces ‘should be standard’ – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2012 in divorce, judges, news by sally

“‘No fault’ divorces should become the standard means for couples to separate rather than proving that one side is responsible for the breakdown, according to the most senior family law judge in England and Wales.”

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The Guardian, 27th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

FiTs uncertainty remains for solar industry as Government refused leave to appeal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 27th, 2012 in appeals, energy, news by sally

“The Government has been denied the opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court in over its ‘legally flawed’ decision to reduce subsidies to businesses and homes which use solar panels to generate renewable energy.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th March 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Royal Mail can set higher stamp prices – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2012 in news, postal service by sally

“Royal Mail is to get the power to increase the price of first class stamps while the cost of second class stamps will also rise to 55p to ‘safeguard’ universal postal service, Ofcom, the regulator, announced.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fabrice Muamba: Racist Twitter user jailed for 56 days – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2012 in inciting racial hatred, internet, news, sentencing by sally

“A student who admitted posting racially offensive comments on Twitter about footballer Fabrice Muamba has been jailed for 56 days.”

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BBC News, 27th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 27th, 2012 in news by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

McGee, R v [2012] EWCA Crim 613 (09 March 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench)

ZH v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [2012] EWHC 604 (QB) (14 March 2012)

Cairns v Modi [2012] EWHC 756 (QB) (26 March 2012)

Clothing Management Technology Ltd v Beazley Solutions Ltd & Anor [2012] EWHC 727 (QB) (26 March 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Golden Eye (International) Ltd & Anor v Telefonica UK Ltd [2012] EWHC 723 (Ch) (26 March 2012)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Phaestos Ltd & Anor v Ho (Costs) [2012] EWHC 763 (TCC) (22 March 2012)

High Court (Commercial Court)

PT Thiess Contractors Indonesia v PT Kaltim Prima Coal [2012] EWHC 690 (Comm) (26 March 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Annual Resolution Conference – Speech by Sir Nicholas Wall

Posted March 27th, 2012 in children, divorce, domestic violence, families, financial provision, speeches by sally

Annual Resolution Conference (PDF)

Speech by Sir Nicholas Wall, President of the Family Division

Annual Resolution Conference, 24th March 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Taxi drivers eligible for enhanced criminal records check – Home Office

Posted March 27th, 2012 in criminal records, licensing, news, vetting by sally

“From today, all taxi licensing authorities can request enhanced criminal record checks before issuing licences to taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.”

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Home Office, 26th March 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

YJB sets out plans for youth custody – Youth Justice Board

Posted March 27th, 2012 in detention, news, young offenders, Youth Justice Board by sally

“Plans setting out how custody for children and young people will be developed over the next three years have today [26 March] been published by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. (YJB)”

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Youth Justice Board, 26th March 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

The Duty to Co-Operate and other Conundrums – No. 5 Chambers

Posted March 27th, 2012 in environmental protection, news, planning by sally

“In this paper we propose to deal with a miscellany of current conundrums associated with important changes in the law in relation to planning and environmental legislation. The issues to be addressed are, firstly, the vexed question of the proper approach to the duty to co-operate in the context of local development documents that are already progressing through the system. The paper also addresses recent developments and current initiatives in relation to the funding of environmental litigation so as to address the question of compliance with the Aarhus Convention and the legislative follow-up to Jackson LJ’s proposals in respect of costs. Finally, there is discussion in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 and the approach taken in the Court of Appeal recently.”

Full story (PDF)

No. 5 Chambers, 19th March 2012

Source: www.no5.com

Welsh government consultation on legal system future – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2012 in constitutional reform, consultations, news, Wales by sally

“A public debate on the future of the legal system in Wales has been started by the Welsh government.”

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BBC News, 27th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Employers warned against demanding Facebook details from staff – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2012 in data protection, employment, news, privacy by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office has warned employers in the UK that it would have ‘very serious concerns’ if they were to ask for Facebook login and password details from existing or would-be employees, following reports of such demands in the US.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘No good arguments against no fault divorce’, top judge says – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2012 in divorce, judges, news by sally

“Britain’s leading family law judge, Sir Nicholas Wall, has renewed calls for ‘no fault divorce’, which could see couples granted quick legal separation without one party accepting the blame.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Is a school responsible for assault on foreign expedition? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 27th, 2012 in assault, duty of care, news, rape, school children, vicarious liability by sally

“In 2005 a group of schoolgirls were taken on a school trip to Belize. While working on a resort, three girls, aged between 15 and 17, were violently raped by the manager of the site.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Twitter racism: how the law is taking on the ‘Twacists’ – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2012 in inciting racial hatred, internet, news, racism, sentencing by sally

“Recent cases have highlighted disturbing instances of racial abuse on Twitter, and some footballers and celebrities are leaving the site after becoming targets.”

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The Guardian, 27th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

National parks to be protected as planning reforms are amended – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2012 in areas of outstanding natural beauty, news, parks, planning by sally

“The government is set to make important concessions to opponents of its planning reforms, including specific protections for national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy law not needed, says committee of MP and peers – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2012 in injunctions, news, privacy, reports, select committees by sally

“Parliament should not introduce a new privacy law, even in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World, a report says.”

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BBC News, 27th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fake barrister jailed for 18 months – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2012 in impersonating a barrister, news, sentencing by sally

“A man with a ‘grandiose sense of self-importance’ who donned a wig and robe to pose as a barrister and represent a friend in a crown court case has been jailed for 18 months.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

RMT legal threat to Boris Johnson over election poster – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2012 in advertising, defamation, elections, London, news, trade unions by sally

“The RMT union is threatening Boris Johnson with legal action over a poster it claims portrays leader Bob Crow as ‘corrupt, venal and scandalous’.”

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BBC News, 26th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk