Justice by postcode: variety in magistrates’ sentences revealed – The Independent

Posted April 22nd, 2013 in magistrates, news, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by sally

“The number of criminals sent to prison by magistrates in England and Wales varies dramatically depending on which court does the sentencing, research reveals today.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lesley Kemp faces libel suit over Twitter comments – BBC News

Posted April 22nd, 2013 in defamation, fees, internet, legal representation, news by sally

“A woman who complained about an unpaid £146 invoice is facing a libel battle that could cost her more than £100,000.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK ban on political advertising may be lifted – The Independent

“Britain may be forced to lift its ban on political advertising when the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rules on its lawfulness tomorrow.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Minorities stopped disproportionally in decade after Macpherson report – The Guardian

Posted April 22nd, 2013 in equality, murder, news, police, racism, statistics, stop and search by sally

“Ethnic minority Britons were subjected to nearly one-and-a-half million more stop and searches in the 10 years after the Macpherson inquiry than if the police had treated them the same as white people, the Guardian can reveal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A history of violence: is Clare’s Law working? – The Guardian

Posted April 22nd, 2013 in criminal records, disclosure, domestic violence, murder, news, privacy by sally

“When Clare Wood was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, a scheme was set up to allow women to see details of their partner’s violent past. Six months on, Steve Boggan finds out if ‘Clare’s Law’ is working.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Osborne in legal challenge to European Commission over financial transaction tax – The Independent

Posted April 22nd, 2013 in EC law, jurisdiction, news, taxation by sally

“Chancellor George Osborne said an application had been lodged at the European Court of Justice to challenge the decision allowing 11 members of the European Union to press ahead with the plans.”

Full story

The Independent, 20th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence: how his murder changed the legal landscape – The Guardian

Posted April 22nd, 2013 in diversity, equality, murder, news, police, racism, statistics, stop and search by sally

“The Macpherson report made 70 recommendations – 67 led to specific changes in practice or law within two years of publication.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Santander mortgage customers to share million-pound compensation pot – The Guardian

Posted April 19th, 2013 in banking, compensation, documents, mortgages, news by tracey

“Up to 30,000 Santander mortgage customers are set to share millions of pounds in compensation after it emerged they may have lost out because of confusing letters sent by the bank more than four years ago.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Phone hacking: NoW publisher pays damages to Neil Hamilton – The Guardian

Posted April 19th, 2013 in damages, interception, media, news, telecommunications by tracey

“Reality TV star Jady Goody’s estate, former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine and a former aide to Tony Blair are among eight of the latest claimants to settle their cases against News of the World for phone hacking.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Girlfriend of rapist jailed after using Facebook to frame victims – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 19th, 2013 in internet, news, perverting the course of justice, sentencing, victims by tracey

“The girlfriend of a convicted rapist has been jailed after trying to clear his
name by framing two of his victims with fake Facebook profiles.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted April 19th, 2013 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Burridge v Breckland District Council & Anor [2013] EWCA Civ 228 (19 April 2013)

Merck Canada Inc & Ors v Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc [2013] EWCA Civ 326 (18 April 2013)

Wilkin -Shaw v Fuller & Anor [2013] EWCA Civ 410 (18 April 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Dowland v The Architects Registration Board [2013] EWHC 893 (Admin) (19 April 2013)

Zhang, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 891 (Admin) (18 April 2013)

Barons Pub Company Ltd, R (on the application of) v Staines Magistrates’ Court [2013] EWHC 898 (Admin) (18 April 2013)

Patel v Government of India & Anor [2013] EWHC 819 (Admin) (18 April 2013)

Ehmed, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 876 (Admin) (18 April 2013)

Creed -Miles, R (on the application of) v Tower Bridge Yacht and Boat Co Ltd [2013] EWHC 853 (Admin) (17 April 2013)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Loose v Lynn Shellfish Ltd & Ors [2013] EWHC 901 (Ch) (18 April 2013)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Kuwait Rocks Co v AMN Bulkcarriers Inc [2013] EWHC 865 (Comm) (18 April 2013)

Standard Chartered Bank v Dorchester Lng (2) Ltd Re: MT ERIN SCHULTE [2013] EWHC 808 (Comm) (18 April 2013)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Accentuate Ltd v Asigra Inc [2013] EWHC 889 (QB) (18 April 2013)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Morris Homes (West Midlands) Ltd v Keay & Anor [2013] EWHC 932 (TCC) (18 April 2013)

Regina (Jones) v First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) – WLR Daily

Regina (Jones) v First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber): [2013] UKSC 19;   [2013] WLR (D)  142

“Where a tribunal found that a person who had committed suicide had been reckless as to whether his action would also cause injury to some other person, and it had in fact done so an offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm contrary to section 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 had been committed which was a ‘crime of violence’ entitling that other person to claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. However, the question as to what the offender had actually foreseen was for the First-tier Tribunal to answer, not an appellate court, which should not readily intervene in issues best left for determination by specialist appellate tribunals by classifying them as issues of law.”

WLR Daily, 17th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Reeves (Listing Officer) v Northrop – WLR Daily

Posted April 19th, 2013 in appeals, council tax, housing, law reports, local government, ships, valuation by tracey

Reeves (Listing Officer) v Northrop: [2013] EWCA Civ 362;   [2013] WLR (D)  141

“In determining whether occupation of a houseboat was rateable the Valuation Tribunal had fallen into error by failing to treat duration of occupation as an important factor in its assessment.”

WLR Daily, 17th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina v Morris (Daryl) – WLR Daily

Posted April 19th, 2013 in appeals, crime, crime prevention, dangerous driving, defence, law reports by tracey

Regina v Morris (Daryl): [2013] WLR (D)  140

“Where a defendant raised the defence of using reasonable force in the prevention of crime, under section 3(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1967, it would be necessary for the jury to focus first on what the defendant honestly believed were the facts before using their conclusions as to that belief to go on to decide whether the defendant had reasonable grounds for suspecting an offence was being committed and whether the force he used to prevent that crime had been reasonable.”

WLR Daily, 16th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 19th, 2013 in legislation by tracey

The Syria (European Union Financial Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted April 19th, 2013 in parliamentary papers by tracey

Fee remissions for the courts and tribunals, Cm 8608 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Simplified court fee waivers to save taxpayers £7m – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 19th, 2013 in consultations, courts, fees, press releases, tribunals by tracey

“A consultation published today sets out proposals for fee remissions (waivers) for courts and tribunals which are better targeted, fairer for the taxpayer and easy for users to understand.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 18th April 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Improving the code of practice for victims of crime – Ministry of Justice

“This consultation sets out the government’s plans to reform the victims’ code to give victims clearer entitlements from criminal justice agencies and to better tailor service to individual need. It is aimed at all criminal justice agencies, victims of crime and businesses.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 18th April 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Family Justice Modernisation Programme – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted April 19th, 2013 in courts, family courts, press releases by tracey

“The President of the Family Division has issued this update on the process of reform.”

Full press release

Judiciary of England and Wales, 15th April 2013

Sorce: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Civil Justice Council (CJC) group reports on defamation costs – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted April 19th, 2013 in Civil Justice Council, costs, defamation, press releases, reports by tracey

“A Civil Justice Council (CJC) Working Group today publishes its report on the case and options for costs protection in defamation and privacy proceedings.”

Full press release

Judiciary of England and Wales, 18th April 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk