Thousands of abusive electronic message cases reach court – BBC News

“More than 1,700 cases involving abusive messages sent online or via text message reached English and Welsh courts in 2012, the BBC has learned after a Freedom of Information request.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Campaigners vow to fight on after challenge to ‘bedroom tax’ is thrown out by High Court – The Independent

“Campaigners have vowed to fight on after a legal attempt to block the Government’s so-called ‘bedroom tax’ was thrown out by the High Court.”

Full story

The Independent, 30th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Teenager becomes youngest person to be called to the Bar – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 31st, 2013 in barristers, legal education, news, young persons by sally

“A teenager has become the youngest person to qualify as a barrister in the 600 year history of the profession – so she can work in the Bahamas.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BBC welfare reform show breached impartiality guidelines – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2013 in BBC, benefits, bias, media, news, social security, statistics by sally

“A BBC documentary on the welfare state breached impartiality and accuracy guidelines, the BBC Trust has found.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman jailed for child cruelty overturns deportation bid – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 31st, 2013 in appeals, child cruelty, deportation, EC law, news, tribunals by sally

“A German woman who was jailed for locking up her three children in squalid conditions has won a legal challenge against the Home Office’s bid to deport her, The Telegraph can disclose.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Devon and Cornwall custody death rates highest, says IPCC – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2013 in complaints, death in custody, news, police, statistics by sally

“More people died in or following custody with Devon and Cornwall police than any other force in the country, new figures have revealed.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape victims let down by CPS, says watchdog – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 31st, 2013 in disclosure, human rights, medical records, news, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

“Rape victims’ human rights are being infringed by the Crown Prosecution Service handing defence lawyers too much information about their injuries and treatment, a watchdog has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Men guilty of Staffordshire nail bombing plot – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2013 in conspiracy, explosives, news, sentencing, threatening behaviour by sally

“Four men have been found guilty of causing a series of nail bomb explosions at houses in Staffordshire.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

OFT forces payday lenders out of market – The Guardian

“Almost a third of the payday lenders ordered to clean up their practices have opted to withdraw from the industry, the Office of Fair Trading has revealed, as the deadline for firms to respond passed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Right-to-die man awaits court ruling – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2013 in appeals, assisted suicide, human rights, medical ethics, necessity, news by sally

“The Court of Appeal is due to rule on the case of a paralysed man who wants to be helped to die.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EVENT: UCL – The Implied Term of Honesty and Fair dealing

Posted July 30th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“The subject concerns the introduction of implied obligations with respect to the performance of contracts, particularly with respect to types of contracts that are sometimes described as relational contracts (such as agency, distributorship, and employment). In particular I plan to consider the nature of these implied obligations and their relation to the idea of good faith, whether these obligations are terms implied in fact or in law, which in turn raises questions about the category of relational contracts itself.”

Date: Thursday 10th October 2013, 6.00-7.oopm

Location: UCL Faculty of Laws, Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens, London WC1H 0EG

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: Law Society – Financial Transaction Tax Debate

Posted July 30th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“When Financial Transaction Tax was initially proposed by James Tobin in the early 1970s it seemed unlikely that the plans would materialise. However, current proposals which would see a 0.1% levy on trading shares and bonds and a 0.01% tax on derivatives have been welcomed by 11 countries in the European Union.

The debate will look at the implications and likelihood of imposing Financial Transaction Tax in the UK.

This event is open to both members of the Law Society and the public. This debate is recommended for anyone interested in the debate topic, including:
– Law Society members
– Corporate Counsel
– Academics”

CPD hours: 1.5

Date: Thursday 12th September 2013, 6.30-8.45pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: IALS – Electronic Evidence in Fraud Cases

Posted July 30th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Christopher Docksey, Director of the Office of theEuropean Data Protection Supervisor – Update and current impications of the EU data legislative reforms

Dr Ian Walden, Professor of Information and Communications Law, Head, Institute of Computer and Communications Law – The Challenges of Cloud-derived Evidence

Stephen Mason, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies – Electronic banking and how courts approach the burden of proof

Chair: Dr Simone White, Legal officer on OLAF, European Commission’s Anti-Fraud Office, Associate Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.”

Date: Tuesday 5th November 2013, 2.00-5.30pm

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

EVENT: IALS – Fighting Economic Crime in the Modern World: The role of the private sector – partners and problems

Posted July 30th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“This year the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime will celebrate its thirty-first year. It is a testament to the Symposium’s unique blend of relevance, practicality and topicality that over the years it has enjoyed the support of so many institutions and experts around the world. It also attests to the deep concern of governments and financial and other institutions as to the extent of the risks to stability and security thrown up by economic crime and in particular organised crime. The annual Cambridge Symposium is a truly unique event which over the years has made an unrivalled contribution to understanding the real issues involved in preventing and controlling economically motivated serious crime. As a respected and trusted international forum and network, it has also made an impressive and meaningful contribution to fostering international co-operation and promoting mutual understanding and goodwill.”

Date: 1st – 8th September 2013

Location: Jesus College, University of Cambridge

Charge: see website for details

More information can be found here.

EVENT: Birkbeck – Hate Crime Consultation Discussion Forum

Posted July 30th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“The Law Commission has recently opened a public consultation on whether to expand existing hate crime laws in England and Wales. The proposals would extend laws that currently cover hate based on race and religion to also include disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

In response to the consultation, Birkbeck School of Law and the Birkbeck Gender & Sexuality Group (BiGS) are hosting a discussion forum to consider the following questions:

– How might we respond to the Law Commission’s proposals?
– Is harsher sentencing an appropriate response to hate-motivated violence and hatred-inciting speech?– Is the consultation’s focus on sentencing too narrow? What issues are missing?
– What strategies should be prioritised in preventing, addressing and responding to hate-motivated violence?”

Date: Thursday 8th August 2013, 3.00-5.30pm

Location: Room G15, Malet St Building, Birkbeck, University of London

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 30th, 2013 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

L1 v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWCA Civ 906 (29 July 2013)

The United Road Transport Union, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Transport [2013] EWCA Civ 962 (29 July 2013)

Francis v Brent Housing Partnership Ltd & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 912 (29 July 2013)

Smith v Bottomley & Anor [2013] EWCA Civ 953 (29 July 2013)

K v London Borough of Brent & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 926 (29 July 2013)

The Financial Conduct Authority v Hobbs [2013] EWCA Civ 918 (29 July 2013)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Thomas Cook Tour Operations Ltd & Anor v Louis Hotels S.A [2013] EWHC 2139 (QB) (29 July 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Beech v Timney & Anor [2013] EWHC 2226 (Admin) (29 July 2013)

Irving & Anor v Darbyshire & Ors [2013] EWHC 2301 (Admin) (29 July 2013)

HM Attorney General v Davey [2013] EWHC 2317 (Admin) (29 July 2013)

High Court (Family Division)

Surrey County Council v A-H (Children) & Ors [2013] EWHC 2190 (Fam) (22 July 2013)

K (A Child: Wardship: Publicity) [2013] EWHC B11 (Fam) (25 July 2013)

Surrey County Council v A-H (Children) & Ors [2013] EWHC 2299 (Fam) (26 July 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

John Stanton: The General Power of Competence and Reshaping Local Public Service Provision – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted July 30th, 2013 in budgets, government departments, local government, news by sally

“I wrote back in March about the way in which, despite efforts to decentralise autonomy to the local level and to inspire and empower citizens to get involved in local politics, Central Government seems reluctant to ‘let go’ and to give local authorities a free rein in relation to the exercise of local powers. New neighbourhood planning measures provided suitable example.”

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Group, 27th July 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Legal Aid cheats to have cars seized to pay costs – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 30th, 2013 in assets recovery, legal aid, news, proceeds of crime by sally

“From today criminals who deliberately cheat the system and leave taxpayers to foot their legal aid bill, despite being able to pay, face having their cars seized.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 30th July 2013

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

Fenty and others v Arcadia Group Brands Ltd (trading as Topshop) and another – WLR Daily

Fenty and others v Arcadia Group Brands Ltd (trading as Topshop) and another [2013] EWHC 1945 (Ch); [2013] WLR (D) 310

“Evidence in a trade mark and passing off case of the factual circumstances of a trade by a person in that trade, even when they deployed their experience in that trade to bolster their evidence, was not necessarily expert evidence within the meaning of CPR Pt 35.”

WLR Daily, 5th July 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina (Modaresi) v Secretary of State for Health and others – WLR Daily

Regina (Modaresi) v Secretary of State for Health and others [2013] UKSC 53; [2013] WLR (D) 309

“The Secretary of State for Health had not acted unlawfully in refusing to exercise his statutory discretion to refer the case of a detained patient to a mental health review tribunal for review in circumstances where the patient had a right to make an application to the tribunal herself.”

WLR Daily, 24th July 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk