Mark Bridger prison attack: Inmate’s life sentence doubled for slashing April Jones killer in attempt to make him reveal where her body is hidden – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in news, prisons, sentencing, wounding by sally

“A prisoner has had his life sentence doubled after he slashed child killer Mark Bridger from temple to chin, severing an artery, in an attempt to get him to reveal where April Jones’s body was hidden.”

Full story

The Independent, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Benefit cap faces High Court challenge – BBC News

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in benefits, illegality, judicial review, news, social services by sally

“Three families are challenging the government in court in a bid to prove its benefits cap is unlawful.”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Terror suspect in new human rights bid to Strasbourg – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in appeals, control orders, EC law, human rights, news, terrorism by sally

“European human rights judges have told ministers to justify the use of a ‘control order’ against a suspect MI5 believe to be linked with a Libyan terrorist group, in a move which raises new questions about Strasbourg’s influence over British justice.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The unsung heroes who share court victims’ burden of grief and trauma – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in charities, courts, news, victims by sally

“A team of volunteers supports those exposed to some of the Old Bailey’s most harrowing cases.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Payday lenders face new curbs – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in consumer credit, financial regulation, news by sally

“The City regulator is expected to announce a crackdown on advertising by payday lenders and the way the firms collect and extend loans when it announces new rules for the sector on Thursday morning.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Psychiatric patient released from prison stabbed schoolgirl to death on bus – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in diminished responsibility, homicide, mental health, news by sally

“A paranoid schizophrenic stabbed a schoolgirl to death just weeks after being released from prison without any supervision.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in parliamentary papers by tracey

Government response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry into regenerative medicine, Cm 8713 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

LGO censures council over bid to force vulnerable girl to move schools – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in children, news, ombudsmen, social services, special educational needs by tracey

“The Local Government Ombudsman has sharply criticised a council that tried to force a vulnerable 13-year-old girl to move from the residential school she attended.”

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st October 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Charter for rogue bosses’ comes into force – Litigation Futures

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in employment, health & safety, negligence, news, personal injuries, strict liability by tracey

“The controversial section 69 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 – which removes strict liability for breaches of certain health and safety regulations – has come into force today.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 1st October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Licensing Act 2003: amended guidance issued under section 182 – Home Office

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in legislation, licensed premises, licensing, press releases by tracey

“Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 provides that the Secretary of State must issue and, from time to time, may revise guidance to licensing authorities on the discharge of their functions under the act. This is the new version of the section 182 guidance issued on 31 October 2012. It contains the explanatory memorandum.

Full guidance

Home Office, 30th September 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Scrap metal laws to stop metal theft come into force – Home Office

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in handling stolen goods, licensing, press releases by tracey

“Rogue traders who buy and sell scrap metal for cash face £5,000 fine under new laws designed to stamp out metal theft.”

Full press release

Home Office, 1st October 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Tory ECHR Withdrawal, Prisoner Cold Turkey & Niqabs Again – The Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in court dress, human rights, Islam, news, prisons, smoking, women by tracey

“This week the Conservative Party Conference is likely to generate human rights headlines. Meanwhile, previous controversies still bubble away. Chris Grayling, taking a break from legal aid cuts, offered his opinion on the Europe debate. Meanwhile, others considered the role of transparency, demeanour, religious freedom and niqabs in the courts, and, with the proposed smoking ban in prisons, smokers may have found another reason not to break the law.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 29th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

And another one… – Nearly Legal

“Another bedroom tax judicial review has just been issued.”

Full story

Nearly Legal 30th September 2013

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in legislation by tracey

The Prison and Young Offender Institution (Amendment) Rules 2013

The Electricity (Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) (Lochluichart) Order 2013

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) (No. 4) Order 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in law reports by tracey

Supreme Court

A (Children), Re (Rev 1) [2013] UKSC 60 (09 September 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Grieve: legal aid cuts hurt, but bar is just too big – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in attorney general, barristers, budgets, legal aid, litigants in person, news by tracey

“Attorney general Dominic Grieve has spoken of his sympathy for lawyers affected by the legal aid cuts – but insisted the legal sector cannot be immune from austerity measures.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 30th September 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lord Judge signs off with attack on ‘ambush’ advocate – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in appeals, barristers, defence, judges, judgments, news, professional conduct, terrorism by tracey

“In his final court of appeal judgment as lord chief justice, Lord Judge has attacked the conduct of a defence advocate who likened the judge in a terrorist trial to a dishonest seller of worthless goods.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette. 30th September 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Chris Grayling: Simple cautions for serious offences to be scrapped – Ministry of Justice

“Criminals who commit serious offences will no longer receive just a ‘slap on the wrist’ Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling announced today in a radical overhaul of ‘simple’ cautions.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 30th September 2013

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

Nurse who used Facebook to blow the whistle about poor care escapes being struck off – The Guardian

“A nurse who used Facebook to raise concerns about standards at his hospital has escaped being struck off after a disciplinary panel acknowledged he was passionate about his job and capable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Royal Marine corporal sentenced for ill-treating recruits – BBC News

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in armed forces, bullying, courts martial, fines, news, professional conduct by tracey

“A Royal Marine drill instructor who ill-treated new recruits, including hitting one in the groin with a stick, has been fined for his actions.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk