Supreme Court decision provides much-needed clarity on VAT status of online tour operators, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 6th, 2014 in agency, holidays, news, Supreme Court, taxation, VAT by tracey

‘A travel company which marketed and arranged the sale of holiday accommodation to holidaymakers through its website was acting as an “agent” for the providers of that accommodation, and so did not have to account for VAT on those sales, the UK’s highest court has ruled.’

Full text

OUT-LAW.com, 5th March 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

SFO head defends agency’s perceived “lack of appetite” for prosecuting senior UK bankers – OUT-LAW.com

‘The head of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which investigates and prosecutes serious and organised crime in England and Wales, has defended the agency’s record against UK banks and senior bankers in the aftermath of the financial crisis.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 6th October 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Stephen Lawrence independent review – Publications (gov.uk)

Posted March 6th, 2014 in corruption, police, reports by tracey

‘Report and summary of findings from Mark Ellison’s independent review.’

Full report

Publications (gov.uk), 6th March 2014

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?official_document_status=command_and_act_papers

Support for industrial disease victims – Ministry of Justice

‘Sufferers of a deadly industrial disease will be the focus of work to improve the compensation claims process for them, new Justice Minister Lord Faulks said today.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 6th March 2014

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

Precedent H to be amended in CPR update but no news yet on costs management limit – Litigation Futures

Posted March 6th, 2014 in budgets, civil procedure rules, costs, news, time limits by tracey

‘The statement of truth to be used in verifying a costs budget is to be changed, the latest update to the Civil Procedure Rules has revealed – but there is no word as yet about whether the level at which the costs management exemption kicks in will be increased.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 6th March 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Senior judges lay bare hostility to government’s court fee rises – Litigation Futures

Posted March 6th, 2014 in consultations, courts, fees, judiciary, news by tracey

‘The senior judiciary has dismantled the government’s proposals to raise court fees, questioning the underlying policy, highlighting the “clearly inadequate” evidence and warning that introducing enhanced fees in commercial cases is “unworkable”.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 5th March 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Reshaping Justice – Speech by The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lord Chief Justice

Posted March 6th, 2014 in charities, civil justice, Crown Court, fraud, judges, rule of law, speeches by tracey

‘It is a pleasure and a privilege to have been asked to give this short address tonight. It is an important time for both Justice the organisation and for our justice system. With that in mind I want to focus on what I have described in the title as “Reshaping Justice”.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England & Wales, 4th March 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Annual Dinner of the Family Law Bar Association – Speech by Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division

Posted March 6th, 2014 in family courts, judges, legal history, speeches by tracey

‘Since I stood here last year much has happened. I look back on a year when, between us, we have managed to achieve more than most of us had dared to hope. I look forward to a year of what I am sure will be continuing challenges.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England & Wales, 5th March 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Cuts to legal aid: seeking permission for judicial review – CrimeLine

Posted March 6th, 2014 in judicial review, legal aid, news, parole, prisons by tracey

‘Two charities will go to court tomorrow (6 March) to seek permission to challenge the government’s decision to cut legal aid for prisoners.’

Full story

CrimeLine, 5th March 2014

Source: www.crimeline.info

New guidance will help barristers carry out their duties to clients, says regulator – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 6th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, legal profession, press releases, solicitors by tracey

‘New guidance for solicitors on how they should assist barristers in telling clients of their right to complain will help members of the Bar carry out their duty, says the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 5th March 2014

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 6th, 2014 in legislation by tracey

The Traffic Management (Shropshire Council) Permit Scheme Order 2014

The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014

The National Health Service Primary Dental Services (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014

The Mobile Homes (Site Licensing) (England) Regulations 2014

The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014

The Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (No. 2) Order 2014

The Judicial Pensions (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 2014

The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2014

The Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Merger) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2014

The Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Merger) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2014

The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Commencement No. 6, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2014

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Regina (Freedman) v Wiltshire Council – WLR Daily

Posted March 6th, 2014 in change of use, law reports, local government, planning by tracey

Regina (Freedman) v Wiltshire Council: [2014] EWHC 211 (Admin);   [2014] WLR (D)  109

‘In determining an application for a certificate for lawful use, section 191(4) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 entitled a local planning authority, in principle, to substitute a description of a different use from that described in the application form by the certificate had been sought, provided that the authority was satisfied, on a balance of probability, that the evidence demonstrated that the use as substituted had been carried on continuously for a period of ten years or more.’

WLR Daily 6th February 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 6th, 2014 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Syed & Anor, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWCA Civ 196 (04 March 2014)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Burinskas, R v [2014] EWCA Crim 334 (04 March 2014)

High Court (Administrative Court)

RQ (Jordan)), R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department & Anor [2014] EWHC 559 (Admin) (05 March 2014)

Nzangane v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 555 (Admin) (05 March 2014)

Wilson, R (on the application of) v The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education & Anor [2014] EWHC 558 (Admin) (05 March 2014)

King, R (on the application of) v The Parole Board [2014] EWHC 564 (Admin) (04 March 2014)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Bank St Petersburg & Anor v Arkhangelsky & Ors [2014] EWHC 574 (Ch) (05 March 2014)

Hague Plant Ltd v Hague & Ors [2014] EWHC 568 (Ch) (05 March 2014)

Burnard v Burnard & Ors [2014] EWHC 340 (Ch) (03 March 2014)

High Court (Commercial Court)

JCA BTA Bank v Ablyazov & Ors [2014] EWHC 455 (Comm) (28 February 2014)

Barclays Bank Plc v Landgraf [2014] EWHC 503 (Comm) (28 February 2014)

High Court (Family Division)

JP v LP & Ors [2014] EWHC 595 (Fam) (05 March 2014)

Mann v Mann [2014] EWHC 537 (Fam) (05 March 2014)

Surrey County Council v ME & Ors [2014] EWHC 489 (Fam) (04 March 2014)

Ilott v Mitson & Ors [2014] EWHC 542 (Fam) (03 March 2014)

Luckwell v Limata [2014] EWHC 502 (Fam) (28 February 2014)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Samara v MBI & Partners UK Ltd & Anor [2014] EWHC 563 (QB) (04 March 2014)

Source: www.bailii.org

 

 

Derek Williams jailed over abuse images and bestiality videos – BBC News

Posted March 6th, 2014 in indecent photographs of children, news, recidivists, sentencing by tracey

‘A paedophile previously spared prison because of overcrowding has been jailed for downloading child abuse images and videos of bestiality.’

Full story

BBC News, 5th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence: report on police corruption allegations to be published – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2014 in corruption, inquiries, news, police, reports by tracey

‘A report into allegations that police corruption shielded the racist mob that murdered Stephen Lawrence will be published on Thursday by the Home Office. The report was ordered by the home secretary after pressure from Lady Lawrence, Stephen’s mother. She has always believed corruption played a part in police failings and hopes the new report will lead to a fresh official inquiry.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Regressive attitudes’ hold up stop and search changes – BBC News

Posted March 6th, 2014 in London, news, police, stop and search by tracey

‘Plans to limit police stop and search powers in England and Wales have been held up by “regressive” attitudes in Downing Street, senior Conservatives have told BBC Newsnight.’

Full story

BBC News, 6th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Beth Warren waits on sperm legal fight result – BBC News

Posted March 6th, 2014 in assisted reproduction, human tissue, married persons, news, time limits, widows by tracey

‘The High Court will rule later on a widow’s attempt to prevent her dead husband’s sperm from being destroyed.’

Full story

BBC News, 6th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk