Should barristers have to qualify within five years? – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2015 in barristers, legal education, news, pupillage, time limits by sally

‘People are always bemoaning how difficult it is to get into law. It’s competitive, expensive, and for would-be barristers, there’s a five-year time limit during which to secure pupillage – the next stage of legal training.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council response to Justice Committee report on Legal Aid – The Bar Council

Posted March 12th, 2015 in barristers, civil justice, legal aid, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘Responding to today’s report from the Justice Committee, Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar said:
“We have reached a watershed moment in the administration of justice.’

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The Bar Council, 12th March 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Man guilty of excrement missile campaign – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2015 in armed forces, compensation, electronic monitoring, harassment, news by sally

‘A man has been convicted of carrying out a campaign of throwing balloons full of excrement at a club used by ex-servicemen and women.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Backdating welfare benefits payments to those recognised as refugees in the UK – Free Movement

Posted March 12th, 2015 in appeals, asylum, benefits, news, refugees, social security, tribunals by sally

‘In Blakesley v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2015] EWCA Civ 141 the Court of Appeal considered whether the UK Government is in breach of its international obligations towards refugees because of the lack of any provision to make back-payments of welfare benefits to those asylum seekers who, upon inquiry, are found to be refugees.’

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Free Movement, 12th March 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Catt is put back in the bag – supreme court reverses court of appeal in police data retention case – Panopticon

Posted March 12th, 2015 in appeals, data protection, demonstrations, news, police, privacy, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Catt and T cases are both concerned with this important question: to what extent may the police lawfully retain records relating to individuals who have not in fact been arrested or charged in connection with any criminal offence. The Supreme Court has now had its say on this question – see the judgment here.’

Full story

Panopticon, 11th March 2015

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Supreme Court sets out approach to disability discrimination defences in evictions – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 12th, 2015 in appeals, disability discrimination, news, repossession, Supreme Court by sally

‘A judge hearing an eviction case misdirected himself in adopting the same approach to the defence of disability discrimination as to an alleged breach of Article 8 of the European Court of Human Rights, the Supreme Court has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th March 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Home Office asserts Jamaica safe in general despite persecution of LGBT community – Free Movement

‘The Supreme Court last week rejected the Home Office’s attempt to keep Jamaica on the list of safe countries for asylum claims despite an estimated 10% of the population in Jamaica being subject to persecution because they are gay. This blow to the Home Office came the same week that the case of Aderonke Apata reached court again, leading to some startling submissions on sexuality being made to the court on behalf of the Home Office.’

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Free Movement, 11th March 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Junior doctor Raza Laskar jailed for child sex abuse – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2015 in children, doctors, indecent photographs of children, news, sexual offences by sally

‘A junior doctor working in paediatrics who sexually abused a child and groomed and abused others over the internet has been jailed for seven years.’

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BBC News, 11th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs pass legislation to introduce standardised cigarette packaging – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2015 in advertising, bills, news, parliament, smoking by sally

‘MPs have voted by a majority of 254 in favour of introducing standardised cigarette packaging from May 2016.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Paul Oakley jailed over string of child sex abuse offences – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2015 in news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A 45-year-old Conwy man has been jailed for four years for a string of child sex abuse offences.’

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BBC News, 11th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Third of domestic violence victims cannot provide evidence for legal aid – The Guardian

‘More than a third of victims of domestic violence cannot provide the evidence required to obtain legal aid, according to a parliamentary watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The 91 year-old activist and the angry neighbours: the Supreme Court considers the limits on police retaining personal data – RPC Privacy Law

Posted March 12th, 2015 in appeals, data protection, demonstrations, news, police, Supreme Court by sally

‘In a decision handed down last week, the Supreme Court has decided that the police were entitled to retain personal data regarding a 91 year-old peace activist and a woman who got into a minor dispute with a neighbour, even though in both cases the individuals’ article 8 rights to privacy were engaged.’

Full story

RPC Privacy Law, 9th March 2015

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

New laws to stop jihadists and ‘jihadi brides’ leaving UK rushed through House – The Independent

Posted March 12th, 2015 in bills, news, terrorism, terrorism prevention & investigation measures by sally

‘New anti-terror laws aimed at stopping potential jihadists from travelling abroad were rushed through the House of Commons tonight.’

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The Independent, 10th March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Water cannon decision delayed until after election – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 12th, 2015 in delay, London, news, police, water, weapons by sally

‘Theresa May postpones ruling on whether Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, can use three machines already purchased by Metropolitan Police.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th March 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Only 28% of recorded rapes are referred to CPS, says police inspectorate – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, rape by sally

‘Nearly three-quarters of recorded rapes of adults and children in England and Wales are not referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on whether to charge a suspect, a report by the inspectorate of constabulary revealed on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Young offender rehabilitation staff criticised – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2015 in news, prison officers, probation, rehabilitation, reports, young offenders by sally

‘Work to stop young offenders committing more crimes after their release from custody is hampered by “distrust” among the staff responsible, inspectors say.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid cuts hurt those who need help must, claims High Court judge – The Independent

Posted March 12th, 2015 in judges, legal aid, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘Deep cuts to the legal aid budget have backfired by failing to help the people who need it most, a parliamentary report has concluded.’

Full story

The Independent, 12th March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

British husband and wife jailed over ‘appalling’ animal cruelty – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2015 in animal cruelty, appeals, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘A couple who kept more than 40 pets in squalid conditions at their home have been jailed, with the presiding magistrate describing it as the worst case of animal cruelty he had seen in 30 years.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk