Day: 31 March 2015

Discretionary Housing Payments – the trouble with DLA – Nearly Legal

Posted March 31st, 2015 in benefits, disability discrimination, disabled persons, housing, local government, news, social security by sally

‘Oh, we have been waiting for this one. According to DWP survey evidence, some 75% of Councils take Disability Living Allowance into account as income when deciding on an award of Discretionary Housing Payments. This judicial review concerned Sandwell Council’s policy of doing just that. The implications are clearly of significance for other councils, and will potentially impact many disabled people faced with the bedroom tax.’

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Nearly Legal, 30th March 2015

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

London black cab driver jailed for sex attacks on sleeping women – BBC News

Posted March 31st, 2015 in disqualification, London, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, taxis by sally

‘A black cab driver who sexually assaulted two women who fell asleep in his taxi has been jailed for 10 years.’

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BBC News, 30th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FCA focus on personal accountability driving increase in financial firm whistleblowing, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 31st, 2015 in financial regulation, news, reports, whistleblowers by sally

‘A significant increase in the number of whistleblowing cases opened by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) over the course of the last year shows that the regulator’s increased focus on personal accountability is changing employee behaviour in the financial services industry, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th March 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Crown Prosecution Service considers News of the World journalist retrial – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, misfeasance in public office, news, prison officers, prosecutions, retrials by sally

‘A crunch meeting at the Crown Prosecution Service is taking place on Monday to decide whether to retry a journalist over leaks from a public official.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD accused of refusing former detainee Yunus Rahmatullah justice – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2015 in intelligence services, interception, news, privilege, torture by sally

‘The government has refused to give an undertaking not to take advantage of any intercepted communications between a former detainee, who is suing the Ministry of Defence, and his lawyers.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court sits at British Museum for first time as judge studies looted Libyan sculpture – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 31st, 2015 in artistic works, courts, customs and excise, news, theft by sally

‘Marble statue worth £2 million looted from a UNESCO world heritage site in war-torn country.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal services to be “future boom area” as councils become entrepreneurial: report

Posted March 31st, 2015 in legal services, local government, news, reports by sally

‘Legal services look likely to be a “future boom area” for local authorities as they seek to operate more entrepreneurially, a think tank has claimed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th March 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk