High Court rejects challenge to closure of ABS from solicitor who “lost ethical compass” – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has rejected a challenge to the closure of an alternative business structure by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). It was the first time an ABS closure decision has been tested in the High Court.’

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Legal Futures, 13th May 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Time for a Regulated Process for Surrogate Parents? – Family Law Week

Posted May 13th, 2015 in custody, families, news, regulations, surrogacy by tracey

‘Natalie Gamble, solicitor, of Natalie Gamble Associates and Elizabeth Isaacs QC of St Ives Chambers consider the significance of H v S (Surrogacy Agreement) in which Ms Justice Russell awarded care of a surrogate child to a gay couple.’

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Family Law Week, 12th May 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Lithuanian MPs petition Lords Speaker over child custody case – The Guardian

‘A delegation of Lithuanian MPs has written to the House of Lords complaining about the removal of a 12-year-old girl from her mother, alleging that she is being deprived of her cultural inheritance. The letter, sent to the Speaker of the House of Lords, Lady D’Souza, is the second high-profile intervention by a Baltic state in UK care proceedings this year and reflects a growing rift between EU states over practices in custody proceedings.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tiger Moth biplane death crash pilot Scott Hoyle not guilty – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2015 in accidents, aircraft, homicide, news by tracey

‘A biplane pilot has been found not guilty of causing a crash that killed his passenger.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police missed chance to catch paedophile Jimmy Savile seven years ago, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2015 in child abuse, children, news, police, sexual offences by tracey

‘Police missed the chance to investigate paedophile Jimmy Savile back in 2008 after they mishandled a claim made by a woman that she was attacked by the disgraced DJ, a watchdog investigation has found.’

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The Independent, 12th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Information Commissioner’s Office to review privacy in children’s apps – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2015 in children, computer programs, data protection, news, privacy by tracey

‘Children’s apps and websites are in the spotlight on privacy grounds again, after the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced a review of how these services collect data on their young users.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Paralysed marine sues MoD for £8m over beach dive accident – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2015 in accidents, armed forces, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A marine left paralysed after diving into shallow waters in the Canary Islands is suing the military for £8m. Spencer Vaughan, 27, from Cwmbran in south Wales, broke his neck in the Gran Canaria incident while on an adventure training exercise in July 2009.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dale Roberts jailed for dousing ex-girlfriend in petrol – BBC News

‘A man who doused his ex-partner with petrol and threatened to set light to her has been jailed for nine years.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Adoption rates in freefall after court ruling leaves children languishing in unsuitable homes – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2015 in adoption, children, families, local government, news, statistics by tracey

‘The number of children being put forward for adoption has plummeted over the past year following a series of court rulings that have left local authorities frightened of removing them from birth families.’

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The Independent, 12th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prince Charles’s ‘black spider’ letters set for publication after 10 year legal battle – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2015 in freedom of information, news, royal family, Supreme Court, tribunals by tracey

‘The Royal Family’s reputation for political neutrality faces its most serious challenge in a generation as the “black spider” memos written by Prince Charles to senior ministers are finally set to published after a 10-year legal battle.’

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The Independent, 12th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Worcestershire man jailed for historical rape – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2015 in DNA, news, rape, sentencing by tracey

‘A man has been jailed for the “degrading” rape of a woman in her home more than 23 years ago.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victim of alleged paedophile hunters jailed for 12 months – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2015 in news, sentencing, sexual grooming, victims, violence by tracey

‘A man attacked and filmed by a group of alleged vigilante paedophile hunters has been jailed for 12 months.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

David Cameron to unveil new limits on extremists’ activities in Queen’s speech – The Guardian

‘A counter-terrorism bill including plans for extremism disruption orders designed to restrict those trying to radicalise young people is to be included in the Queen’s speech, David Cameron will tell the national security council on Wednesday.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge urges divorcing couple to end ‘awful’ court fight and reach settlement – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2015 in divorce, news by tracey

‘A judge has told a former beauty queen how “awful” divorce court fights are and urged her to try to reach a settlement with her estranged lawyer husband. Mr Justice Holman is today due to start analysing evidence in a multi-million pound cash dispute involving Ekaterina, 42, and Richard Fields, 59, in the family division of the high court in London.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jeremy Thorpe: Inquiry into claims police altered evidence – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2015 in conspiracy, evidence, firearms, homosexuality, inquiries, murder, news, police by tracey

‘An inquiry is to take place into claims evidence was altered during the police investigation into former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe in the 1970s, the BBC’s Today programme has learned.’

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BBC News, 13th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Former student fails in legal challenge over Oxford’s handling of rape claims – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2015 in inquiries, judicial review, news, rape, sexual offences, universities by tracey

‘A former Oxford student has failed in her attempt to overturn the university’s policy on investigating complaints of rape and sexual assault.’

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The Guardian, 8th May 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Widnes hit-and-run driver jailed for seven years – BBC News

Posted May 12th, 2015 in dangerous driving, news, road traffic offences, sentencing by tracey

‘A driver who killed a cyclist in Cheshire, then tried to cover up the crime, has been jailed for seven years.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Agyarko) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (Evans) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (Ikuga) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – WLR Daily

Posted May 12th, 2015 in appeals, families, human rights, immigration, law reports, regulations by tracey

Regina (Agyarko) v Secretary of State for the Home Departmen; Regina (Evans) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (Ikuga) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: [2015] EWCA Civ 440; [2015] WLR (D) 205

‘Where a party who had overstayed unlawfully and married or formed a relationship with a British citizen sought leave to remain, the “insurmountable obstacles” test as to return under the Immigration Rules was a stringent test and more demanding than a mere test of whether it would be reasonable to expect a couple to continue their family life outside the United Kingdom, although the test was also to be interpreted in a sensible and practical rather than a purely literal way.’

WLR Daily, 6th May 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Visit visa refusals: appeal or judicial review? – Free Movement

Posted May 12th, 2015 in appeals, families, freedom of movement, judicial review, news, visas by tracey

‘The removal of full rights of appeal for family visit visas has led to a legal dilemma to those considering a challenge to a refusal: should they give up, re-apply, attempt a human rights appeal or should they launch an application for judicial review? The problem seems all the more acute with many reports of refusals to spouses or relatives who cannot meet the harsh family settlement rules or who would rather live abroad but still want to be able to visit their spouse’s friends and family in the UK.’

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Free Movement, 12th May 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

CCMS: a ‘flawed’ system that ‘actually deteriorates business processes’ – Legal Voice

Posted May 12th, 2015 in computer programs, legal aid, news, pilot schemes, reports by tracey

‘Specialist cost lawyers involved in pilots for the controversial new online legal aid processing system have called on the Ministry of Justice to make an “honest appraisal” before pushing ahead with implementation.’

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Legal Voice, 11th May 2015

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk