Information watchdog slaps MP with £5k penalty over nuisance calling Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 11th, 2016 in elections, fines, news, privacy, telecommunications by tracey

‘A London MP, David Lammy, has been hit with a £5,000 monetary penalty by the Information Commissioner’s Office after he instigated the making of 35,629 calls over two days.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th March 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal teaches insurer “harsh” lesson on relief from sanctions – Litigation Futures

Posted March 11th, 2016 in appeals, default judgments, delay, fraud, insurance, news, sanctions by tracey

‘An insurance company which was dilatory in dealing with a personal injury claim and only alleged fraud after default judgment had been entered has been refused relief from sanctions by the Court of Appeal in a decision it acknowledged may seem “harsh”.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 10th March 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Speech by Mr Justice Singh: Making Judgments on Human Rights Issues – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 11th, 2016 in human rights, proportionality, sex discrimination, speeches by tracey

‘Human Rights Law Centre Annual Lecture 2016.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 9th March 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Bar regulator announces changes to the Bar Course Aptitude Test for 2016 and 2017 – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 11th, 2016 in barristers, examinations, legal education, press releases by tracey

‘Further to the BSB’s last announcement in December 2015, the regulator has concluded its review into the role of BCAT.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 9th March 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

West Midlands gang to spend 50+ more years in jail – Attorney General’s Office

Posted March 11th, 2016 in appeals, conspiracy, firearms, press releases, sentencing by tracey

’16 Birmingham gang members who supplied guns and ammunition to criminals across the country will be spending over 50 more years in prison following a Court of Appeal decision today.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 9th March 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Mending Rainbows: Domestic Violence in the LGBT Community/Communities – Family Law Week

Posted March 11th, 2016 in domestic violence, homosexuality, news, statistics, transgender persons by tracey

‘It is widely acknowledged that domestic abuse/violence is a devastating crime that can destroy the lives of victims and their families. However, the prevalent “script” of domestic abuse is gendered and heteronormative, whereby the abuser is always male and the victim always female. It is generally disregarded that approximately 25% of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community/communities experience domestic abuse, which is the same rate of domestic abuse perpetrated against heterosexual women. Likewise, in a recent study on domestic abuse in the transgendered community in Scotland, 80% of respondents stated that they had experienced emotionally, sexually, or physically abusive behaviour by a partner or ex-partner.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 9th March 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Carer Claire Darbyshire jailed for life for killing ill father – BBC News

Posted March 11th, 2016 in carers, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A carer found guilty of murdering her MS-suffering father has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of four years.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs to investigate use of British weapons by Saudi Arabia in Yemen ‘humanitarian disaster’ – The Independent

Posted March 11th, 2016 in export controls, news, Saudi Arabia, select committees, weapons by tracey

‘MPs have launched an investigation whether British-made arms are being used by Saudi Arabian forces in a widely-criticised military campaign in Yemen.’

Full story

The Independent, 10th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court rules transgender teenager can cut off contact with adoptive parents – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2016 in children, families, news, transgender persons by tracey

‘A transgender teenager who wants to cut off all contact with his adoptive parents has won the backing of the high court.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer murder: Essex Police officers disciplined – BBC News

Posted March 11th, 2016 in disciplinary procedures, murder, news, police by tracey

‘Two police officers who were first on the scene when a notorious criminal was killed have been disciplined for failing to spot he had been shot.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘No hiding place for crime kingpins’, NCA chief warns – BBC News

Posted March 11th, 2016 in national crime agency, news by tracey

‘The “untouchables” of the UK’s criminal underworld will have no “hiding place”, the National Crime Agency’s chief says.
Lynne Owens, the agency’s new director general, said her priority was to “relentlessly pursue” the “kingpins” of organised crime gangs.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Christian judge struck off after controversial same-sex adoption comments – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 11th, 2016 in adoption, disciplinary procedures, homosexuality, magistrates, news by tracey

‘A Christian judge has been struck off after making controversial comments over same-sex adoption on national television.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge challenges government over legal representation for vulnerable people – The Guardian

‘A senior judge has challenged the government to provide legal representation for vulnerable people as a backlog of safeguarding cases that cannot be tried builds up in the court of protection.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Shoreham air crash: Organisers were ‘unaware of crash pilot’s display plans’ – The Independent

Posted March 11th, 2016 in aircraft, health & safety, news by tracey

‘Organisers of the Shoreham air show were unaware of the display plans of a pilot whose jet crashed last year, killing 11 people. An Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report found the organisers failed to carry out a proper risk assessment.’

Full story

The Independent, 10th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Married couple found guilty of sexually assaulting 13-month-old baby they were babysitting – The Independent

‘A married couple have been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 13-month old baby.’

Full story

The Independent, 10th March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Knife criminals spared jail despite ‘two strikes and you’re out’ law – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 11th, 2016 in cautions, news, offensive weapons, sentencing, statistics, suspended sentences by tracey

‘Half of criminals caught carrying a knife have been spared an immediate jail term for a repeat offence despite a new “two strikes and you’re out” rule.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Commons sleaze watchdog in crisis as QC rubbishes legal arguments against reform – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 11th, 2016 in news, parliament, professional conduct, standards by tracey

‘Sir Kevin Barron steps aside from chairmanship of Standards Committee, as Lord Lester describes attempts to stop lay members from being given a vote as “absurd.” ‘

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Broken’ disability benefits need total overhaul, says government adviser – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2016 in benefits, disabled persons, employment, news by tracey

‘Controversial fit-for-work tests should be abandoned and benefit sanctions scrapped for people with chronic illness or a disability, an influential government adviser has said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Whistleblowers let down by government, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2016 in civil servants, news, select committees, whistleblowers by tracey

‘Public accounts committee says Cabinet Office has shown a lack of urgency in strengthening laws to protect public servants.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk