Theresa May trying to protect soldiers who murder prisoners and torture civilians, says top human rights lawyer – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2016 in armed forces, human rights, murder, news, torture, treaties by tracey

‘Geoffrey Robertson QC, a former UN judge, hits back after Prime Minister vows to defend Armed Forces personnel from “activist left-wing human rights lawyers.” ‘

Full story

The Independent, 5th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lorry driver jailed for ploughing into car – leaving motorist with fractured skull – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 6th, 2016 in dangerous driving, guilty pleas, news, personal injuries, sentencing by tracey

‘A lorry driver who ploughed a vehicle packed with steel into a line of rush-hour traffic, leaving one seriously injured, has been jailed.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Home Office fails to deport foreign drug dealer who has lived in UK for more than 20 years – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2016 in appeals, deportation, drug offences, human rights, news by tracey

‘A convicted drug dealer who turned his life around to become a “diligent student” will not be deported to Sierra Leone after two law lords ruled he would be incapable of settling in his home country.’

Full story

The Independent, 5th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Proposed sentencing guidelines to cover the possession of weapons and threats to use them – Sentencing Council

Posted October 6th, 2016 in consultations, offensive weapons, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘The Sentencing Council has announced its proposals for new guidelines covering a number of offences involving knives and other weapons. The proposals cover the sentencing of offenders convicted of the possession of a bladed article or offensive weapon in public, and of using one to threaten someone. They do not cover offences where a knife or other weapon is actually used to harm someone, nor the use or possession of firearms: these are covered by other provisions.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 6th October 2016

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Scores of cases set to be reviewed or dropped after collapse of Tulisa trial – The Independent

‘The Criminal Cases Review Commission has confirmed it is reviewing six cases involving celebrities who were convicted following involvement with Mazher Mahmood, better known as the Fake Sheikh.’

Full story

The Independent, 6th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Paedophile caught with 137k indecent images of children spared jail so he can start family – Daily Telegraph

‘A paedophile who was caught with more than 137,000 indecent images of children has been spared jail because he wants to start a family.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man jailed after killing best friend with single punch in ‘silly row’ – The Independent

Posted October 5th, 2016 in assault, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who killed his best friend with one punch after a “silly row”, has been jailed.’

Full story

The Independent, 4th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ched Evans jury warned not to research rape case – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2016 in juries, news, rape, retrials by sally

‘Jurors hearing the retrial of the international footballer Ched Evans on a charge of rape have been warned not to carry out their own research on the case.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New advocates lack “basic knowledge” of ethical rules, report finds – Legal Futures

‘Significant numbers of new advocates are “weaker than might be hoped on basic knowledge” of ethical rules, a major report has found.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 5th October 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New law will let councils opt out of child protection rules – The Independent

Posted October 5th, 2016 in bills, children, local government, news, social services by sally

‘A Government Bill is to give local councils unprecedented new powers to opt out of child protection laws, leading children’s charities to warn that vulnerable children could suffer.’

Full story

The Independent, 5th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

“British Troops to be Exempted from Human Rights Law” – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 5th, 2016 in armed forces, human rights, news, treaties, war by sally

‘Theresa May vows to end ‘vexatious claims’ against service personnel. In the UK about £100 million has been spent since 2004 dealing with thousands of cases lodged against soldiers who served in Iraq. Many were launched under ECHR laws on rights to life and liberty.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 4th October 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Average time for disposal of care proceedings steady at 27 weeks: report – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 5th, 2016 in adoption, care orders, delay, female genital mutilation, news, reports, statistics by sally

‘The average time for the disposal of a care or supervision application made in April to June 2016 in England and Wales was 27 weeks, remaining steady over the past year, the latest quarterly report on family court statistics has revealed.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th October 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK court bars GMC from releasing report into doctor’s professional competence to patient on privacy grounds – OUT-LAW.com

‘A doctor has successfully prevented the General Medical Council (GMC) from disclosing a report concerning an investigation in his professional competence to one of his patients.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th October 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Conman who pretended washing powder was cocaine guilty of defrauding drug users – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 5th, 2016 in drug abuse, drug offences, fraud, illegality, news by sally

‘A conman who was found to be selling washing powder as cocaine has ended up in court for fraud.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court rules Jermaine Baker police officer can retire – BBC News

‘A senior officer involved in a Met operation in which a man was shot dead by police is being allowed to retire, despite being under investigation.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cherie Booth to represent landlords fighting changes to tax regime – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2016 in barristers, landlord & tenant, news, taxation by sally

‘Cherie Booth QC, who with her husband – Tony Blair – and three children owns at least 10 houses and 27 flats, is to represent landlords fighting proposed changes to the tax regime at the high court in London on Thursday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Maria Louise Hopes jailed for life for husband’s murder – BBC News

‘A woman from Rhondda Cynon Taff who murdered her husband in a “sustained, nasty and brutal” attack with her son has been jailed for life.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What is the Great Repeal Bill? The Brexit law to end all EU laws (that we don’t like) – The Independent

Posted October 4th, 2016 in bills, brexit, constitutional reform, EC law, legislation, news, repeals by sally

‘The historic proposal aims to end the European Union’s legal supremacy in the UK by converting all EU requirements into British law as soon as Britain exits the bloc.’

Full story

The Independent, 3rd October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Plan for UK military to opt out of European convention on human rights – The Guardian

Posted October 4th, 2016 in armed forces, human rights, news, treaties, war by sally

‘Controversial plans for the military to opt out from the European convention on human rights (ECHR) during future conflicts will be introduced by ministers, to see off what the prime minister described as an “industry of vexatious claims” against soldiers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BSB forges ahead with flexible CPD regime despite fears it could become “paper exercise” – Legal Futures

Posted October 4th, 2016 in barristers, consultations, continuing professional development, news by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has backed a more flexible, outcomes-based continuing professional development (CPD) regime, despite the fears of some board members that it would degenerate into a “paper exercise”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th October 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk