February 2018 – Page 17 – Current Awareness

Legal rights are not all right: when morality and the law collide – OUP Blog

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in counterfeiting, drug offences, homosexuality, news, tax avoidance by sally

‘In early November 2017, media outlets hailed the Paradise Papers as a major scoop: 13.4 million leaked documents revealed the financial details of some of the world’s leading brands, politicians, sports stars, and musicians. But this was to be no repeat of last year’s Panama Papers, in which well-known names appeared relating to criminal acts like “corruption,” “tax evasion,” and “money laundering”; the Paradise Papers failed to reveal a single crime.’

Full Story

OUP Blog, 31st January 2018

Source: blog.oup.com

Taxi drivers admit licence regulation needs to be tougher – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in criminal records, licensing, news, taxis by sally

‘Taxi and private hire drivers have admitted the regulation of licences needs to be tougher for public safety.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Asylum seekers win case over smoking in immigration detention centres – The Guardian

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in detention, human rights, immigration, news, smoking by sally

‘Two asylum seekers have won a legal challenge against the government when a high court judge ruled on Thursday that it was a breach of their human rights to allow smoking in immigration detention centres.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge takes swipe at “collapsing” justice system as CPS failures cause yet another sex trial to collapse – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, judges, news, retrials, sexual offences by sally

‘A judge has taken a swipe at the “collapsing” justice system as CPS failures cause yet another sex trial to collapse.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tasers used 58 times in mental health settings – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in mental health, news, police, statistics, weapons by sally

‘Police drew, aimed or fired Tasers in mental health hospitals, wards, and clinics 58 times in the first six months of figures being recorded.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unconventional trade marks are coming to an IP office near you – Technology Law Update

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in EC law, news, trade marks by sally

‘Changes to EU trade mark law are introducing new-style trade marks like motion marks, audiovisual files and holograms. The old requirement to represent all marks graphically (written words, drawings etc) is on its way out, although of course basic lettering and graphical images still remain relevant for word and logo marks.’

Full Story

Technology Law Update, 1st February 2018

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Solicitor, paralegal and others face contempt of court trial over “fraudulent” PI claim – Legal Futures

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in contempt of court, fraud, news, paralegals, personal injuries, solicitors by sally

‘A solicitor, paralegal, GP and claims management company owner are all set to face committal proceedings for contempt of court shortly over an alleged fraudulent personal injury claim.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 1st February 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Reported sex offences against males in England and Wales up 200% – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in news, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘Reports of sexual offences against men and boys have risen by more than 200% in the past decade, figures show.’

Full Story

BBC News, 2nd February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS compensation payouts ‘unsustainable’, say health leaders – The Guardian

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in compensation, hospitals, negligence, news by sally

‘Payouts given to NHS patients who have been victims of negligence should be reduced because they are “unsustainable”, health service leaders have told the justice secretary.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Life sustaining treatment – whose decision? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 1st, 2018 in children, doctors, human rights, medical treatment, news, parental rights by tracey

‘Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v Thomas and others [2018] EWHC 127 (Fam). Parental love is to be cherished by society, particularly when a child is sick. But the “flattering voice of hope” is not always in best interests of the object of that love. So concluded MacDonald J in a recent ruling which has attracted considerable media attention.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Ecclesiastical court judgments – December and January – Law & Religion UK

Posted February 1st, 2018 in courts, ecclesiastical law, judgments, news by tracey

‘Review of the ecclesiastical court judgments during January 2018, & additional judgments from 2017.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 31st January 2018

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Green light given to judicial review of accountable care organisations in NHS – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 1st, 2018 in consultations, contracting out, government departments, health, judicial review, local government, news by tracey

‘Campaigners including scientist Professor Stephen Hawking have won permission from the High Court to challenge the government’s planned creation of accountable care organisations (ACO) in the NHS.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st February 2108

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Applying sharia law in England and Wales: independent review – Home Office

Posted February 1st, 2018 in islamic law, press releases, reports by tracey

‘Independent review by Professor Mona Siddiqui and a review panel of experts into the application of sharia law in England and Wales by sharia councils.’

Full press release

Home Office, 1st February 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

The perils of an outdated will – Family Law

Posted February 1st, 2018 in appeals, cohabitation, financial provision, news, wills by tracey

‘The case of Martin v Williams [2017] EWHC 491 (Ch), [2018] 1 FLR 125 concerned the right of a cohabitee to make a claim for financial provision from her partner’s estate. It serves as a useful reminder of the problems that can arise when a testator fails to update his or her will following a change in circumstances.’

Full Story

Family Law, 30th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Two men sentenced for supplying weapons and ammunition – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted February 1st, 2018 in conspiracy, firearms, press releases, sentencing, weapons by tracey

‘A man who sold firearms to criminals has been jailed for 14 years today for conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition. Dr Mohinder Surdhar was sentenced today at Birmingham Crown Court. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and ammunition. His co-conspirator, Paul Edmunds was previously sentenced to 30 years in prison on 21 December for supplying guns and ammunition linked to more than 100 crimes around the country.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 31st January 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Pair guilty of indecent assaults on schoolboy – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted February 1st, 2018 in press releases, sexual offences, teachers by tracey

‘A retired teacher and his former partner have been found guilty of indecently assaulting a schoolboy more than three decades ago.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 31st January 2018

Souce: www.cps.gov.uk

BSB publishes new version of its Handbook – Bar Standards Handbook

Posted February 1st, 2018 in barristers, codes of practice, press releases, professional conduct by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published the latest version of the BSB Handbook which contains the Code of Conduct for barristers in England and Wales. This introduces new authorisation to practise requirements, streamlines the public and licensed access rules, and introduces new obligations for barristers and BSB regulated entities to comply with the new Anti-Money Laundering Regulations. The new rules mean that there are four new reporting requirements for barristers looking to apply for or renew their practising certificates.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Handbook, 1st February 2018

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Code of practice issued under section 377A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – Official Publications

Posted February 1st, 2018 in codes of practice, investigatory powers, press releases, proceeds of crime by tracey

‘This amended code provides guidance on the use of investigation powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002 by prosecutors (in England and Wales and Northern Ireland) and has been updated following amendment of POCA by the Criminal Finances Act 2017.’

Full press release

Official Publications, 31st January 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/publications