Workers’ rights on health and safety to be scaled down – The Independent

“Injured workers will be forced to prove that their employer was directly to blame for their accident before they are eligible for compensation under tough new legislation which critics allege will scale back workers’ rights to those of ‘Victorian times’.”

Full story

The Independent, 3rd November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Secret courts plan may be incompatible with Human Rights Act says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2012 in bills, civil justice, closed material, human rights, news, private hearings by sally

“The government’s plans for a new generation of secret courts faced a fresh setback on Wednesday when its own human rights watchdog warned the proposals could be incompatible with the law”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs call communications data bill ‘honeypot for hackers and criminals’ – The Guardian

“The home secretary, Theresa May, has been told by peers and MPs that her £1.8bn internet monitoring proposals will be a ‘honeypot for hackers and criminals around the world’ and that she must bring in prison sentences for those who hack databases.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Watchdog warns over secret hearings – The Independent

“Government plans to extend the use of secret hearings in courts are not compatible with the Human Rights Act, the equalities watchdog has said.”

Full story

The Independent, 31st October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoners’ votes: what’s the government up to? And are they missing a trick? – Head of Legal

Posted October 31st, 2012 in bills, elections, human rights, jurisdiction, news, parliament, prisons by sally

“It’s well known that the government faces a problem when it comes to prisoners’ votes.”

Full story

Head of Legal, 30th October 2012

Source: www.headoflegal.com

More offenders to meet their victims under plan to expand restorative justice – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 30th, 2012 in bills, news, restorative justice, victims by sally

“More offenders will have to meet their victims and apologise before being sentenced under a rapid expansion of restorative justice unveiled on Tuesday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Last quango in Paris? Why the fate of the EHRC is important for all of us – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 29th, 2012 in bills, human rights, jurisdiction, news by sally

“In its foreign policy, the UK Government is a keen advocate of national human rights institutions (NHRI’s). The Brighton Declaration, drafted by the UK, encourages Council of Europe States to consider ‘the establishment, if they have not already done so, of an independent National Human Rights Institution’. In June 2012 the UK signed a UN General Assembly resolution ‘Reaffirming the important role that such national institutions play and will continue to play.’”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 28th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Use stronger snooping powers against fly tipping, watchdog urges – Daily Telegraph

“New powers to snoop on all emails, web visits and phone calls could still be used to combat minor crimes despite Government assurances, the watchdog who oversees them has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ken Clarke hits back over secret courts – The Guardian

“Clarke insists that under the justice and security bill nothing currently heard in open court would be moved to closed court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

OFT sets out details of its new power to suspend consumer credit licenses – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 26th, 2012 in bills, consultations, consumer credit, consumer protection, licensing, news by tracey

“Consumer watchdog the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has set out details of how it intends to use a new power which will allow it to suspend the licenses of rogue lenders with immediate effect in some circumstances.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Why saving the Human Rights Act will be good for your health – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 25th, 2012 in bills, health, human rights, legislation, news by sally

“Debate about whether the Human Rights Act (HRA) might be replaced by a new UK Bill of Rights often dwells on the potential loss, or at least weakening, of the legal route to accountability and redress for victims of human rights violations. An event next month in Liverpool reminds us how much more might be lost if the HRA were to be scrapped or watered down. In particular, it highlights the significance of section 6 of the Act, which requires all public authorities to act in a way which is compatible with European Convention rights unless primary legislation requires them to act otherwise.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 24th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

LIBOR to be regulated as Government accepts Wheatley’s recommendations “in full” – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 18th, 2012 in banking, bills, crime, financial regulation, interest, news by sally

“Administering and contributing to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) will become a regulated activity, while criminal sanctions will be introduced for ‘misleading statements’ in relation to the benchmark, the Government has confirmed.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 18th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Criminals could avoid surveillance of their communications even under expanded regime, says Information Commissioner – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 18th, 2012 in bills, electronic mail, intelligence services, news, telecommunications by sally

“Serious criminals will be able to avoid details of their communications being monitored under an expanded intelligence gathering regime proposed by the Government, the UK’s data protection watchdog has warned.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

US ‘influenced British government’s decision to introduce secret courts’ – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2012 in bills, closed material, disclosure, intelligence services, news, terrorism, torture by tracey

“The US government and its intelligence agencies were influential in the UK government decision to introduce a highly controversial new generation of secret courts, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has told MPs and peers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Draft Communications Bill: Powers may uncover ‘wrong targets’ – BBC News

“Plans to monitor all Britons’ online activity risk uncovering ‘incompetent criminals and accidental anarchists’ rather than serious offenders, the information commissioner has warned.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord McNally’s speech for Legal Aid Practitioners Group Conference – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 15th, 2012 in bills, budgets, competition, dispute resolution, legal aid, speeches by tracey

“Lord McNally’s speech for Legal Aid Practitioners Group Conference.”

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 12th October 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

New report heavily critical of secret justice plans ahead of controversial Bill – Amnesty International

Posted October 15th, 2012 in bills, closed material, disclosure, human rights, public interest, reports, trials by tracey

“The government’s plans for a substantial extension of the use of secret evidence in the justice system have been heavily criticised in a new Amnesty International report published today”

Full story

Full report

Amnesty International, 15th October 2012

Source: www.amnesty.org.uk

 

 

Scientists to get extra protection from libel – The Independent

Posted October 12th, 2012 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Scientists and academics are to be given extra protection from bullying corporations that use Britain’s libel laws to suppress legitimate criticism and debate, the Government has indicated.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Courts could force website operators to remove defamatory statements under terms of revised Bill – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 27th, 2012 in bills, defamation, internet, news by sally

“Courts would have the power to order website operators to remove comments that have already been ruled to be defamatory even if those website operators did not post the comments themselves, according to the latest revisions to the Defamation Bill.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 27th September 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Government plan for courts to sit in private is rejected – The Independent

Posted September 26th, 2012 in bills, closed material, news, private hearings by sally

“The Liberal Democrat leadership suffered an embarrassing defeat last night as activists rejected Government plans to allow some courts to sit in private to hear evidence relating to national security.”

Full story

The Independent, 26th September 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk