Reshaping Justice – Speech by The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lord Chief Justice

Posted March 6th, 2014 in charities, civil justice, Crown Court, fraud, judges, rule of law, speeches by tracey

‘It is a pleasure and a privilege to have been asked to give this short address tonight. It is an important time for both Justice the organisation and for our justice system. With that in mind I want to focus on what I have described in the title as “Reshaping Justice”.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England & Wales, 4th March 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Freemasons’ millions aren’t true charity, rules judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 26th, 2014 in charities, news, VAT by tracey

‘Freemasons will be denied a multi-million pound tax break after a judge ruled that their governing body was not sufficiently “philanthropic” to be exempt from VAT, despite being the second largest charitable donor in the country.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Couple get married in Britain’s first Scientology wedding – The Independent

Posted February 24th, 2014 in charities, equality, marriage, news, registrars, religious discrimination by sally

‘Scientologists Louisa Hodkin and Alessandro Calcioli won a landmark legal battle to have the Church of Scientology recognised as a “place of meeting for religious worship”.’

Full story

The Independent, 23rd February 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Another council faces judicial review over changes to library provision – Local Government Lawyer

‘Lincolnshire County Council has become the latest local authority to face judicial review proceedings over proposed cuts to its libraries.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Launch of Child Sexual Exploitation Operating Protocol – CrimeLine

‘The Metropolitan Police Service is hosting a multi-agency launch at City Hall today, Monday 3 February, to set a benchmark for the investigation of child sexual exploitation in the capital. Designed to enhance victim care through improved referral pathways the MPS has drawn up robust processes to identify children at risk of abuse and sexual exploitation. The London Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Operating Protocol – which has been agreed across all 32 London boroughs – sets out the standards expected of all those agencies involved in dealing with the identification and protection of vulnerable children who are targeted for sexual abuse.’

Full story

CrimeLine, 31st February 2014

Source: www.crimeline.info

RSPCA risks losing power to prosecute – Daily Telegraph

‘The RSPCA’s role in prosecuting cases of animal cruelty could be overhauled to restore public confidence.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sex crimes against young children rise, research suggests – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2014 in charities, child abuse, news, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘Recorded sex crimes against children under 11 in England and Wales went up by 16% last year, research suggests. There were 5,547 incidents, against the previous year’s 4,772, according to data from 41 police forces obtained by children’s charity, the NSPCC.’

Full story

BBC News, 14th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

RSPCA hires former CPS lawyer to review its prosecutions policy – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 19th, 2013 in animal cruelty, charities, news, private prosecutions, solicitors by tracey

‘The RSPCA has bowed to pressure from MPs and campaigners and hired a senior lawyer to carry out a £50,000 review into its controversial prosecutions policy.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Short Cuts – London Review of Books

Posted December 12th, 2013 in bills, charities, elections, lobbying, news by sally

‘The Lobbying Bill – due to complete the Lords committee stage before Christmas – is intended ‘to ensure that people know whose interests are being represented by consultant lobbyists who make representations to government’. Part One provides that lobbyists must disclose the names of their clients four times a year in a public register; there will be a registrar to enforce compliance, and sanctions for non-compliance. This should make ministers more cautious about promoting policies that favour special interests, and should make special interest groups more cautious in their dealings with ministers. Those who want to engage in this type of lobbying, and can afford it, can properly be expected to bear the costs of regulation.’

Full story

London Review of Books, 19th December 2013

Source: www.lrb.co.uk

Theresa May to outline anti-extremism plans – BBC News

Posted December 4th, 2013 in charities, consultations, incitement, internet, news, terrorism by sally

‘Home Secretary Theresa May is due to set out measures to tackle extremism after recommendations from a taskforce set up by the prime minister.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Charity Commission ‘not fit for purpose’, says Margaret Hodge – The Guardian

‘Margaret Hodge has described the Charity Commission as not “fit for purpose” after a highly critical report warned that its failure to investigate fraud and abuse was undermining public faith in good causes.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New victims’ funding for restorative justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 19th, 2013 in charities, news, police, restorative justice, victims by sally

“At least £29million is being made available to Police and Crime Commissioners and charities to help deliver Restorative Justice for victims over the coming three years, Justice Minister Damian Green has announced.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 19th November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Gay rights group challenges Charity Commission refusal – The Guardian

Posted November 18th, 2013 in appeals, charities, homosexuality, human rights, news, public interest by sally

“A human rights organisation that supports gay and lesbian individuals in countries where homosexuality is outlawed has been denied charitable status on the grounds that it is not sufficiently of ‘public benefit’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Marwaha and others v Singh and others – WLR Daily

Posted November 12th, 2013 in appeals, charities, law reports, trusts by tracey

Marwaha and others v Singh and others: [2013] WLR (D) 429

“Where on the true construction of a trust, the trustees have a duty to exclude ineligible persons from membership and they breach that duty, the court is not prevented from intervening. The court has power to vary a scheme pursuant to the general supervisory power of the court in relation to charities.”

WLR Daily, 6th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

RSPCA accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after Ledbury Hunt case collapses – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 8th, 2013 in animal cruelty, charities, hunting, news, private prosecutions, prosecutions by tracey

“The RSPCA has been accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after its latest case involving a hunt collapsed. The charity accused Will Goffe, 33, of hunting a fox with a hound while out with the Ledbury Hunt, near Malvern in Worcestershire. However, the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. It is the fourth failed RSPCA hunt prosecution this year.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

NCVO report attacks ‘crude’ implementation of payment by results contracts – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 31st, 2013 in charities, contracting out, contracts, news, public procurement, reports by michael

“There is general support among charities for ‘payment by results’ but its implementation has often been ‘crude’ and ‘seriously flawed’, a report for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations has argued.”

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th October 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Vulnerable elderly ‘locked out’ of state-funded care despite reforms, study finds – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 23rd, 2013 in benefits, budgets, care homes, carers, charities, elderly, local government, news by tracey

“Hundreds of thousands of frail elderly and disabled people who need help with basic tasks such as washing and dressing will receive no assistance towards the cost of their care, despite Government reforms, experts have warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hospitals told to investigate all patient complaints in spite of possible lawsuits – The Guardian

“Hospitals will be banned from refusing to investigate complaints from patients harmed by poor care who may also sue for damages, after campaigners condemned the practice as an illegal and unfair denial of patients’ rights.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Charity chiefs back ‘once-in-a-generation’ change to fostering law – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 9th, 2013 in bills, charities, children, education, fostering, local government, news, statistics by sally

“An alliance of 40 charity chiefs and experts is today urging members of the Lords to seize a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to change the law to give young people in foster care the same start in adult life as their peers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mesothelioma charities clash with Ministry of Justice over Grant ‘pledge’ – Litigation Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in asbestos, charities, compensation, news, victims by sally

“The government has played down claims by charities supporting asbestos victims that minister Helen Grant agreed not to introduce changes to the compensation regime that they did not support.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com