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

‘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

‘Rogue’ parking companies face government crackdown – BBC News

Posted January 29th, 2018 in bills, codes of practice, news, parking by sally

‘”Rogue” parking companies will be banned from accessing driver data and issuing charges as part of plans to stop “unscrupulous operators”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 28th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watching porn at work – what are the legal consequences? – The Guardian

‘In a four month period in 2017, there were 24,000 attempts to access pornographic websites in the Houses of Parliament. Westminster may be a special case, but should it be a sackable offence in regular offices?’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Proposed reforms to the UK Corporate Governance Code from 1 January 2019 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 19th, 2017 in codes of practice, company directors, company law, financial regulation, news by sally

‘A revised UK Corporate Governance Code, intended by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to be “shorter and sharper” and to restore public trust in business, is due to come into force for accounting periods beginning 1 January 2019’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 18th December 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Tough code of practice for websites will aim to protect children online – The Guardian

Posted December 11th, 2017 in amendments, bills, children, codes of practice, internet, news, privacy by sally

‘Websites and apps will be subject to a tough new code of practice to protect children’s privacy online following a cross-party campaign in the House of Lords to prevent young people’s internet activity being monitored.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK admits that Investigatory Powers Act needs updated to comply with EU law – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Investigatory Powers Act needs to be updated if it is to comply with EU law, the UK government has admitted.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st December 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Treat Insolvency Rules as ‘a complete code’ for payment of statutory interest, rules Court of Appeal – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Court of Appeal has determined the extent of creditors’ entitlements to statutory interest on their debts and the correct approach for calculating their entitlement. It has ruled on the entitlement of representative creditors of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (LBIE) to the surplus funds and on the calculation of the statutory interest due to them.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 10th November 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

New ethics and practice website launched for barristers – The Bar Council

‘A new website devoted entirely to helping barristers with ethical and practice queries has been launched by the Bar Council to support its members.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 6th November 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Most organisations are unclear about data storage and transfer arrangements, say privacy watchdogs – OUT-LAW.com

‘Most privacy notices displayed on websites and mobile apps do not explain to consumers the country in which collected personal data is stored, according to a study carried out by data protection authorities based around the world.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th October 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

High Court grants injunction to stop former in-house solicitor acting against ex-employer – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has granted an injunction restraining a former in-house solicitor from acting in proceedings against her former employer, saying that even if she was aware of the danger of disclosing confidential information, she might still subconsciously use it.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New Electronic Communications Code set to take effect in December, says government – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 23rd, 2017 in codes of practice, news, planning, regulations, telecommunications by sally

‘New rules regarding the rights and obligations that arise in relation to the deployment and maintenance of mobile phone masts and other telecoms infrastructure are “expected to take effect in December”, according to the UK government.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th October 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Making Britain the safest place in the world to be online – Ministry of Justice

‘Britain is to become the safest place in the world to be online thanks to new proposals announced today by Culture Secretary Karen Bradley.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 11th October 2017

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

Facebook and Twitter could be hit by new tax as part of Government crackdown – The Independent

Posted October 11th, 2017 in codes of practice, internet, news, taxation by tracey

‘Internet giants Facebook and Twitter would be hit by a new tax under Government plans to clamp down on dangers like cyber-bullying, online abuse and underage-access to porn.
Ministers want money raised from the proposed levy to pay for schemes to raise people’s awareness of the dangers of the internet and to tackle their worst effects.’

Full Story

The Independent, 11th October 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

SRA ushers in ‘Uberisation’ of legal services – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The SRA today signalled what it called the “Uberisation” of the legal market with the advent of the freelance solicitor.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Press regulator censures Mail on Sunday for global warming claims – The Guardian

Posted September 18th, 2017 in agreements, climate change, codes of practice, complaints, media, news by tracey

‘Claims in the Mail on Sunday that global warming data had been exaggerated in order to secure the Paris climate change agreement have been criticised by the UK’s press regulator.’

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The Guardian, 17th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

McKenzie ban back to drawing board – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2017 in codes of practice, consultations, fees, judiciary, Law Society, McKenzie friends, news by tracey

‘HM Judiciary is set to reassess some of its proposals for regulating the fast-expanding “McKenzie friend” sector after a consultation on banning fee recovery received “large numbers of responses”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ofcom condemns Channel 4 News for naming wrong man as Westminster attacker – The Guardian

Posted September 12th, 2017 in codes of practice, media, news, terrorism by tracey

‘The media regulator has found that Channel 4 News seriously breached the broadcasting code by naming the wrong man as the Westminster terror attacker, and has heavily criticised the programme for a string of major mistakes in recent years. Ofcom has taken the highly unusual step of forcing Channel 4 News to make an on-air broadcast of the outcome of its investigation.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Asda forced to repay suppliers after breaching fair dealing code – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2017 in codes of practice, contracts, news, repayment, unfair commercial practices by sally

‘Asda has been forced to pay back hundreds of thousands of pounds to dozens of suppliers after breaching an industry code governing fair dealing.’

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The Guardian, 4th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Local authority apologises to councillor cleared of unlawfully handling newts – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Forest of Dean councillor has been cleared both of unlawfully handling protected newts and of swearing at other councillors.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th August 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Launch of consultation on Criminal Finances Act Codes of Practice – Home Office

‘A 4-week consultation has been launched on the Codes of Practice that will help law enforcement officers confiscate valuable items and other assets acquired using the proceeds of crime as well as tackle the financing of terrorism.’

Full Story

Home Office, 31st July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk