Schedule 7 Code of Practice – Home Office
‘Consultation on changes made to Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.’
Home Office, 15th April 2014
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
Category: consultations
Legal aid consultation ‘unlawful’, solicitors claim – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Criminal solicitor groups have taken the first step towards a legal challenge to the government’s decision to press ahead with cuts to criminal legal aid.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2014
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Closure of Hartley’s Day Centre in Shrewsbury ‘unlawful’ – BBC News
‘A council’s decision to close a day centre without proper consultation was unlawful, judges have ruled.’
BBC News, 4th April 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Government confirms court fees increase within weeks – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Ministry of Justice has confirmed it will go ahead with a series of changes to court fees from 22 April.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd April 2014
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Sentencing for theft offences – consultation launched on sentencing guidelines – Sentencing Council
‘The Sentencing Council has launched a 12-week consultation on its proposed guidelines for judges and magistrates to use when sentencing people for theft offences.’
Sentencing Council, 3rd April 2014
Domestic violence victims helped as injunction fees are scrapped – Ministry of Justice
‘Vulnerable domestic abuse victims will be helped by the scrapping of fees for domestic violence injunctions, Courts Minister Shailesh Vara has announced.’
Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2014
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Backing just one horse in a consultation process can be unfair – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Public law principles allow you to challenge a decision of a public authority if the consultation process preceding it was unfair. Unfairness comes in many shapes and sizes, but the commonest one alleged is that it was not carried out at the formative stage. The authority had already made up enough of its mind so the consultation process ceased to mean anything – it was just going through the motions.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 28th March 2014
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Parents guilty of emotional cruelty face jail – The Guardian
‘Adults convicted of acts of emotional cruelty against children in their care will face the same threat of jail as those guilty of physical neglect, under new laws being considered by ministers.’
The Guardian, 31st March 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Avoiding the nuclear option: the EU moves to strengthen the rule of law – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Within the past week the EU Commission has laid down its plans for protecting the rule of law across Europe and, importantly, for punishing member states that fail to meet rule of law standards. At first glance this appears to be a landmark in the EU’s regulation of the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy, but is it the solution it claims to be?’
UK Human Rights Blog, 17th March 2014
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Jackson reforms a ‘serious risk’ to justice, says Law Society – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Civil litigation reforms implemented last year pose a risk of injustice to clients and a serious reputational risk for solicitors, the Law Society has said.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 13th March 2014
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Review of veterans within the Criminal Justice System: call for evidence – Ministry of Justice
‘This review aims to identify properly the reasons for ex-Service personnel ending up in the justice system and how support can be improved.’
Ministry of Justice, 13th March 2014
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Support for industrial disease victims – Ministry of Justice
‘Sufferers of a deadly industrial disease will be the focus of work to improve the compensation claims process for them, new Justice Minister Lord Faulks said today.’
Ministry of Justice, 6th March 2014
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Senior judges lay bare hostility to government’s court fee rises – Litigation Futures
‘The senior judiciary has dismantled the government’s proposals to raise court fees, questioning the underlying policy, highlighting the “clearly inadequate” evidence and warning that introducing enhanced fees in commercial cases is “unworkable”.’
Litigation Futures, 5th March 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Sharing Risk in Collective Actions – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers
‘Readers of this blog will be familiar with the Government’s announcement, following the conclusion last year of its consultation on private actions in competition law, that it intends to introduce an “opt out” regime for collective competition law actions. In brief, unless they specifically choose to opt out, UK-domiciled consumers and businesses will automatically be included as claimants in collective actions, provided they satisfy the criteria for membership set by the Competition Appeal Tribunal when it certifies the class. One of the particular policy objectives behind this proposal is to empower small businesses and consumers to seek redress in respect of anti-competitive behaviour. The combination of the complexity and cost of seeking such redress is seen currently to form an almost insurmountable hurdle to all but the largest claims.’
Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers,
Source: www.competitionbulletin.com
Statutory guidance on legal education and training – Legal Services Board
‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) consulted in September 2013 on proposed statutory guidance for
education and training, in advance of regulators proceeding with detailed plans for implementation
of the Legal Education and Training Review (LETR) which itself was initiated following the LSB
Chairman’s Upjohn Lecture of October 2010.’
Legal Services Board, 4th March 2014
Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk
The Law Commission’s Report on Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements – Family Law Week
‘Spencer Clarke, Lawyer in the Property, Family and Trust Law Team at the Law Commission considers the Key recommendations of the Law Commision’s Report on Matrimonial, Property, Needs and Agreements.’
Family Law Week, 27th February 2014
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Proposed wilful neglect law may see up to 240 health prosecutions a year – The Guardian
‘Up to 240 prosecutions a year alleging wilful neglect or ill-treatment of patients could take place under a new criminal offence to be introduced in England following the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal, the government says.’
The Guardian, 27th February 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
DPP seeks public views on bringing non-recent cases to court – where a nominal penalty is likely – Crown Prosecution Service
‘The Director of Public Prosecutions has today instructed prosecutors not to dismiss complaints about crimes allegedly committed decades ago just because of the lapse in time of reporting, in a shift of focus towards ensuring potential victims have their day in court.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 27th February 2014
Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk
