Extending domestic violence protection – Home Office

Posted December 15th, 2011 in consultations, domestic violence, news by sally

“Young people under 18 could be included in the cross-government definition of domestic violence for the first time, under a consultation launched by the Home Secretary Theresa May today (14 December).”

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Home Office, 14th December 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

New sentencing proposals for dangerous dog offences – public consultation launched – Sentencing Council

Posted December 15th, 2011 in consultations, dogs, news, sentencing by sally

“New proposals about how the owners of dangerous dogs should be sentenced by the courts are being announced today, with the launch of a public consultation on the first sentencing guideline that covers dangerous dog offences.”

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Sentencing Council, 15th December 2011

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Related link: Dangerous Dog Offences Guideline Consultation (PDF)

Draft tax legislation gives greater predictability and clarity – HM Treasury

“Following Budget 2011, the Government has today published responses to a number of tax policy consultations, alongside draft clauses for legislation to be included in Finance Bill 2012.”

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HM Treasury, 6th December 2011

Source: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

Bar aiming to bypass ‘superfluous’ solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 2nd, 2011 in barristers, consultations, news, solicitors by tracey

“Solicitors are dismissed as ‘superfluous intermediaries’ in a new bar consultation paper which recommends making it easier for the public to bypass them and instruct barristers directly.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd December 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Should more trials be held in secret? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 1st, 2011 in consultations, evidence, intelligence services, news, private hearings, trials by sally

“There is just over a month left to respond to the Government’s consultation on the Justice and Security Green Paper. Responses have to be be sent via email or post by Friday 6 January 2012.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Reduced consultation periods and overhauled tribunal system proposed as part of ‘radical’ employment law changes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 24th, 2011 in consultations, employment tribunals, news, redundancy, unfair dismissal by sally

“The 90 day minimum consultation period for collective redundancies may be restricting business and could be reduced as part of the most radical reform to employment law for decades, the Government has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th November 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Crown Prosecution Service fees – The Bar Council

Posted November 24th, 2011 in barristers, consultations, Crown Prosecution Service, fees, news by sally

“The Bar Council invites criminal barristers to submit their views on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Graduated Fee Scheme. A representative group from the Bar has been engaged in discussions with the CPS, and soundings have been taken on these proposals from across the Circuits. Click here to read a document from the Bar Council setting out the details of those discussions.”

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The Bar Council, 23rd November 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Majority verdict: we already have a bill of rights – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2011 in bills, consultations, human rights, legal aid, news, sentencing by sally

“Adam Wagner examines some of the responses to the consultation on a UK bill of rights.”

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The Guardian, 22nd November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Clarke: Judiciary in need of modernisation and diversification – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, diversity, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“Sweeping new proposals that will reform, modernise and improve the diversity of judicial appointments were announced by the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 21st November 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Should swearing be against the law? – BBC News

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, freedom of expression, news, public order by sally

“A High Court judge has ruled that people should not be punished for hurling obscenities in public because such words are now so common they no longer cause distress. Should the courts punish profanity?”

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BBC News, 21st November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More part-time judges would help diversify judiciary, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, diversity, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“More part-timers should be put on the bench and fewer judges allowed to chair selection panels in order to improve judicial diversity, the Ministry of Justice has proposed.”

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The Guardian, 21st November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Have your say on stalking laws – Home Office

Posted November 15th, 2011 in consultations, harassment, news by sally

“Today (14 November), we have launched an online consultation asking for views on how best to tackle this crime and provide protection for victims. We ask whether specific offences of ‘stalking’ and ‘cyber stalking’ should be added to existing harassment laws and what training and guidance is needed for police and prosecutors.”

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Home Office, 14th November 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Clare’s law: Government urged to back campaign – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2011 in consultations, criminal records, domestic violence, murder, news by sally

“The government has been urged to support a campaign by the father of a Salford woman who was murdered by a man she met on Facebook.”

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BBC News, 7th November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Squatting in residential buildings to become a criminal offence – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 1st, 2011 in bills, consultations, crime, news, squatting, trespass by sally

“Squatting in residential buildings is to become a criminal offence for the first time, the Government has announced.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st November 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Consultation on ‘Clare’s Law’ launched – Home Office

Posted October 28th, 2011 in consultations, domestic violence, press releases by tracey

“The public are to be asked their views on whether to introduce a scheme for disclosing information about an individual’s history of domestic violence to a new partner, the Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.”

Full press release

Home Office, 25th October 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

We will consult on a new Code of Conduct for barristers and Alternative Business Structures – Bar Standards Board

“We will issue a new consultation on a future Code of Conduct for the profession and legal business structures. The consultation will be released in January 2012.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 27th October 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Consultation begins on domestic violence disclosure scheme – The Guardian

Posted October 26th, 2011 in consultations, criminal records, disclosure, domestic violence, news by sally

“Women could soon have the right to know whether a new partner has a history of domestic violence under proposed legislation announced by the home secretary, Theresa May. The Home Office has launched a consultation over how a national domestic violence disclosure scheme could work in practice following a campaign by the father of Clare Wood, who was strangled in 2009 by an ex-boyfriend she had met through Facebook.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government considers ‘right to know’ on domestic abuse – BBC News

Posted October 25th, 2011 in consultations, criminal records, domestic violence, news, violent offenders by sally

“People could be given the power to find out from the police if a new partner has a history of domestic violence under new government proposals.”

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BBC News, 25th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Have your say on public order policing – Home Office

Posted October 14th, 2011 in consultations, police, press releases, public order by tracey

“In the light of the summer riots James Brokenshire launched a consultation today to consider how to give the police more tools to tackle disorder.”

Full press release

Home Office, 13th October 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

May seeks stronger police riot powers – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2011 in consultations, news, police, public order, violent disorder by tracey

“The home secretary, Theresa May, is to press ahead with seeking public order curfew powers for the police to create ‘no-go’ areas during riots. The powers are expected to include immediate curfews over large areas to tackle the kind of fast-moving disturbances that swept across many of England’s major cities in August. May also wants to extend existing powers to impose curfews on individual teenagers aged under 16.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk