Insanity and Automatism – Law Commission
“We have published a discussion paper examining the rules governing the defences of insanity and automatism.”
Law Commission, 23rd July 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission
Category: Law Commission
12th Programme – Law Commission
“We are consulting on our 12th Programme of law reform. We expect to submit our proposals to the Lord Chancellor in summer 2014. If approved, they will make up the main part of our law reform work in the following three years.”
Law Commission, 2nd July 2013
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Hate Crime: The Case for Extending the Existing Offences – Law Commission
“This project came to the Law Commission by a reference from the Ministry of Justice, following the Government’s publication of its three-year hate crime action plan in 2012.”
Law Commission, 27th June 2013
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Law Commission welcomes Draft Consumer Rights Bill – Law Commission
“The Law Commission welcomes the new Consumer Rights Bill published today, which incorporates many of our recommendations.”
Law Commission, 12th June 2013
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Anonymity Before Charge – Part I – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly
“In our article ‘Rape Defendant Anonymity’ last year ((2012) 176 JPN pp.5-8 and 24-26) we suggested that there was a strong case for banning the publication of the identities of rape defendants prior to any conviction. We included this as part of our submission to Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry into the press, suggesting that he should consider the issue as part of his remit. Tucked away in the depths of the report (The Report into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press, November 29, 2012 at G Ch 3 para.2.39), whether or not in response to our submission the relevant text does not make clear, Leveson proposes that, other than in exceptional circumstances, the names of suspects and arrested people (referred to as ‘arrestees’) should not be published and that police guidance relating to publication should be tightened up to reflect this. The Law Commission disagreed (Contempt of Court: A Consultation Paper, Number 209, Law Commission) but in a judicial response to the Consultation Paper, Lord Justice Treacy and Mr Justice Tugendhat – supported by many other senior Judges, including the President of the Queen’s Bench Division and the Senior Presiding Judge – backed Leveson (A Judicial Response to Law Commission Consultation Paper no.209, March 4, 2013, released April 9, 2013).”
Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 4th May 2013
Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk
Law Commission proposes changes to ‘groundless threats’ IP laws – OUT-LAW.com
“A law reform body has proposed changes to the law that would make it easier for businesses seeking to protect their trade marks and design rights to make threats of legal action against alleged infringers of their rights without fear that those threats could be the subject of court action.”
OUT-LAW.com, 22nd April 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Put away the measuring tape – it’s time for greater codification – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“Ever since I was a law student, it has been an annual ritual of the newspapers to buy a copy of the Tolley Tax Handbook and measure how much fatter the tax laws have become. Red tape seems inevitable, regulation grows by half an inch or so each year and business bemoans this lack of simplicity. So why does no-one ask the same thing of statutes and case law? Couldn’t this all be simplified by codification?”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th April 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Law Commissions call for consumer protections to be extended to end user licence agreements – OUT-LAW.com
“Legal protections preventing the inclusion of unfair contract terms in consumer contracts should be extended to apply to less formal notices, such as those included as part of software end user licence agreements (EULA), law reform bodies have said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 25th March 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Intestacy and Family Provision Claims on Death – Law Commission
“Government has accepted, in part, the recommendations we made in our report Intestacy and Family Provision Claims on Death.”
Intestacy and Family Provision Claims on Death
Law Commission, 21st March 2013
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Law Commission
“The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission have today recommended reforms to provide better protection for consumers from unfair charges in small print.”
Law Commission, 19th March 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission
Law commissions urge tougher action on hidden charges – BBC News
“Consumers need more protection against hidden charges often tucked away in the
small print, according to two bodies responsible for promoting law reform.”
BBC News, 19th March 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Telcos to get early interim access to land but Law Commission plans slightly favour landowners, experts say – OUT-LAW.com
“Telecoms operators will be able to access land for equipment installation even
when full agreement with landlords has not been reached under Law Commission
proposals published today to revise the laws governing the installation and
maintenance of telecoms equipment.”
OUT-LAW.com, 28th February 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Cracking the Electronic Communications Code – Law Commission
“In a report published today the Law Commission is recommending reforms that will bring the Electronic Communications Code up to date with modern technology while continuing to balance the rights of landowners and the public demand for modern communications services.”
Law Commission, 28th February 2013
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Law Commission Triennial Review – call for evidence – Law Commission
“The Government’s response to the Public Administration Select Committee report ‘Smaller Government: Shrinking the Quango state’ sets out the plans for reforming public bodies. It includes new Triennial Review requirements for Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB).”
Law Commission, 9th January 2013
Source: www.consult.justice.gov.uk
Reforming Electoral Law in the UK – Law Commission
“The Law Commission has identified the areas of UK electoral law that will come under scrutiny in a forthcoming review. The review, which will be conducted jointly with the Scottish Law Commission and the Northern Ireland Law Commission, aims to reform the law relating to elections and referendums across the UK.”
Law Commission, 11th December 2012
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Law could be updated to make it easier to cull grey squirrels and badgers – Daily Telegraph
“Killing ‘pests’ such as badgers, deer and grey squirrels will be made easier under Government proposals.”
Daily Telegraph, 23rd August 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Bringing electoral law up to date – Law Commission
“In a consultation opening today (15 June), the Law Commission is asking which of the rules governing elections and referendums should be reviewed as part of its electoral law reform project. Electoral law in the UK is spread across 25 major statutes. It has become increasingly complex and fragmented and, according to the Commission, needs to be simplified, modernised and rationalised in order to benefit the electorate, administrators, and candidates.”
Law Commission, 15th June 2012
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
The Law Commission’s review of Health and Social Care Regulation – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“I attended an interesting seminar yesterday evening hosted by Blake Lapthorn solicitors. Frances Patterson QC, one of the Law Commissioners, spoke about the LC’s current review of Health and Social Care Regulation.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th May 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Regulation of Health and Social Care Professionals – Law Commission
“The consultation paper makes provisional proposals which seek to simplify and modernise the law and establish a streamlined, transparent and responsive system of regulation of health care professionals, and in England only, the regulation of social workers.”
Law Commission, 1st March 2012
